"Mind Over Medicine"

I just finished reading "Mind Over Medicine" by Lisa Rankin, MD.  I think this book will change my life more than any other book I have ever read.  She has done extensive research into how our body works and how we can live our lives in such a way that we can maintain health, live longer and even heal ourselves from illness and disease.

The first and most important thing is that we must BELIEVE we can do this.  If we don't believe then it won't work.  There are physical things like eating healthy, getting enough sleep, exercise and meditation that work very well.  However, the most important thing that affects our health is our own personal happiness.  A person can do all the right things in the physical realm but if we live a life that does not make us happy, we will not be living a healing life.  Our emotions can either heal us or make us sick.  They are not benign.  They have actual physical effects on our body.

We can see all the doctors we want, take all the medicine they give us, but if we are holding on to hurt or anger we will not be well.  The first step in being well is to look at our lives.  Am I in my ideal loving relationship with a partner that loves me the way I need to be loved?  Am I in positive friendships where people are loving and supporting me the way I need them to?  These are questions that I must ask myself and resolve before I can be well.  Next is evaluating my thought life.  Do I talk negative about myself to myself?  Do I repeat negative things my parents or others have told me about myself?  Do I put myself down?  My thought life controls my body and I must change my thoughts to be positive if I want to be well and live longer.

I would encourage everyone to read this book.  We all need to be aware of our minds and bodies so we can make positive changes for ourselves.