On the blog, in our workshops and in 1:1 coaching sessions in the not-for-profit sector, we regularly discuss how the mind and body are connected. How if we feed our body well it will make our mind feel more alive and switched on, and likewise, when we feed our mind with nourishing thoughts and perspectives, our body becomes more healthy.
I am aware that last part might trigger scepticism. We certainly haven’t been schooled to believe if we have hopeful, positive, loving thoughts about ourselves, others and the world around us, it will mean we stave off illness or physical problems. But the science is now starting to prove it is in fact, fact.
When we are consistently in stress, and have negative thought patterns (or gremlins) we release cortisol, adrenaline and glucose into the body. These chemicals, whilst helpful in an emergency, actually negatively impact our healing systems, they upset our homeostasis. And over a longer period of time we start to see issues in the body, from eczema to digestive and reproductive problems to heart attacks.
When we relax, when we are grateful, when we are compassionate, when we acknowledge ourselves we trigger chemical reactions in the brain that release happy hormones into the body. When we take the time to meditate, scientists have proven that all sorts of happy, helpful hormones and chemicals are released. We trigger our parasympathetic nervous systems. We begin to heal ourselves.
We are incredible systems, and we can help ourselves to feel resilient and buoyant by tapping into self-caring strategies.
I’d like to share this wonderful resource which explores such ideas in a really eloquent and helpful way. It’s a documentary called Heal, and is available on Netflix. Here’s some more info: http://www.healdocumentary.com
Even if you only have five minutes in a day whilst you’re walking from meeting to meeting, use it to heal; tap into some self-acknowledgement, picture a soothing scene, list five things you feel grateful for, and your body will thank you for it.
With love, Hannah
Photo by Berkeli Alashov on Unsplash