Self Knowledge May
Be Power...
…But Being Defined by Labels Can Become a Deficiency
Never
before have we had access to so much information about… well, pretty
much everything. That can be helpful and useful in many ways, if we have
the discernment to sift through the overload of available information
and determined what’s accurate, what’s inaccurate, what’s distorted by
the sponsors behind the information being disseminated, and so forth. If
we do manage to come out on the other side of the maze, there’s plenty
of reliable information we can access on our own or through reputable
healthcare professionals to help answer our questions.
Due to
the outspread availability of information, it has also become easier to
label conditions, even when those labels mean that current knowledge
doesn’t have all the answers and healthcare professionals don’t really
have a clue about what’s going on or how to cure it. Still, there are
plenty of labels that get thrown around in relation to diseases and
illnesses with internal, external and unknown causes that doctors can’t
quite define or understand, from autoimmune
to brain-related/neurological conditions such as RA, Fibromyalgia,
Autism and Alzheimer’s, to name just a few.
On one hand, it’s
important to know as much as possible about health issues and conditions
that may limit our lives in any way. Knowledge is power; it can enable
us to manage such issues and maintain a healthier, more fulfilling
lifestyle.
On the other hand, being defined by such labels can
become a deficiency if that instills fear in us, preventing us from
living life to the best of our abilities. It can become a deficiency if
we accept these labels without question and feel limited to the point
where they are used as excuses to stop growing, to justify the belief
that we’re not capable of pushing ourselves out of our comfort zone,
trying to overcome our circumstances and doing better every day.
Labeling can lead to resignation that makes us forget the power of the
mind and spirit.
I mentioned on a previous blog article that, as someone who deals with frequent anxiety and
even the occasional panic attack due to OCPD, and who has discovered as
an adult that I might be on the lower end of the neurodivergent spectrum
(in addition to having physical issues such as herniated disks and hip
repair surgery), I understand how difficult it can be to deal with and
manage a limiting condition. Because I don’t want to take medication,
managing myself takes a combination of alternative therapies
(hypnotherapy, aromatherapy, flower essences, essential oils, etc),
along with regular meditation, breathing techniques, etc. Exercising and
practicing yoga also help; so do writing and coloring book therapy. In
other words, proper self care is vital; that
includes establishing priorities and strong boundaries that involve
plenty of quiet time, while not neglecting to stay connected with loved
ones. I also developed the habit of deliberately shifting my thinking
when I start obsessing and feeling anxious about something; I try to
focus on the ultimate goal, set my intention and simply say to myself:
"I give this to God (or my guides, Angels, Source, Universe, etc)." That
opens the space to receive clear guidance and be able to follow it,
even when it’s unsettling. Not beating myself up for not being perfect
is also key!
Of course, each individual has different needs and
needs to find their own ways to cope or recover; but here are some
additional tools that have been effective for myself, my clients and
others who have tried them:
- Rather than reminding myself of why I can't do something, I make sure to constantly re-frame that thought by teaching myself how I can do anything I set my intention to accomplish.
- Hypno-coaching can help jump-start healing on a subconscious level by using scripts such as Gateway to Healing by Linda Bennett and Self-Health by A. Chips.
- The Emotion Code is a simple technique to help release trapped negative emotions from the body: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g7pRNLJKh4
- Mel Robbins' 5 Second Rule and other similar techniques are effective shortcuts to trick the brain into doing what I want it to do: htthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nI2VQ-ZsNr0
- The morning pages exercise (also
known as brain drain or mind dump) is a powerful method of uncluttering
the brain and opening the space for creative solutions to life’s
puzzle:
Here's Everything I Learned From Doing Morning Pages Every Day
https://www.buzzfeed.com/rachelwmiller/what-are-morning-pages-and-why-should-you-do-them-an
FINAL WORD: We
are all works in progress, doing the best we know how at any given
moment. Whatever challenges we deal with on the physical, mental
emotional and spiritual levels, we are the only ones with the power to
define ourselves; and that in itself is an organic, ever-changing
process. Let’s not get stuck on a label!
© Gisele Marasca-Vargas; 09/28/21
thehealershome.com
Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash
You Might Also Like:
"This Is Too Much!!" About Highly Sensitive People
http://www.theragicenter.com/this-is-too-much.html
Becoming A Fully Functional Empath
http://www.theragicenter.com/giseles-blog/becoming-a-fully-functional-empath
Becoming A Functional Perfectionist
http://www.theragicenter.com/becoming-a-functional-perfectionist.html
