Full size book cover of The Healing Self: A Revolutionary New Plan to Supercharge Your Immunity and Stay Well for Life}

The Healing Self: A Revolutionary New Plan to Supercharge Your Immunity and Stay Well for Life

Deepak Chopra, Rudolph E. Tanzi

3.91(1711 readers)
After collaborating on two major books featured as PBS specials, Super Brain and Super Genes, Chopra and Tanzi now tackle the issue of lifelong health and heightened immunity.

In the face of environmental toxins, potential epidemics, super bugs, and the aging process The Healing Self offers a unique "whole system" approach that integrates mind and body into one entity. Only by getting past the artificial division between mind and body can personal, holistic healing become real. In our fast-paced and ever-changing world, the burden of healing rests on the individual making the right lifestyle choices every day. Chopra and Tanzi want to guide us to make the best decisions possible and they offer a cutting-edge, Seven-Day Action Plan which allows the reader free choice to develop a personalized path to self-healing.
Besides this unique feature, The Healing Self prioritizes two factors--stress and inflammation--that are emerging as crucial to lifelong health and well-being. A host of chronic disorders like hypertension, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and much more, are known to takes years and sometimes decades to develop before the first symptoms appear. The medical system isn't set up to attend to chronic low-grade inflammation or the everyday stresses that take their toll over a lifetime. Therefore, learning the secrets of self-healing is mandatory; otherwise, each of us is gambling with our very future.
Chopra's inspiring prose and Tanzi's experience as the world's leading researcher in brain health and Alzheimer's disease make for a unique combination of knowledge and wisdom. The Healing Self is a high point in a partnership that has benefitted millions of people to date. It is destined to be a landmark book in the growing movement of self-care and lifelong wellness.

Publisher

Harmony

Publication Date

1/30/2018

ISBN

9780451495525

Pages

275

Categories

Medicine

Questions & Answers

The concept of the "healing self" redefines the traditional healer-patient dynamic by merging the roles of healer and patient into a single entity—the individual. This means that the responsibility for health and healing shifts from external sources (like doctors) to the individual themselves. The implications for personal health and well-being are significant:

  1. Empowerment: Individuals gain control over their health, leading to increased motivation and engagement in self-care.
  2. Preventive Focus: The focus shifts from treating symptoms to preventing illness through lifestyle choices, potentially reducing the need for medical interventions.
  3. Holistic Approach: The healing self emphasizes a holistic view of health, considering physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects, which can lead to more comprehensive and effective healing.
  4. Self-Awareness: By taking on the healer's role, individuals become more aware of their body's signals and emotional states, fostering better self-regulation and healing.
  5. Long-term Benefits: The healing self promotes a lifelong commitment to health and well-being, potentially extending lifespan and healthspan.

Total immunity encompasses factors that contribute to holistic health, intertwining mind, body, and spirit. Key factors include:

  1. Lifestyle Choices: Diet, exercise, and stress management reduce inflammation and bolster the immune system.
  2. Mindfulness: Awareness of thoughts, emotions, and behaviors helps manage stress and inflammation.
  3. Social Support: Relationships and community foster emotional well-being, reducing stress and inflammation.
  4. Beliefs: Positive, flexible beliefs promote happiness and reduce stress.
  5. Spiritual Practices: Meditation, prayer, and other contemplative practices enhance self-awareness and well-being.

These factors interact by influencing the bodymind's chemical and neural pathways, promoting balance and resilience. For instance, positive beliefs can alter the immune response, while social support can mitigate stress and inflammation. This interconnected approach emphasizes the importance of holistic health for total immunity.

Beliefs and emotions profoundly influence the bodymind system. Positive beliefs and emotions can enhance immunity, reduce stress, and promote healing, while negative ones can weaken the immune system, increase stress, and hinder recovery. To transform negative beliefs and foster a healing mindset, strategies include:

  1. Self-awareness: Recognize and challenge negative thoughts and emotions.
  2. Mindfulness: Practice mindfulness to stay present and reduce stress.
  3. Positive Affirmations: Replace negative beliefs with positive affirmations.
  4. Social Support: Surround yourself with supportive, positive people.
  5. Journaling: Reflect on your beliefs and emotions to gain clarity.
  6. Meditation: Meditate to calm the mind and foster a sense of peace.
  7. Physical Activity: Exercise to improve mood and reduce stress.
  8. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Engage in CBT to change negative thought patterns.

By adopting these strategies, one can create a more balanced and healing mindset, leading to improved physical and mental well-being.

The latest scientific findings suggest that lifestyle choices significantly impact diseases like Alzheimer’s, cancer, and heart disease. For instance, staying in school until at least the age of fifteen can reduce dementia risk by 8%. Education builds cognitive reserve, protecting against memory loss. Heart disease can be reversed with lifestyle changes like diet, exercise, meditation, and stress reduction. Inflammation is a key factor; an anti-inflammatory diet and managing stress can prevent and manage heart disease and cancer. For cancer, up to 50% of cases are preventable with lifestyle choices like not smoking, a natural diet, and avoiding carcinogens. To apply these insights, adopt a healing lifestyle focusing on diet, exercise, stress management, and social engagement to prevent and manage these conditions.

Individuals can cultivate self-awareness and higher experiences through mindfulness practices, such as meditation, which enhances awareness of thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations. This leads to higher experiences like inner peace, compassion, and a sense of connection to a larger purpose. By focusing on core beliefs and challenging negative ones, individuals can foster positive self-worth and security. Engaging in non-struggle by embracing flow and surrendering to life's natural course also contributes to well-being. Continuous learning and social engagement stimulate cognitive reserve and protect against cognitive decline. Finally, embracing the pull of the self and seeking higher consciousness through spiritual practices can lead to profound personal growth and evolution, enhancing human consciousness as a whole.

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