The breath is a bridge between the body and the mind. – Thich Nhat Hanh

With the entire world struggling to recover from the effects of a global pandemic it seems more than appropriate to pen a few words about healing – but what can a non-medical person contribute of value to this discussion?

First a disclaimer: as we all know, I am not a doctor. If you are reading this and in the midst of a health crisis (or the beginning phase of recovery from one), it is absolutely essential that you work with your healthcare providers and follow their advice. Nothing in this article is to be mistaken for medical advice.

That said, let’s now take a few minutes to consider the nature of healing itself from a non-medical perspective.

According to dictionary.com, healing is defined as “the act or process of regaining health”. While this definition seems straightforward enough in the context of recovering from an illness, it reveals nothing about the process itself that is occurring.

So maybe a better question would be is there anything that we can deduce about the non-medical process of healing and can this information be useful to us in other ways?

Let’s start with what we know.

When you think about medical healing in simplistic terms what happens? The body fights infection, cells regenerate, or wounds heal.

These are all biological processes that just about everyone is familiar with.

Now are there any non-biological things that we know about healing?

Well, to start with, what do you typically say at the onset of just about any type of illness?

You say: I don’t feel well.

And similarly, what do you automatically say when you have even partially recovered?

You say: I feel better. You don’t say: My body is now in good repair.

Which is interesting because when you talk about how you feel in this manner, you aren’t just talking about the physical state of your body, you are referring to your non-physical state of being as well.

Yes, you might argue that you are just referring to the current status of a physical ache or pain that you have been experiencing when you say this, but I would argue that you aren’t.

I would suggest that you are actually referring to the current state of the non-physical energy circulating inside you without even realising it.

And since you are able to distinguish between the non-physical sensation of “not feeling well” and the non-physical sensation of “feeling better”, is it possible that you might be able to encourage physical healing inside yourself by seeking out the place inside yourself that feels good, and intentionally spend time there?

In short, could it be possible that the process of healing is at least in part a process of letting go of bad energy and a building up of good energy (a sort of cleansing if you will) in such a way that it restores a sense of balance inside the body that manifests physically as better health?

And if that’s the case, could it be possible to promote and maintain good health by simply steering clear of thoughts and actions that make us “feel bad” in the first place?

Robin Trimingham is the chief operating officer of The Olderhood Group Ltd and a virtual presenter, journalist, podcaster and thought leader in the fields of life transition and change management. Connect with Robin at https://bit.ly/3nSMlvc or robin@olderhood.com