When people perceive themselves to be sick, or actually suffering from one or more discomforts, the first reaction is to take something or do something to put an end to the suffering. It may be an aspirin, something stronger, or a therapy of some kind. If one is successful at it, and the suffering ends, they may say that they are healed or cured.
But healing has little to do with the removal or ending of symptoms. Rather, it is an intimate and integrative process that encompasses the entire spectrum of our existence. Healing transcends the simplistic notion of throwing away the crutches and walking again, or the sudden cessation of back pain; it involves the harmonious alignment of the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of our being and how we relate to the world. The result is a greater experience of wholeness, wellness , and soundness. And wholeness is the birthright of everyone.
Healing is basically the result of putting right our wrong relationships with our bodies, to other people, and to our own complicated minds; with emotions and instincts at war with one another and not properly understood by what we call "I" or "me" The process is one of reorganization, reintegration of things that have come apart.
Healing and Curing are not two words that mean the same thing.The word "heal" traces its roots to the Anglo-Saxon word hal, which means 'whole', 'hale', and 'hearty'. Rather than implying freedom from disease,healing involves root concepts like wholeness and wellness. These concepts imply self-empowerment, alignment, and integration, which enables us to fully express our unique potential as human beings. Healing may often be an uncomfortable process, but always empowering.
As we heal, it may appear that we are coming apart at the seams when we begin to wake up aspects of ourselves that we were unaware of or unable to acknowledge. But as we begin the process of discovery, acknowlegement and alignment, we give our entire being permission to change. Through the natural, automatic release of old thought patterns, old emotions, and rigid ways of being, a new sense of respect for all aspects of our rhythms comes about. This is similar to the subtle, yet purposeful opening of a flower. In healing, no new magic is put into us, and nothing is taken out.
Curing, on the other hand, implies that someone is trying to eliminate our diseases, symptoms, or crises - most commonly through medication, surgery, psychotherapy, or other modalities. Curing may be conceptualized as the elimination of the signs and symptoms of disease, but not necessarily the disease itself. Typically, people enter the health care system when the indicators of illness can no longer be ignored. The signs and symptoms will be treated with medication, or if they are severe enough, hospitalization will ensue. If, after a cetain course of treatment, the signs and symptoms no longer exist, we declare the person cured.
Curing has an important role. It offers us the gift of time so we may better understand the deeper significance of our diseases. Curing can also offer us a greater degree of comfort to facilitate the process of healing. This can be beneficial. However, in the medical world today, the process stops with the cure. Healing is rarely, if ever, encountered. This denies the possibility of healing rather than facilitating it. Curing, as an attempt to control our experiences, generally interferes with our ability to move into the unsolicited experiences we need to restructure our lives. When this occurs, curing holds us back.
Healing leaves in its wake a sense of accomplishment and empowerment. Curing does not. Healing considers our uniqueness, curing does not. Healing involves surrenduring control of our inner and outer experiences. Curing involves an attempt to control these experiences. Healing promotes wholeness, an uninhibited expression of natura rhythms, and unprovoked forgiveness. Curing seeks to label the effects (not the causes) of disease, place blame, promote victimization, and give explanations and excuses for undesirable experiences.
One should always look for the opportunity to heal. No matter what a person may be going through, healing empowers a person to greater heights of personal awareness. It brings us peace, and allows us to live in peace and wellness. This is the essence of true health.
At the Ehren Chiropractic and Wellness Center, our care promotes true healing.