What is it the true cause of situations in our lives which require healing? For instance, let’s take the physical body. Many of us hold the belief that if there is a physical ailment in the body, then if we treat the body, the symptoms will go away. That’s what we have taught in the West to believe. We treat the symptoms, the symptoms temporarily leave and then reappear and we fall into the same cycle once again, often annually. Most Eastern philosophies emphasize treating the root cause of the problem rather than the symptoms.

What is it that is actually causing this state of dis-ease in the first place? What’s really going on with your body, mind and spirit? By taking a wholistic perspective, we can benefit ourselves to a much greater degree.

From a physical standpoint, an ailment can usually be attributed to poor dietary habits, an imbalance lifestyle, stress, genetic factors, etc. Additionally, there’s usually some emotion, trauma, repressed feelings, unprocessed information, that is contributing to or which may be the actual cause of your physical situation. For example, if you’ve got some physical challenges with your liver, there are probably some anger issues in your life that also need to be addressed.

Ayurveda, the ancient Eastern system of healing, teaches us that we are everything that we take in. We are what we eat. We are the emotions that we feed ourselves. We are the news we ingest.

Whatever area your challenge may lie – physical, spiritual, mental, financial, etc., take responsibility for healing that area of your life. First, start by listening to your body; it will tell you whatever it is that you need to hear. The body has the natural ability to heal itself, given the proper time and attention.

Take some time to meditate and go inside and do some self-exploration. Start by asking yourself some simple questions.

What situations occurred in your life and overwhelmed you so that you stopped listening to your body?

Was it when you were young and trying to fit in with the crowd? Was it when you were taught that you shouldn’t cry in public and then began repressing your feelings?

Was it that your parents were too busy with their own lives and problems that they didn’t have time for you?

Perhaps it was in high school or college when you were trying to excel academically, participate in extra curricular activities, hold down that part time job, and still maintain a social life. Or, maybe it was when you entered the work force. You remember, you thought that perfect job would be waiting for you after you graduated and much to your surprise, it wasn’t. Or, maybe it was when you had to become the parent to your parents.

Regardless of the situation, maybe it’s time to listen a little closer now. What is it that you’re really feeling? What is the pain or challenge truly about?

This awareness of your body and soul may not happen overnight. It took me years. It was only when I started to listen to the messages that my body was sending me that I could get in touch with my soul. Each of us is continually receiving messages from within. However, most of the time, we choose to ignore them because we supposedly have better things to do.

So, start listening to your body and it’s fine to start small. Next time you are having an off day or feeling really agitated, question what it is. Was it something you ate? Something someone said? Something you read or saw on tv? Next time someone says something to upset you, look at your reaction and don’t judge it. Why do others’ words have such power over you? Is it because you’ve taken it personally? Maybe because they’re pointing out something in yourself that you are reluctant to look at? It’s said in the scriptures that we are all mirrors of one another.

There’s an ancient practice known as witness consciousness. It involves stepping out of your situation and examining it objectively, and not identifying with your body or your feelings. Watch them and see whatever arises as would watch clouds in the sky – from a place of detachment. Feel the feelings but realize that you are not your pain, or your grief, sadness, anger or whatever else comes up for you. Get in touch with your heart and awaken your spirit.

It’s often habitual not to feel the difficult emotions. How often do you repress your feelings and discard them as you would items in your basement, to be dealt with later? That basement is our subconscious. Eventually those items resurface, often as a physiological dis-ease that is activated by a memory or a trauma. Now is the time to clean house and there may be years of stuff to sort through. Take a trip back to the past and examine the experiences you’ve had over the years, both pleasurable and painful, that have left an impact on your pschye. See how these old events still contribute to your behaviors and reactions today. Become conscious of them and allow them to be let go, as you would with any unnecessary baggage. Be kind to yourself during this process.

What if it was ok if you messed up once in a while? If you’ve done your best was there any more that you could have done? Do you expect yourself to be superhuman at all times? Can you look at yourself in the mirror and truly love yourself for who you are? If not, start by using the affirmation that Jeff often mentions: “I love myself! I deserve to have it all!”

Why choose to be defined by your circumstances or how others see you? You may have to embark on a journey of forgiveness. The first person that needs to be forgiven is usually yourself. Then you can move on to your parents, former partners, etc.

First, you must heal your heart and then only afterwards could the rest of the body follow suit. When one works with the heart, many issues may surface and you have to be present to look at them, feel them, and process them. Sometimes it’s just easier to think it’s too painful and to choose not to deal with the old impressions. It requires patience, kindness, and willingness.

As my Ayurvedic teacher, a brilliant healer, used to say, “The issues are in the tissues”. It’s a great art to learn to be ok with what’s happening and not deny what you’re feeling, either physically or emotionally. Rather than spending time running to doctors or looking to others to heal your situation, examine your heart.

We all have something in our past which holds us back, which keeps us from awakening to our full potential. It may be related to your career, education, family, relationships, or health. That one thing, “If I only hadn’t…. or the “What if…” Most of you can think of something you haven’t forgiven yourself for, maybe not being a good enough partner/ friend/ network marketer/ socially responsible individual, whatever…. What is one thing that springs to mind? Can you look at it without judging?

Try and see that you did the best you could in that situation. Can you try and see that maybe it’s all part of a greater plan that you may not see for years down the road? Can you accept it for what it is? It doesn’t mean you have to like it. How about spending a minute just feeling the feelings without judging them? Can you take a moment and just try and forgive your self for what you think you did wrong? And if you can’t forgive yourself at this moment can you at least be ok with not forgiving yourself just yet? This is where true healing begins.

How about agreeing to embark on this journey of the spirit? Start small. How about trying to accept what happens today as it is without judging it or more importantly yourself? Just be kind to yourself for the rest of the day. You could also try and forgive yourself for not keeping the house cleaner or for not getting that prospect you swore you’d have by today or for not returning that phone call or for saying no when someone asked you to do something. You know those instances when you think, “Oh I’m not a good person because...”

Start with these things and eventually work up to the issues that have been with you for longer periods of time. You don’t have to carry your past around with you like a ball and chain. Remember to breathe through it all.

It’s an on-going process of being with the pain and letting it cut deep, facing and accepting whatever emotions arise and then forgiving yourself if necessary for your perceived role in the events that had occurred.

The next time something uncomfortable comes up, resist the temptation to reach for the nearest comfort food or the telephone or to head straight to your e-mail. Instead, reach for the deepest corner of your heart and examine what’s there. You don’t have to do it all alone. It’s fine to seek support as you need it. However, only you can initially get to the heart of the matter.