We’ve all been watching the London Olympics for the past two weeks. It’s amazing to watch these athletes compete in these often grueling events only to turn around and compete in yet another event. Just thinking about their schedules, training routines, and level of concentration is exhausting. Every so often there are new sports added to the Olympics like women’s boxing in the current Olympic games. What if Health and Healing were an Olympic sport…would you be a gold medal winner?
I guess what I’m asking is, in your life, since your diagnosis, what roles have you taken on? What commitments have you made to yourself propel yourself on your journey to wellness? How do you “train” to increase your chances at getting better or getting well?
It’s a daunting task and if we put as much time into health and healing that Olympic athletes put into training for their chance at the gold medal would your life be different. I know that following your diagnosis you may not have the physical stamina to “train” for your journey to wellness, but what about your emotional and spiritual training…what are you doing, how often are you doing it, and what results are you seeing?
Athletic training is grueling, intense, and for me, overwhelming. However, when it comes to my state of mind, my preparedness for the challenges that are placed before me with my health, and the things I want and need to accomplish, taking on improving upon, turning up the volume on my body, mind, spirit connection becomes the focus of my attention.
Physical training requires that you engage in physical activity regularly. When you don’t train for a while you don’t pick up where you left off because the body took time off and needs to rebuild to the previous level. The same is true with your emotional and spiritual self. If you have taken a leave from your spiritual practice, or creating a safe place for expressing your emotional self, it requires taking a step back and then moving forward. Continuity is your ally, and it requires that you do your part in the health and healing process.
What are you willing to commit to in your quest for the “Health and Healing” gold medal? What have you wanted to do that will bring you peace of mind, physical, emotional and spiritual unity or a simply a sense of hope? What will it take for you to train like an Olympic athlete to increase the possibility of getting better or getting well? What will it feel like when you stand on the medal podium and your personal anthem is sung singing your praises for a job well done?
Pilgrim Pathway/Surviving Strong 