By Chaplain Joy Le Page Smith, MA, Board certified chaplain
Science is telling us that the brain and the organs of our bodies are closely connected. These newer revelations of medical research called psychoneuroimmunology (PNI*) clearly reveal the influence our thoughts, our emotions have on whether or not we will be well—and stay well. How does this happen? Our thoughts create our emotions and the power of our emotions bring changes to our body’s chemistry. There is no longer any doubt that what we think powerfully influence our health.
In your work within hospice, you do hard things on a daily basis. People wonder how you can do the work you do. I am sure you often hear this. Yet, one of the hardest things in all the world for all of us—at points in life—is to control our thoughts. Is it important? Yes, because almost exclusively feelings follow thoughts. Science has proven that what we think and feel influences whether or not we stay healthy.
Dealing with feelings can be both wonderful and terrible, depending on what prompts such feelings. As strong and stalwart as health providers are, all of us do better and stay healthier when we value our emotions versus shutting down on them. Research within the medical field of PNI reveals why it is important to honor and identify feelings-for the sake of one’s health. Chaplains can help patients understand that emotions can play a significant role on physical health. By encouraging patients to know it is safe to have emotional releases, this honesty with life’s pain does pay off as regards their physical health—as well as their emotional and spiritual health. Truth be known, in the long haul, this work with anger, rage, grief and guilt can even yield significant benefits within their relationships as well, provided they learn that valuing their emotions while expressing them can be done in such way as does not involve blaming others. (See article below on forgiveness.)
PNI is about the correlation between the body, psyche (soul) and spirit. My talk on August 16 will be about the power we hold over our health when we release negativity, carefully address our anxieties and control the stress we must manage in life. We will consider together how the psyche—or soul—of a person has a lot to do with how well things go health wise and in life.
A prayer to use for help with forgiveness is at:
https://healing-with-joy.com/PDFQuickAids/A%20Healing%20Forgiveness%20Prayer.pdf
www.healing-with-Joy.com holds many articles and blogs for self-help with inner healing. Free for coping and use. Please credit author as you share them.
I’m spending my morning devotional time with you, Chaplain Joy- re reading several of your blogs- this one on how the mind affects our physical health, is ringing very true- in my studies on PNI- I find more and more research to validate your statements. And Biblically as well- the Bible instructs us to forgive- and Forgiveness is what Jesus died for- and forgiveness is key in releasing the toxic effects of all the kinds of negative thinking that stem from forgiveness- fear, resentment, anger, shame- and more.
Chery, I am encouraged to know you are gaining from my writings. Thank you for this website comment. I pray others will take advantage and read daily. I know God had put this work, alongside remaining in chaplaincy at Havasu Regional Medical Center, as my main focus in life–besides being a wife and mother, grandmother. In the early hours of each morning, I am at work with writing columns for newspapers and blogs for this website. God makes all possible. Life is very full; there is not much time for anything else. In heaven, we will dance around the throne knowing we did what we could to share God’s truth with others while living here on earth. I know you, Chery, and know that you too “long for the day.”