A Healthy Body Needs A Healthy Mind

So, as a complementary therapist, why am I talking about a healthy mind?  Simple, the mind and body are one integrated system and mind affects body and vice versa.  A healthy body needs a healthy mind.

So, what is a healthy mind?  Good question. Some of the characteristics that demonstrate a healthy mind would be: positivity; equilibrium; optimism; calm; flexibility; openness and of course there are lots of others. 

And what are the characteristics of an less than healthy mind?  Well what about: anxiety; fear; obsessive thoughts; not being able to switch off; negative emotions such as envy, self-recrimination, guilt, excessive sadness, over-excitement, etc.

One of the main characteristics that distinguish a healthy mind from one that is less so, is the speed and intensity of thoughts and not being able to switch off.

But it can be difficult to make changes to the way you think.  How DO you stop thinking certain unhelpful thoughts and begin thinking other more helpful thoughts?  It all happens so quickly doesn’t it?  Your brain just races around certain thoughts or ideas and the faster it goes, the more difficult it is to stop.  It’s like a race car.

Well, the answer might surprise you.  You have to STOP before you start again.

Imagine you’re driving a car at high speed.  You've got your pedal to the metal and you're racing ahead on a straight road.  If you want to change direction – say you want to do a U turn - you have to stop, because if you don’t stop before you change direction you’ll crash and burn.  The speed of the car will prevent your attempt to change direction.  But if you change down gears, braking gently as you do so, you can stop and change direction easily.

Your brain works in just the same way.  If you slow everything down gently, it will be much easier to change your thinking.  And would you like to know how you slow everything down?  RELAXATION.  Yes, that old chestnut.  Doing regular relaxation or meditation will allow your thoughts to slow down to a pace where you will find it much easier to change direction and adopt a new mindset that will serve you better.  It’s about recognising that the more slowly your brain works the more conscious control you have over it.  So if you want to control and change your thoughts, a bit of relaxation or meditation is just the job – BUT the only way you’ll know if this is true is to give it a try.

And if you find it too difficult to slow down under your own steam, you can always try a treatment of Reflexology or Indian Head Massage!  To book contact Doris on 07724 197627.  And you get £5 off your first treatment.

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