I could tell you it was green juice, coconut oil or probiotics, or maybe obsessive hand washing, but what I really think gave me the best year I can remember in terms of not catching colds was living inside of moments that filled me with passion and purpose, and being more out loud about that journey.
Listen up…I had ONE cold this year! That officially puts 2015 in the BEST YEAR EVER category for feeling good. And if you think I’m exaggerating, just ask my family and friends who will tell you that in years past I’d sport between three and six or seven colds a year. And lasting between seven days and two weeks for each cold, that’s a lot of sick days.
I’ve explored every natural and unnatural remedy known to Goddess in the past. I ate raw garlic. I spent hundreds for supplements. I broke out the Vitamix, the special yoga poses and when desperate, the antibiotics. The sick day guilt I’ve suffered through is enough for you, me and everyone’s uncle combined.
I stopped shaking hands in Tae Kwon Do class and resorted to the elbow bump. I emailed clients begging them to stay away if they were sick. I shunned my own family when they were. I did everything I knew how to do, and still managed to be sick for months of the year.
This year was different. How? I started being myself, speaking up, and living the life I was born to live. Mostly it was about writing, and using that skill to help other people. I had always done a job I loved (physical therapy) until I started doing a job I loved so much I’d lose track of the time. Writing to inspire others has become this magical, energetic space that holds me and protects me in a way nothing else has ever done. And this year I’ve felt really, really good.
How can I randomly connect the two? Not with any proof…but I know. I know it in the way you know when something feels good, is right and you need like you need air to breathe. Carving out more time to express myself creatively has been the magical elixir I was looking for. Speaking about the things that matter to me and being myself, unapologetically, has been the fix-it pill.
I’m not telling you that my year was without stress, struggles or normal life events that you’d place in the “bad” category. I’m telling you that by focusing my energy and intention on the things that turn me on I’ve stayed healthy, in a soul nourishing sort of way. And it’s not a surprise that there’s a connection with my immune system.
John Barnes teaches us that every emotion has a physiological manifestation in the body. Why then don’t we connect our sadness, anger, resentment and frustration with our poor immune system? Why don’t the doctors, along with prescribing the antibiotics and pain relievers, also prescribe treatment for the heart and soul? Maybe they’re afraid to sound crazy. I’m not afraid to sound crazy anymore: the way to true health and healing is by integrating mind, body and soul.
Illness, injury and dysfunction are there to teach us. We only learn and grow if we’re paying attention to the teacher, doing our homework, and putting the lessons to practical use. Healing is complicated. It requires us to slow down, pay attention, and sometimes change. Accepting change is one of the most difficult and possibly liberating things we can do for ourselves.
What happens when you’re faced with an illness? How do you react? What messages do you tell yourself? What do you do for yourself when you’re sick? What thoughts make up your day to day when you’re not feeling up to par? Pay attention to what you tell yourself. It matters.
Take a look at how you spend your thinking moments; how you live the minutes, hours and days of your life inside your head. What’s your focus? What side does your teeter totter tip to – positive or negative? What’s your default attitude – judgmental or accepting? Are you doing something you love most the time? Do you wake up turned on, or dreading the day?
The thing is, a kick-ass immune system might not have to do with any of this, but my guess is you know it does. My guess is you feel the connection to your body and spirit when your mind is suffocating you with doubt, shame and fear. My guess is when you quiet that voice, follow your heart and live a soul-nourishing life, you feel good. Really good.
Haven’t done the experiment yet? Get to it! What do you have to lose?
Join me in the comments with your ideas or questions about what effects your immune system. I’d love to hear how it goes down for you and what connections you’ve made.
PS. I still drink green juice on occasion and there is something good about the probiotics. I cover all my bases because well, I like to have the odds in my favor.
Laura Probert, MPT is a licensed, holistic physical therapist, published author, poet, artist, awareness coach and second degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. She’s the author of Living, Healing and Taekwondo and the Warrior Journal series. She’s also a co-author in two fabulous compilations. She’s a contributor for The Huffington Post, Wild Sister Magazine, MindBodyGreen, The Wellness Universe,Tiny Buddha, Black Belt Magazine and Elephant Journal, among others. She’s serious about integrating mind body and soul as a journey to passion and power, and she’ll show you how. She works to help you wake up, be brave, heal your shit and do what your love so you can share your message with the world. When she’s not writing you’ll find her with her kids, dogs or a horse or taste-testing dark chocolate. Find her Writing for Warrior Healing workshops and programs at www.LauraProbert.com and on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/KickAssWarriorGoddess
