Northern Reflections on Health

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Can you ‘self-arrest’ your health?

July 30, 2014 By Wendy Margolese 10 Comments

©GlowImages -Tip to self-arrest your health
©GlowImages -Tip to self-arrest your health

With the upsurge of evidence-based medicine, some may feel caught in an avalanche of tests, treatments, diagnoses and even drug trials. But, one small change of thought can self-arrest this slide and change your circumstances, just like the tiny spike of an ice axe can stop the slide of someone mountaineering in snow.

This analogy came to me when reading this story about the use of an ice axe:

If you’ve ever gone mountain climbing in the snow, you may have had the chance to use an ice ax. It’s especially useful if you lose your footing, fall to the ground, and start sliding down a slope. As momentum builds, it becomes harder to stop. But if you have an ice ax, the same body weight that tries to pull you down the mountain can be used to arrest the fall.

All you have to do is put the ice ax up against your body, point facing down into the snow, and lie face down on the hillside. The ax has a small point on one end that is driven into the snow by the weight of your body. This creates drag, and this helps slow you down. This is often called “self-arrest.”

It’s pretty amazing to think that a tiny spike can change a situation for a climber from sliding down a slippery slope to one of safety.

To think of pain and disease as an unavoidable part of life puts us, mentally, in an always-at-risk mode. So fear is never far from the surface, and over time this underlying fear for our well-being wreaks havoc on our health.

Like the tiny spike of the ice ax, one glimpse of an insight into a divine source for our health, ever-present and all-powerful, can arrest the fear that our health is based on tests and treatments. That good health is, at best, a temporary status.

How can we arrest this fear and anxiety?

It’s not easy, and to do it we have to get to the root of why we are afraid. It seems to me that we have to rethink this idea that our health is dependent on the body; and, the body is something that is fragile and vulnerable and able to act on its own. There is good evidence that the body is actually governed by our thinking. And, further, that spiritual thinking and reasoning about the body results in improved health. This spiritual reasoning would include gaining an understanding that there is a greater power – a Divine source – that is not only good but also in control of all things, including our health.

The apostle Paul wrote: ‘For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.’ Paul was sure of this because the many trials he experienced – including seeing his health and well being protected time and time again when he turned to God – gave him proof that he had no need to fear.

Realizing this connection between fear and it’s impact on our health, spiritual healer and author, Mary Baker Eddy wrote, ‘Stand porter at the door

Stand porter at the door of thought
Stand porter at the door of thought

of thought. Admitting only such conclusions as you wish realized in bodily results, you will control yourself harmoniously.’

A glimpse of this spiritual identity – loved and protected by God – can self -arrest the fear that another power could separate us from our state of health and well-being.

My friend, Bill, was greatly fearful when debilitating pain began one Friday and persisted through the weekend. The crisis came – either the pain went, or he would seek medical treatment. His self-arrest was his study of the Scriptures and his faith in an all-loving God. As his sense of the presence and power of divine love controlling all things increased, the fear and pain both dissolved.

The tip of the ice ax can stop a dangerous slide; the glimpse of divinely constituted health can stop the fear and anxiety that health can slip away.

This article was published in several Metroland online papers, including Durham Region

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Filed Under: Archives, Health and Well-Being Tagged With: Divine, fear, healing, health, Mary Baker Eddy, over treatment, self-arrest, spiritual

Comments

  1. Jules says

    July 31, 2014 at 11:46 am

    Some of your readers might be interested in our Christian Science Yahoo Group:
    …
    https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ChristianScienceIssues2/conversations/messages/46526

    Your “self arrest” article is there with full credits!

    as ever, Observer Jules…

    Reply
    • Wendy Margolese says

      July 31, 2014 at 3:33 pm

      🙂

      Reply
  2. Jules says

    July 31, 2014 at 11:27 am

    Hi Wendy..this article is generating a lot of interest…Amy Torres of ACIM (A Course in Miracles) has posted it on her Facebook.
    What a wonderful contribution towards healing you are!
    https://www.facebook.com/ACIMBodyImage

    ….as ever, Observer Jules…

    Reply
    • Wendy Margolese says

      July 31, 2014 at 3:32 pm

      Thanks, Jules! I am very grateful for the shares.
      Wendy

      Reply
  3. Jules says

    July 30, 2014 at 3:31 pm

    Dear Wendy, Bravo on this wonderful piece.
    We, all, truly must be able to “catch” ourselves from going down the slippery slope of fear and self pity!
    Sure footed with an accepting and steadfast heart will be the pathway ahead…if only we are prepared with the tools of faith, understanding and love!

    ……respectfully, Observer Jules…..

    Reply
    • ontariocommittee says

      July 30, 2014 at 4:06 pm

      Thank you, Jules. Always a pleasure to hear from you.
      Wendy

      Reply
  4. Sharon Leman says

    July 30, 2014 at 2:55 pm

    Thanks Wendy! I especially like the analogy of the ice-axe. If we don’t catch those pesky fears in the beginning that can be the catalyst for the descent down that slippery slope of backsliding and the work to stop the fears and anxiety becomes that much harder because we have to climb back to where we were in the first place! That’s a good red flag to deal with the fear immediately! Thank you for your unique perspective!

    Reply
    • Wendy Margolese says

      July 30, 2014 at 3:01 pm

      Thank you, Sharon! Love your reference to ‘pesky fears’! So true!

      Reply
  5. Carol says

    July 30, 2014 at 1:45 pm

    Easy to understand and put into practice! Thanks Wendy!

    Reply
    • Wendy Margolese says

      July 30, 2014 at 1:50 pm

      Thank you for reading this post, Carol! You, too, give the world glimpses that change thought.

      Reply

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Wendy Margolese

Wendy_Margolese

I was born and raised in a small Northern Ontario mining town. You can never take the warmth of the North out of a girl’s heart. So, I would like to take this opportunity to share heartfelt thoughts with you about a topic important to each of us – our health and well-being. Visit my About page to learn more.

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