Relaxation to repair and stay healthy

My local GPs surgery this week - not somewhere I frequent often - maybe once a year for proactive health checks, possibly even less.

It's not intentional, I just don't have the need.

I was curious about why I don't need a doctor that often and I realised that all health issues happen when we've more stress than support, and being relaxed is really THE way to stay healthy.

So why, as a nation are we not more chill?

That's a great question!

I prioritise being relaxed because I've had a life limiting illness (chronic fatigue) and in order to recover I had to learn to relax, let go of trying to control everything and go with the flow. It was that or stay ill, and I decided that wasn't an option!

So it's unsurprising I now teach others how to be calm, so that their repair system can do its work.

Is being calm easy? No! Of course not! Our mind frequently fights us every step of the way as it tries to protect us from things it thinks we can't handle - think being the operative word - there's a part of us that is actually immortal.

Healing (being whole) requires us to trust in life, have a willingness to feel the unfeelable and the courage to traverse the unknown. It's incredibly brave to heal, rather than stay where we are.

I would argue that with the right support we are all capable of healing and relaxation, even if it's the tiniest amount. Baby steps add up over time and practising relaxation and letting go means in time it gets easier.

Anyway, after thinking about it for a bit I got even more curious. Is there a known connection between those that do meditation and a reduced in health issues?

Here's what Chat GBT has to say about the matter:

Research shows that individuals who practise meditation tend to experience lower rates of illness and healthcare usage than those who don't.

Chat GBT cited:

A 1987 study that reported that meditators had less than half the hospitalisations for heart disease and 55% fewer for cancer compared to matched controls. Meditators in that sample also had 50% fewer doctor visits than non-meditators. mcleanmeditation.com.

Other research shows mindfulness has moderate effectiveness in reducing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and chronic pain. It also shows it helps with with autoimmune issues, PMS, menopausal symptoms, and chronic disease-related emotional distress, pain acceptance, quality of life, and sleep in conditions such as fibromyalgia.

All of which would reduce the frequency of doctors visits.

So, how does meditation work? It changes our relationship with the mind. Instead of being governed by our thoughts or needing to fix, change or improve them, it lets thoughts be like clouds - a part of our existence but not the whole of it.

Clouds come, clouds go - we let them be and get on with our day by focusing on the context of life instead

There was even time during my appointment to give the nurse a quick meditation 101: notice still silent space over sound movement and stuff (our thoughts) and "good bad, who knows?" She was incredibly grateful.

Could I have the best job in the world?

Quite possibly...

#meditation #wellbeing #health