Eastern philosophy states: True wellness can only be achieved when the body, mind and spirit are in balance. The last few months we have been discussing one of those aspects … your mind (thoughts). Remember, you are the gatekeeper of your mind, and only you control what you think.
Healing can begin by developing an awareness of our inner voice. Our inner voice can trigger emotions that will determine how we feel throughout the day.
Many healers believe WE are our own best doctor. But what does that really mean?
Suppose the secret to health is not the conventional wisdom, i.e., our diet, exercise, weight, enough sleep, nutrients we take, regular checkups, etc.? All these factors are important; but what if there is something else, more important!
What if that ‘inner voice’ is a major factor effecting our health and well-being?
What if we have it wrong? What if the body is naturally wired to heal itself, and, what if our inner voice controls this self-healing process?
“I know this sounds radical”, says Lissa Rankin, M.D., author of Mind Over Medicine. “But, there is scientific research suggesting that this might be true. The health of the body isn’t as simple as thinking ourselves well, or worrying ourselves sick. Or is it?”
It is this voice that can guide us towards positive choices, healthy decisions, positive self-talk, and confidence… or …the opposite!
That voice is the culmination of our past, present, and anticipated future experiences melded into our little internal advisors. This voice is both the seat of inner wisdom and our inner critic.
In today’s world, we’re bombarded with negative information, unrealistic ideals, and fear. It is no wonder our inner voice picks up on these things and reflects them back to us. It is so common we often don’t realize how negative our self-talk is.
Consider this question: “If I talked to you the way you talk to you, would you like me?”
Probably not!
These sorts of conversations go on in our head daily. We tend to accumulate negative thoughts, beliefs and fears during our lives. Our subconscious is filled with lots of rubbish that doesn’t serve us.
Many times, it feels like there is a commentator inside our heads, observing and criticizing our actions. As a result, behavior is no longer spontaneous or natural, because there is too much thinking. At night, it can be difficult to get to sleep because of the "thought-chatter".
Hearing voices
If you try to meditate or be quiet after a yoga class, you know what I mean. The room may be quiet, but my mind never is. Not only do I hear multiple voices in my head, they are all speaking at once! They seem to have a life of their own.
And if right now you’re thinking, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t have a voice inside my head!”.…that’s the voice we’re talking about
Take control of your inner voic
Research shows there are five people in our lives with whom we spend most of our time. So, if you have a friend who’s very negative, perhaps you should minimize the time you spend with that friend. If it’s a spouse or other family member who weighs you down, it’s important to encourage them to be more positive.
“Surround yourself with people that reflect who you want to be and how you want to feel. Energy is contagious.” Rachel Wolchin
Media
What kind of books and magazines do you read? What movies and TV shows do you watch? What news programs?
(Tip: The news is one of the most negative and upsetting programs you can watch, filled with drama, pain, grief, and fear. If you can’t give up watching the news completely, try not to watch it right after waking or just before bedtime, since those are times when our minds are most fertile.)
Meditation
Being Mindful about the inner voice and what it is saying begins to help us gain control.
When we are in a centered state of mind, we can turn our inner voice to positive thoughts more easily.
In Tibetan Buddhism, there is a practice of cultivating spaciousness or breathing room between our inner world and any events that are transpiring around us. It takes a little practice, but if we learn to reflect on what the "outer us" is experiencing, we can examine the “inner us”, thoughts, emotions, beliefs and patterns that are running through our minds and ask ourselves:
Will this thought help me evolve and thrive or will it prevent me from achieving my higher good?
“Healing depends on listening with the inner ear – stopping the incessant blabber and listening. Fear keeps us chattering – fear that wells up from the past, fear of blurting out what we really fear, fear of future repercussions. It is our very fear of the future that distorts the now that could lead to a different future, if we dared to be whole in the present.” Marion Woodman
References:
http://www.counselingwellnesspgh.com/your-inner-voice/
Singer, Michael; The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/out-the-darkness/201803/the-voice-inside-your-head
http://www.gateways-to-inner-peace.com/self-talk.html
Rankin, Lissa, M.D.; Mind Over Medicine.