Getting Perspective

Cancer: Is There a Bigger Picture? December 12, 2009

The dictionary defines health as: well-being, healthiness, fitness, good condition, good shape, fine fettle; strength, vigor, wellness, physical state, physical shape, condition, constitution.

It seems that when we say health, it is implied that we are talking about our physical state of being- more specifically, the function of our body.

What if we were to take a broader perspective, use the strength, vigor and well-being definition of health  as a large umbrella, with not only the function of the physical body sheltered under it, but many other aspects, such as relationships, attitudes, economic, spiritual, mental and emotional?  Would that not expand the field of health care and healing tremendously?

I propose the concept that health is only a reference point, a point of evaluation in the many aspects of our lives and the term health care is not limited to only the physical, mental and emotion body.

For a car to function effectively and efficiently, all it’s parts must be in fine working order, there must be fuel in the tank and someone to guide it’s course.   If there is a problem with the transmission in our perfect car, it causes strain on the rest of the drive train, and the car does not function as smoothly and efficiently. I propose that all parts of us are so interconnected that when separating them into little categories, the pieces in the categories lose their life force and the interconnectedness between all the other parts, and we don’t function so well.

My point:  it is so easy to focus on one thing- a physical ailment, an emotional upset, mental trauma, financial woes, what is not working in our relationship- or even not having one,  that we lose sight of all the rest of us. It is like we steal energy from the other functioning parts of ourselves and put it all where our attention is focused.   A case in point is the current ‘symptomatic’ approach to health care of our bodies.     (more…)