Your Power in Healing
Judi Pine Sellers

What should you know before you get sick? What if you could change the course of an illness? Our role in getting well and healing has changed dramatically and is much more complicated now. We know we have to do things differently. What is our power in the changing landscape of healing and health care?

When we have a health issue our focus changes. If we are diagnosed with a serious illness our life changes. In a single moment, life shifts from a familiar reality with a fairly predictable path—to something frightening with an uncertain outcome. In either case, scientific research shows that a key factor in getting well is how we take charge and lead our own process. “Taking charge of one’s health and actively participating in the medical decision process is the norm of the 21st century,” according to Best Consumer Health Books. You want to be prepared.

But how do you become the leader of your own journey? You already are! We have power that is uniquely ours to claim. Even if you don’t feel prepared you can think both logically and intuitively about your own needs and take powerful, effective action. Let’s look at what power is.

Power (from the Merriam-Webster dictionary)
	The ability to act or produce an effect
	Possession of control, authority, or influence
	Source or means of supplying energy

You already have the ability to take action on your behalf. This is the first definition of power. Though it’s true, you may not always have control over the effect, as long as you stay in action you are moving forward on your healing path in a powerful way. In our fast paced—microwave life-style, sometimes we forget we do not get instant results on everything. Our actions do count and if we persist, we do not know how far we can go in pursuing the results we want.

Let’s look at the second point in the definition of power—possession of control, authority, or influence. I think control is something we do not have over our healing results (but I’m very biased because I don’t think we have control over much of anything!) But we have great authority. This is our body and our life. And we have great influence.

Scientists, both in medical practice and neuroscience, are still exploring the nature of the mind body connection. It will be years before they sort out and truly understand this complex system we take to work each day with us! But one thing is clearly evident from the writings of these scientists. The mind influences our physical state continuously. So does our emotional condition. Both of these statements have been proven in various ways. We simply don’t know the limits of our influence. The more we work on understanding our own individual needs, the closer we come to being able to influence our own situation. This is the focus our influence should take. If you want to learn more about the science of mind/body connection read the works of Candace Pert, Deepak Chopra or Bill Meyers (Healing and the Mind).

Finally, power means having a source or means of supplying energy. You already have energy. All that is left to do is focus your energy toward the goal you are trying to achieve! Clarify your purpose and stay focused on it. Though this sounds simple, this one point will increase your power greatly!

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