Healing the Body, Balancing the Mind, and Nurturing the Spirit- The Importance of a “Happy” Mind versus a Health-Obsessed Brain

First, A Welcome Note to My Readers

You made it here! I’m so glad.

Welcome to my first blog at my new location on Saratoga.com.

I have thoroughly enjoyed writing for Living Well and look forward to continuing to interact with all of you on my brand-new webpage.

I will still focus my articles on wellness, but with an even sharper emphasis on healing the body, mind, and spirit holistically.

This can best be done when we balance the desire for a healthy physical body with a positive mind and a sense of purpose.

The Mind in Medicine

There is no doubt that the mind has a profound impact on the body. Looking at the placebo effect, the belief and expectation that an intervention will provide beneficial treatment outcomes, is evidence of this.

This “mind-body” connection has been influencing our health throughout the ages. Now many modern day studies are demonstrating this well accepted connection from ancient times. Perhaps this is why the field of “psychoneuroimmunology” is emerging.

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life…And Act On It!

It seems that all things considered, those who study the mind-body-health connection conclude there’s a link between health outcomes and a happier state of mind. (1, 2, 3, 4) Furthermore “Negative Nellies” have been shown to fair worse in wellness results.  A sunny disposition alone has been linked in studies to have a positive effect on blood pressure, heart disease, and survival.

Still, measuring a “trait” can have its challenges in defining its aspects and calculating it’s  “effect size.”  Some conflicting studies have led researchers to believe optimism is associated with desirable outcomes only when it encompasses a specific viewpoint that influences action steps. In other words, many researchers hold that positive outlook alone isn’t the determinant of health, or simply “expecting the best and doing nothing.” Rather, it is a belief in better outcomes combined with utilizing beneficial resources, including social support, that influence results. (5, 6, 7)

The Importance of a Balanced, Happy Mind Vs. A Health Obsessed Brain

There’s a difference between wanting to be healthy to live a full life versus living to be healthy.

For most who aren’t pursuing careers in sports and fitness, it’s the former that matters to them. Unfortunately, living in our current “Diet culture” and obsession with body perfection can take people’s sanity down, fast.

Rather than focusing on the value of health that supports every member of the global community, it appears the American culture has moved into “healthism,” where it becomes a moral stance of superiority. With this viewpoint, prejudices in those with different body shapes, fitness, and eating patterns can lead to becoming the following…

Diet crazed, weight obsessed, health fixated, and participating in the battle ground of “food wars.”

This does not create “health” and can lead to orthorexia tendencies that places fixations with wellness and fitness over relationships and previously enjoyed activities.

For this reason, I’ve started my series, “Diet Crazed, Weight Obsessed, Health Fixated, and Food Wars? Has the “Health and Wellness Industry” Contributed to the Obesity Epidemic?”

Last week, I posted part I on my BreakFree website and just released part II.

I’ll continue with my series and focus on healthy, happier, balanced living that encompasses the richness of relationships, freedom from obsessing on fear of diseases, and preoccupation of health, and guide you to becoming happy with who you are.

Welcome to “Healing, Health, and Wellness for the Body, Mind, and Spirit.” I am so excited for you to journey with me and share your feedback, comments, frustrations, and joys on a safe community page.

Here’s to your health freedom, truly this is “BreakFree Medicine.”