1 Know yourself - be your own expert.
We are all unique. Notice how your body reacts to the things you eat and drink. Know what your body cannot tolerate and honour that. This might involve giving up some things you love, like sugar, salt, alcohol, caffeine or chocolate. Your body wants to heal itself, sometimes it's simply a case of not getting in the way of your natural healing. Notice your 'good' and 'bad' days. Notice what makes you better or worse. No-one knows your body like you do. You really are your own best expert.
2 Take extremely good care of YOU
Your body is a finely-tuned instrument. It needs careful maintenance and gentle handling. It is the only one you will have in this lifetime so don't wear it out too soon! Notice what drains you. Have strong boundaries around your time and energy. You are perfect exactly as you are. Rather than looking to unrealistic media images of how you 'should' look, love your body for what it really is - the earthly home of your soul.
3 Drink Water
Our bodies are approx. 80% water and many activities of our modern lifestyle dehydrate us. I drink at least 8 glasses of water a day, more if I am travelling.
4 Use it or lose it!
Keep yourself as fit as you are now by doing what you can do - regularly. If all you can do is sit, but you can still move your arms and legs - keep moving them, regularly. Develop a routine. If you can only walk a few yards - do it regularly.
Whatever you can do - be it walk a few yards or swim 60 lengths, do it regularly as part of a routine, to stay at least as fit as you are now.
5 Push your own limits - just a little.
'Softly, softly, catchee monkey' so the old adage goes. If you are unfit, or suffering chronic health challenges, it is unwise to launch into any strenuous exercise. However we need to be challenged, just a little, in order to grow. Too much and we are overwhelmed and exhausted. Too little and we begin to lose what we have now, our muscles begin to waste. If you walk every day for 20 minutes, why not walk for 25 next time, then make it regularly 25 minutes? If you are house bound but you get up and potter around for 10 minutes, why not make it 12? If you go swimming twice a week and always do 30 lengths, why not do 32? Stretch yourself, just a little bit, more than what you can comfortably do now.
6 Get expert advice when you need it.
Take your health seriously. YOU are worth investing in. If you have a health challenge get opinions from a variety of 'experts'. Listen to their advice and proceed when you feel it is right and appropriate. Don't hand over responsibility to them for you.
7 Use your intuition.
No matter how many experts you consult, there is no substitute for your inner wisdom. Find a way to listen to that small, still voice inside you - and pay attention. Especially pay attention if you feel a particular treatment is right or wrong for you.
8 Laugh at least once every day.
Scientists are only just beginning to research the healing power of laughter. Why wait? It can't do you any harm and might do some good. So just go ahead and laugh!
9 Love yourself.
Love is a verb. It is something we do. Our pets thrive when we love them. Even our plants thrive when we love them. healing and growth are accelerated in the presence of love. Actively love yourself. Focus on whatever part of your body is ailing and remind yourself why you love it.
10 Focus your attention on healing.
In conjunction with number 9 (above) try this self-healing technique. Place your hands on the part of you that needs healing. Visualise a white beam of energy coming from your hands and surrounding that part of you. Imagine you are surrounding it with pure love. Why not just try it? - you have nothing to lose!
©Ruth Hadikin 2002. This article may not be reproduced whole or in part without permission from the author. To obtain permission e-mail Ruth Hadikin at ruth@dreamcoach.co.uk