Transforming Our Attitude To Wellness
I was recently describing my experience with mindfulness meditation to a group of people. "Sounds like a good detox", responded one of the listeners. "I could use this quick burst of energy to power through the day" was another response. "I don't have any problems, so I don't need it", said another listener.
The responses sum up our quintessential attitude towards wellness. We look at wellness as a problem to be solved, searching for an external magic pill that will give us a quick fix when we have a 'problem'. We subject our bodies and minds to abuse, and then look outside for a 'detox'. And we are impatient, wanting all the solutions to be instantaneous.
This attitude arguably stems from a Western view of life and science. This view involves looking at the body and mind as biomechanical systems, albeit complex ones, that operate like machines. In this viewpoint, the answers are to be found outside of us, in objective 'facts' that we try to distance from subjective experiences. In this process, however, something valuable is being lost.
The Eastern systems, especially those that originate in the spiritual practices of India, look at wellness differently. At the center of this system is the realization that the experience of life is an inherently subjective one, and therein lies both its beauty and its power. Each individual's inner reality, and the way it integrates with his or her mind, body and soul, is of paramount importance. Rather than looking outside for answers and quick fixes, the path to wellness lies inside. Therefore, rather than a quest for an external panacea, it is a quest to unlock the inherent wellness within.
What does this approach involve?
At the level of the body, it involves functioning in sync with our biological rhythms, rather than putting in late nights and getting through the day with doses of caffeine. It involves being in touch with the nature, the sun and the outdoors, rather than being glued to blue screens or disrupting our circadian rhythms with binge-watching OTT shows.
At the level of the mind, it involves coming face to face with our inner demons, rather than escaping into external distractions. It involves being in sync with our deeper inner wisdom, fundamentally transforming the way we look at life and people. As life itself blooms as a positive, purifying presence, the need for external artificial detoxes is reduced. Practices such as Yoga, meditation, prayer and gratitude, which can help center our bodies and minds and put us in touch with this inner wisdom, are therefore important to this approach.
This process is time consuming and requires hard work, rather than an easy quick fix. Not surprisingly, this path does not seem alluring to the layperson. But an ocean of wellness awaits those who muster up the courage and fortitude to embark on it.
