Under The Weather? Read This...
Sick Doesn’t Mean Powerless
We all get sick from time to time, but do we really consider how something as simple as our mindset affects us during this time? Usually we first look to external sources such as medicine, hot soup and plenty of fluids for help recovering, but perhaps this misses half the picture. Perhaps there is something deeper within us that precedes those outward efforts to heal and can even mitigate them if not directed lovingly.
The Divine Principle presents three blessings–growth, multiplying love, and ownership–as our guiding potential in life. If we apply these blessings to when we’re feeling under the weather, we may discover that the key to health and healing lies in our own hands.
The Power of the Mind
In practicing the first great blessing–that of integrity and maturation–our mind and heart (how we think and feel) should have the power to determine our physical state. Our minds can motivate and push our bodies beyond their normal limits; but they also have the power to hold us back physically, emotionally and spiritually.
Think of the timeless energy you experience when losing yourself in an activity you love. Compare that to the sweaty palms, increased heart rate and tension in your chest that can accompany intense fear. Our minds affect our physical states every day, whether we realize it or not. Understanding and controlling how our state of mind affects and directs our body can help us combat whatever ails us.
Now of course, the power of the mind cannot circumvent the laws of nature. Science still has difficulty proving exactly how one’s mental or spiritual state affects physical symptoms, but it does observe that a connection exists. While not a free pass to perfect health, a positive and loving spiritual state can contribute toward healing. Perhaps it’ll give us the motivation to get that extra fresh air we need or to change our diet even though it’s hard. At the same time, a depressed or negative mindset can create undue tension and sap the energy and motivation needed to work towards recovery.
It takes energy and motivation to take those real steps towards healing. Remember that everything we do or don’t do is a decision made first by our minds then executed by our bodies. How much we let our minds govern our bodies determines what we consider possible.
Love Is the Key
Entertaining the idea that self-love is selfish, and denying ourselves care, are both dangerous habits. Ultimately, our lives are all connected with each other, and love is an energy that needs to come from within. In our pursuit for a healthy mind and body–effectively the first great blessing of becoming a wholesome individual–we inevitably learn that to love others, we need to love and maintain ourselves mentally, spiritually, emotionally and physically. Then we’re ready to share our love–the essence of the second great blessing. That begins with the mental and emotional impetus to care. Care about health. Care about growth. Care about how both affect those around us.
Our will to care stems from love. Father Moon points this out when he describes the third great blessing, ownership. As he puts it, “true owners are those who love as God does.” The role of ownership requires responsibility and care powered by true love. Aren’t those who are most entitled to “owning” something the ones who love it most? Do we really own our lives if we don’t practice self-love?
With a love like God’s, we can break through barriers such as physical limitations and take control of our physical circumstances and illnesses. The next time you find yourself floored by the flu, take some time to think about how love (or the lack thereof) may have contributed toward your current situation. Then consider how you can tap into its power to take careful steps towards recovery and a greater exemplification of God’s love for you.
Have a friend who’s sick instead? Perhaps this is a chance to express love for them. Send them a thoughtful message, or visit if possible. Be creative and discover your own way to care for yourself and those around you as you journey towards building a life and world that you love.