Leave the body alone
July 2014
By Suma Varughese
Suma Varughese is finally learning to leave the body alone instead of fretting and fuming about its state of health
I have just come back from a wonderful holiday to South Africa. The notable thing was that my health kept very well while I was there. My sinus problem lifted, and so did the IBS. I was able to eat virtually everything including fries and dairy without any reaction. I do remember that I told myself early on that I was out of the country only for 15 days, and I could live with any issue for that period of time. Therefore, I was not going to let any problem come in the way of my enjoyment. On my way back, even while I was in the plane, I remember thinking despondently that now that I was returning to Mumbai, my health would once again skydive. I could feel myself compressing and constricting the moment I thought this. I immediately decided that if I could stay well in South Africa, I could stay well in Mumbai. I just had to do what I had done there, which was to leave the body alone, and instead focus whole-heartedly on enjoying myself.
The truth is that the problems of the body are the body’s problem. They are not ours. The body is absolutely capable of healing these issues on its own as long as we step away. Yes, we have to support it to the best of our capacity by eating and drinking right, exercising right and resting right. When called for, we need even to medicate it right. What is absolutely counterproductive is worrying about it, stressing about it and resisting the situation. These immediately come in the way of the body healing itself, thanks to which the illness persists or takes a turn for the worse.
Just as damaging are the negative conclusions we jump to such as that we cannot digest such and such a thing, exposure to a cold draught will give us a chill, mangoes don’t suit us, and so on. I find I do this all the time, but I have now decided to stand every negative or limiting thought on its head.
I have long been theoretically aware that the body is whole, perfect and complete. Now I am taking it as a given, and am learning to stop messing with it by imposing my thoughts and feelings on it.
The truth is that the problems of the body are the body’s problem. They are not ours.
Of course, this is not easy, especially as despite my efforts I did succumb to a cold, but I am learning. This means not panicking when the cold becomes a chest congestion. It means being with the discomfort instead of resisting it. It means not dwelling on the problem but instead focusing on my life. It means giving the body the space it needs to work on the issue and heal, instead of imposing self-created deadlines on it.
Unfortunately, most of us are so identified with the body that any issue with it becomes our issue. When a headache or body pain assails us, our consciousness is taken captive and compressed to the level of the sensation alone. It takes conscious effort to create a gap between the body’s physical sensations, and who we are.
A breakthrough happened when I asked myself why I was worrying when the body was capable of healing on its own. I recognized the worry as a bad habit and dropped it. Since them it is getting somewhat easier for me to stay centered and peaceful, no matter what is happening to the body.
And since there is less constriction and compression within me and less resistance, I find that the energy within me is more fluid and less blocked. Surely, this is one more significant step in achieving the perfect health which is my birthright.