September/October 1998
Articles on the theme "Health Consciousness"
A Matter of Life and Death
by Sylvia Jackson
The writer, who is dying of brain cancer,
gives some advice concerning prevention and medical exams.
Magic Tea Plus
by Constance Felos
How an attorney and her client created an adventurous new paradism of health
consciousness. The recipe for a special herbal tea.
Health-Minded Living
by Bob Gonzalez
Some tips from the manager of a health
food store how to achieve and maintain optimum physical health.
Miracle Consciousness
by JoAnne Gregory
Miracles, fake or real? What is it
that makes miracles possible?
How's Your Subconscious?
by Patrick Plaskett
Habits and their effect on our health.
Changing bad habits. Creating a different future.
True Health Consciousness
by Carol L. Roberts, MD
A doctor talks about what you can do
to avoid visits to the doctor.
Becoming Health Conscious
by Dr. Audrey Craft Davis
The importance of our words and thoughts.
Becoming food conscious. Our attitude to things, especially money. Counting
our blessings. Awareness of others and the environment.
A Simple Clay Bath!
by Lauana Lei
How the writer, suffering from heavy
chemical/metal poisoning, recovered her health by taking a clay bath.
A Healing Education
by Barbara Bedingfield
An account by a Waldorf teacher of
the basic educational requirements for maintaining the health of a child.
Our Spiritual Source
by Rev. Pat Cross
On connecting with our spiritual source
to realize a true health consciousness. Using our spiritual powers to heal
ourselves.
Other Feature Articles
2000 and Beyond!
by David Findlay
Natural Health Q&A
by Dr. Scott Rubin
Parasites and allergies -- some natural
remedies.
What is . . . A Course In Miracles?
by Mary Barbara
How "A Course In Miracles"
came to be and some of its basic teachings.
Mineral Kingdom
by Judy Power
Featured stones for September and October:
Labrodorite and Opalized Quartz
How's Your Subconscious?
by Patrick Plaskett
Nearly everything that we do in our daily lives is done unconsciously or subconsciously. We need only struggle with the conscious use of a fork or the controls of an automobile for a short time before we can use these things without even the slightest thought as to how we do it. We can decide how we like our eggs and order them the same way every time. How do you take your coffee or tea? Most anything can become habitual. This feature of our mind frees up the conscious mind to focus on new stimuli and events in our lives. We can, therefore, be more alert and more aware in the present moment. Routine activity is automatic and requires no thought. We repeat virtually all of our actions with a high degree of predictability and feel that we're behaving consciously. I believe that our conscious mind is simply witnessing the events of the day, thereby giving us the illusion that we're consciously executing all of our behavior.
The only time we get the slightest hint that we're not behaving with the conscious control that we wish we had is when something goes awry - as when we drive a mile past our intended turn. Who was driving the car? Perhaps you've sworn to cut back on saturated fats in your diet and suddenly found deep-fried chicken on your plate. Who ordered that? When we try to change something, then we find that our habits are playing us like puppets. The old behavior goes on like some free-wheeling machine.
This is not so bad if our habits have been filtered through a conscious mind of health. If we have been making decisions based upon what will contribute to our holistic well being, then we can trust our habits not to dwell on negativity, not to overreact, not to neglect our spiritual life, and to get the right kind of nutrition, exercise, rest, and recreation.
Unfortunately, nobody is perfect. We all have had habits of thought and action thrust upon us by our family, our peers, our culture, and our emergency reactions to bad conditions in the past. Most people find that they habitually are a little more tired than they should be, or a little overweight, or a little edgy, or a little depressed, etc. Most of us learn to live with it. No one will intervene unless you don't show up for work. But we can all use life to do a little fine-tuning on our programs to live life more fully. We can reassert ourselves as captains of our destiny and overcome the inertial movement of past habit.
The first thing we must do is realize that there is a problem. Perhaps the way that we interpret events or respond to life is not giving us the peace of mind that we should have. Perhaps eating and exercising as we have been is slowly tearing down our natural state of health. Next, we must get alternatives to the habits that have been supporting this state of less-than-perfect health. This can be done through friends, professional counseling, or reading books. Finally, the alternative must be implemented. Alas, to know better is not always sufficient to do better. How many times have you heard, "I know I should, but . . . ?"
To overcome the inertia of past habits, it is absolutely necessary to have the power of anticipation. It usually takes the form of anticipating the escape from pain or anticipating the pleasure of what life can truly be like once the necessary changes have been made. Without the power of anticipation, all plans for change are merely theories. Without this power applied to the helm of your ship, all plans for change are courses that are charted but never taken. One recognizes anticipation as an emotional feeling, a positive feeling of impending improvement. It cannot be taken simply as an idea of change, but rather an image so strong and vivid that it evokes a change in the subconscious mind. Animals can react out of habit, but only humans can stand outside of time and connect emotionally with the future, a different future. We thereby create our future and fulfill ourselves as humans.
It is possible to look at every less-than-healthy habit as an opportunity for self-development and self-regeneration. I suggest we reexamine all of our attitudes, beliefs and physical habits to see if there is an area which could be improved if done more consciously, more healthily.
Patrick Plaskett is a hypnotist and the director of Mind Advantage in St. Petersburg, FL. He is a member of the Florida Association of Professional Hypnotists and holds a bachelors degree in psychology from USF. (727) 381-9101