So many of us are understandably concerned with the foods we eat, what we are feeding our bodies. We will go to great lengths to include proper exercise, supplements and vitamins, minimize alcohol consumption, etc to maximize our physical health. But what about our soul diets and care? How are we taking care of our minds, emotions, attitudes, thoughts? That ongoing problem with explosive anger and rage; that tongue and the words we speak; that gossipy tendency and lies we tell and spread; that bitterness, unforgiveness, conniving, judgmental, and deceitful parts of our hearts we let fester and justify their presence. What’s on the inside of a person eventually breaks through to the outside. Sometimes people who have allowed cruelty, apathy, and bitterness to take root in their hearts will appear 5, 10, 20 years older than the age they are.
Psychosomatic is defined as follows: a form of a physical illness or other condition caused or aggravated by a mental factor such as internal conflict or stress. In the US, there is close to 25% of patients who present with somatic (physical) complaints whose origins are actually psycho(mental) in their root cause. Among those who are treated for mental llnesses, problems such as GI issues, stress, agitated and irritable forms of depression, anxiety, and even schizophrenia are shown to have some aspects of psychosomatic causes. What are you doing to feed your soul? To really understand and recognize that your mind, will, emotions, thoughts/intentions, attitudes need to be acknowledged and healed when there is upset, disappointment, loss setback, and trauma; unacknowledged guilt and grief over your mistakes and the mistakes of others; your insistence to hold onto your pride, ego, and stubbornness at your expense? Those parts of your identity or SELF are in some ways more important than your physical body. Remember, what you think and feel dictates what you do and how you show up in the world.
What’s on your soul diet?
#mentalhealthawarenessmonth#breakthestigma#mindsetmatters