Designed to Be Well

A Health Coach's Guide to Navigating the Science and Spirituality of Wellness

Erin Younkins

• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Year: 2019
• ISBN:
  9781645367833
• Topic: Développement personnel
• Subtopic: Amélioration personnelle

The pursuit of wellness isn't new, but as healthcare continues to evolve, preventative wellness is positioned to become an even greater priority. Following the Human Genome Project, thrilling advancements in personalized medicine and disease prevention are now offering us new and effective tools to achieve greater physical and mental health.We now have it within our reach to take an honest look at ourselves and to course-correct toward a healthier future. As science masters the 'what' in medicine today, this book intends to address the 'why' and to encourage readers to seek out health coaching, which is the 'how.'Each of us has been designed by a Master Creator, and true wellness requires a harmonious effort among the three components of self: body, mind, and soul. Designed to Be Well will help prepare you to not only achieve wellness, but to use your wellness to fulfill your purpose.

Chapter 1

Understanding the Roles of Body, Mind, and Spirit

“You are a soul, you have a body.”

– Unknown

It is difficult to acknowledge what cannot be seen, even when our understanding exceeds what we perceive. The relationship between our bodies, minds, and souls is hard to comprehend. The design of the human body is miraculous and complex but observable. The grander design of the human being, its connection to the world and to its Designer, is much more difficult to grasp. The functions of the body, the mind, and the soul are so different that it can sometimes feel easier to separate them as independent entities.

The Body

The body is the vehicle. The body keeps us alive. We breathe, eat, sleep, and walk. We see, hear, feel, taste, and smell. Our bodies demand attention with urgency while we postpone the needs of our minds and souls. And for better or worse, the speed with which we judge another person at first glance is quite literally instinctual and based on what the body looks like. The body is also responsible for connecting us to the physical. The body anchors us to the realities of the temporal world. The visceral desire for survival, comfort, and security drives our behavior each and every day. But the body is also a great gift and not something to be overcome.

I heard a beautiful homily once by Father Chuck Wible who was passionately preaching on the value of the body. He reminded the congregation that man was created in the image and likeness of God and that God then looked at what He had created and said, “It is good.” Father Chuck went on to share that beyond the story of creation, the New Testament makes very intentional and profound statements about the bodily resurrection of Christ. Jesus did not rise metaphorically. His return to the disciples was not an apparition or a mere vision. He was present, fully present, in body, mind, and spirit. His body was resurrected and He tells us that we will be raised up in the same way. Yes, our bodies will die, but we will be brought to life in Christ and will have physical bodies free from disease, disability, or pain. The Bible tells us that the body is a temple of the Holy Spirit and warns us that sins committed against the flesh are particularly serious. This is not because the sins themselves are necessarily ‘worse offenses’ but because to sin against one’s own flesh is especially damaging to one’s own soul. Towards the end of this inspiring homily, he also made the connection between the value of the body and the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. Not only are we to care for our own bodies, but we have been commanded to care for the bodies, minds, and souls of the people around us.

The Mind

Though the needs and appearance of our bodies are loud and difficult to ignore, most of us would assume that our identities are more heavily rooted in our minds. What we think and what we feel can be broken up into pieces of information that we have learned and stored. Experiences shape the way we process and react. Our preferences and our abilities expressed through our choices and actions are the deeper identity that lies beneath the physical description. And the mind is powerful. Raw emotion is difficult to hide, memories can’t be erased and depression and anxiety can choke the life out of our day. It works the other way too. Enthusiasm, gratitude, affirmations, and goal setting can change lives for the better. Healthy communication skills can improve relationships, innovation can solve worldwide epidemics, and strategies to cope with emotions can change the course of a person’s life.

But mind body harmony is challenging to achieve, even after we acknowledge the connection. The relationship between mind and body isn’t completely foreign to us, but that doesn’t automatically unite them.

Mind and Body Together

Most of us have experienced the physical effects of mental stress which has prompted us to seek some improvement in our mental and physical health, but this often requires a greater commitment than what we prepare ourselves for. Let’s take a closer look at the relationship of mind and body. The mind is made of the physical. While thoughts themselves are abstract, the physiology of thought is made up of cells, chemicals, and physical processes, just like the rest of our bodies. Every bit of information that we can know comes from our senses and travels to the base of the brain stem in our working memory—not to be confused with our short-term memory. This part of your brain processes (or makes sense of) the information that you see, hear, feel, smell, or taste. Then your working memory decides whether or not to store the information, as well as how to store the information. This process begins before you are born and continues throughout your lifetime, continuing to build the story of the unique individual that you are.

Your body also has autonomic functions that keep you alive. You don’t need to think about how to breathe or swallow or fall into restorative sleep. And by the same process I shared with you above, your brain attempts to protect you from an overwhelming amount of data by choosing not to store information that is unnecessary. But there are also specific and conscious instructions that your mind provides to your body. Because the body is driven to eat, drink, procreate, and seek safety, judgment is crucial in coming by these needs reasonably. Freud describes this relationship as Id and Ego. The body is driven by wants and needs (Id), but the mind makes educated choices with the information available (Ego).

Thoughts and choices are only one part of the mind body relationship, though there is much more. The science of how our minds and bodies work together is fascinating. Biochemicals in the brain and body transmit messages through neurons. When these chemicals are well balanced—according to our wonderful design—we are the best version of ourselves. We feel clear, focused, and calm. We feel hopeful, capable, and have an easier time relating to our environment and the people in it. The problem is none of us ever feels like this all the time. And many of us would report not feeling like this very often. And here is the tragic disconnect: this becomes our new normal.

Reading this, you’re probably thinking, “Of course I’d like to feel clear and calm and hopeful all the time, but that’s ridiculous; that’s not real life.” You wouldn’t be wrong. Of course, no one feels like that all the time. And yes, suffering is a part of life. Days get hectic, relationships are challenging, and sickness happens. But I would challenge you to look at this from a slightly different perspective. Should you accept mediocre function of body and mind? Or were you designed to be well? Are mental and physical health available to you even though it may not be your past or current experience? Do you believe that your mind and body are capable of supporting one another and functioning in a way that allows you to pursue your purpose without being weighed down by seemingly inevitable struggles of the human condition? Later on in the book, we will take a deeper look at how your body and mind are designed to function. It’s both amazingly complex and strikingly simple. Understanding the way your mind and body functions will allow you to see that illness, depression, fatigue, and pain do not need to be accepted as normal or inevitable.

The Soul

This chapter opens with a controversial quote: “You are a soul, you have a body.” This quote has been incorrectly credited to CS Lewis and many scholars and philosophers take great issue with it and its apparent contradiction to some Christian values. Personally, I appreciate this sentiment and do not believe that it devalues the body at all. I believe that you can continue to have great appreciation and care for your body while acknowledging that it, in its current state, is temporary. Whether you believe in life after death or not, you cannot argue that no one lives this life forever. So, for those of us who do believe that there is life after death, it is the soul that lasts.

Again, this book is not to argue the existence of God. If you believe that you have a soul and if you believe in God, most of what follows should more or less align with your beliefs. If you do not believe, or aren’t yet sure of what you believe, I hope you continue to engage in this conversation because the objective of this book is to encourage you to live well for yourself and for the people around you.

I believe in the human spirit. I believe that we were designed by a loving God who chose to create us with both intellect and free will. I believe that we were created to love, to create, to obey, and to think. I am amazed at the art and science that God expresses through life and all living things. I firmly believe that true freedom is found when we submit to the perfect design of our loving God instead of fighting against it. And because I believe in a single Creator, I believe that there is also a single truth. And the more of this truth that one can discover over a lifetime, the freer they become. Freedom to pursue that for which they were created. And just as the body provides the vehicle and the mind provides the organization, the soul fulfills the purpose. I believe wholeheartedly that a soul that is in tune with its purpose will be reflected by a healthy mind and body. Not a mind or body free from trials or all suffering, but a mind and body that are working in the way that they were designed to work.

Since the beginning of man, human beings have sought meaning and purpose and believed in a higher power. For thousands of years, priests, nuns, monks, and swamis have professed the belief that our nature is to be happy, healthy, and peaceful. Spiritual practice has involved quieting the mind, which supports a healthier body and leads to clarity for the soul. Even today, medical doctors acknowledge the positive effect of mindfulness and meditation by objective physical measures. What human beings have marveled at from ancient times up to today’s most advanced medicine is this: there is a beautiful and stunningly accurate order to things. In other words, a perfect design. My children and I often watch a program on the History channel called The Universe. Each episode focuses on astrophysics, quantum mechanics, and origins of our universe. It is mind blowing to listen to the expert scientists featured on the show explain the math and design behind everything from the Big Bang theory to the way particles interact with one another on a subatomic scale. The science and art of it all come together in how beautifully ordered everything is. In the midst of apparent chaos, endless possibilities, and a mind-blowing scale lies the consistent and predictable math that governs it all.

And human beings are not different. We are in fact, made up of that same stardust. We are amazingly complex with an awe-inspiring order. Discovering the design that you were created according to, empowers you to overcome obstacles and achieve your purpose.

Body and Soul Together

It is easier to perceive the connection between the body and mind, or between the mind and spirit, than it is between the spirit and body. This connection is more difficult to articulate but not impossible. The body provides the outward expression of the inner state. When a spirit is at peace, the body is more relaxed. When the spirit is troubled, bitter, or afraid, the body reflects that too. The reflection goes beyond body language or facial expression. A spirit that is suffering, disconnected from its purpose and from its creator, is often reflected in real physical illness. Even modern medicine recognizes the significant effect of stress on physiology. Later in this book, we will explore the role that both mental and spiritual states can have on epigenetics and how brilliant discoveries in the way our genes work can help us to better assess the state of our spiritual health. The dichotomy between spirit and body makes it even more important to incorporate physical expression in spiritual practice and to use mindfulness to bridge the gap between the two. Some would argue that because it is what lies in the next life that matters, and because detaching from this world assists in achieving deeper spirituality, the body should matter much less, but I disagree. You were purchased at a price and your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.” (1 Corinthians 6:19)

The deep love that God expresses in His perfect design and creation of women and men, includes a stunning physical body that was made to serve, to praise, and to take part in the miraculous creation of life. To detach from the world is a valuable practice to increase in purity, clarity, and peace. But to ignore the body and its role in this life and reaching the next life is shortsighted.

Mind and Soul Together

Sometimes, the ego versus the superego. Sometimes, the head versus the heart. On a good day, they work together as an informed conscience working together to overcome the temptations of the flesh. Spirit and mind are working together all the time, but a troubled mind can often shut the spirit down and perpetuate negative beliefs, negative habits, and disordered thoughts. The mind can be so loud that it drowns out the spirit. St. Teresa used to pray that God would help her ‘tame the wild horses’ of her mind so that she could properly meditate during prolonged prayer. Stillness is easy enough to achieve physically, but quieting the mind takes major practice. Maintaining an even state of mind is key in remaining disciplined for physical practice and for facilitating spiritual growth. Succumbing to anger, sadness, frustration, pressure, and fatigue are regular struggles to varying degrees for all of us. A strong mental and spiritual relationship rooted in simplicity and support can foster physical health and overall balance that enable a person to pursue their purpose.

The Pillars of Spirituality

Christianity, among other world religions, recognizes prayer, fasting, and almsgiving as the three pillars of spirituality. Each of these pillars has an impact on mind, body, and spirit, as well as a dynamic effect among the three. Just as mind, body, and spirit cannot be separated when seeking holistic health, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving cannot be separated when attempting to achieve spiritual maturity.

There are many kinds of prayer: meditative mantras, scripture or other readings, free praying, or recitation of written prayer. The pillar of prayer serves the spirit by creating an open channel from us to God. Prayer is a deliberate call to be heard, it is a conversation. It incorporates praise and thanksgiving but regularly includes a petition for God’s graces, mercy, and temporal assistance. Prayer can also serve to focus the mind and provide space for reflection. In a world full of noise and near constant demands on the conscious brain, prayer invites the individual to meditate and detach from the world. These days, it seems that wellness refers often to ‘mindfulness’ almost as a substitute for prayer. Of course, as a practitioner, it is important to not assume or impose beliefs on a client. I agree wholeheartedly with freedom of religion and understand the importance of respecting one another’s beliefs. I also wholeheartedly encourage people to open themselves up to prayer, to a conversation with God, in their own way, and to view the relationship as one full of promise and potential. Mindfulness is useful as a tool to self-assess and self-regulate, and we will discuss useful mindfulness techniques in this book, but be sure not to confuse the practice of prayer with the practice of mindfulness. Prayer also has measurable benefits for the body. Since ancient times, people worship through movement and position. Modern medicine has recognized the benefits of prayer on lowering blood pressure, managing pain, and improving a whole host of ailments.

Fasting is the next pillar and its benefits are often gravely overlooked. Fasting does not just refer to food and should include abstaining from other worldly comforts, as well as abstaining from making purchases that are not crucial. Fasting provides real and tangible detachment from the world and involves the dedication and cooperation of body, mind, and spirit. The spirit leads the way by identifying one purpose of fasting.

There is a relatively well-known Bible verse that says, “Be still and know that I am God.” It is a lovely, comforting verse and one that speaks to me. I wanted to dive deeper into the verse itself, and I find that one of the best ways to do that is to look at the meaning of that particular scripture in its original Latin, Hebrew, or Greek. In this case, the Latin for “Be still and know” is “Vacate et videte.” The truest meaning of this is to be free from, or empty of, what you perceive to be real around you, and then you will truly know and be able to see what is real. There is nothing more real than God. Nothing is real without God.

To detach from the things of the world that chain us to what is temporary and passing is to become freer and more capable of seeing what exists outside our small experience. Fasting gives us that chance, but it isn’t easy. It isn’t easy, but isn’t it tempting? And isn’t that what the big picture is all about? Wellness is the necessary state to pursue meaning and truth. Fasting is invaluable to achieve that kind of wellness. Fasting is good for the mind too. In an age of excess and availability, fasting gives us a chance at discipline. Anything worth having is worth working for. Achieving wellness and pursuing purpose are what it’s all about, and satisfaction at the end of the road is sure to be worth it. Discipline cannot be overlooked, and there is no shortcut to growth and maturity.

The physical benefits of fasting are astounding. As a therapist and health coach, whenever I bring up fasting, there is a pretty common response that involves hesitancy and disappointment. “Ugh. I have to give up what? How many calories am I supposed to have? I can’t have sugar anymore!” This resistance is usually followed up with something to the effect of: “But I have to eat every few hours, I’ll get dizzy, I just don’t feel right. I don’t think it’s good for me to fast.” Sorry, that’s just not true. The beauty of being designed by the Master Designer is that he has provided you with a body that can tolerate the spiritual work he requires of you. And my friends, fasting isn’t supposed to be comfortable. Much like training for a race, it hurts a little. Listen to the stories of any professional athlete—none of them talks about how easy and painless their training was. But lucky for us, we were designed to be tough and to survive, and to even grow and get stronger because of our challenges.

Fasting has a phenomenal effect on the brain that is crucial in the process of cleaning out damaging chemicals and producing the protective chemicals that prevent Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and depression. The functions that produce these chemical reactions do not turn on in the brain until it has reached a 12–15-hour duration of fasting. These aren’t above and beyond measures, they are necessary! In recent years, the Paleo diet has become popular based on the narrative (and good science) that humans from Paleolithic times were healthier based on what they had access to and did not have access to. It also accounts for the fact that for most of mankind’s time here on earth, there were no such things as stores, refrigerators, or constant access to food. Since the beginning of time, man was meant to not only tolerate times of fasting but to benefit from them! In addition to the brain, other organs also reap the benefits of a fast. While the body was most certainly designed to be resilient and to handle a wide variety of toxins, in today’s world, we often flood our bodies with these agents faster than we can clear them out. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, humans today cons...

Table of contents

• Designed to Be Well
• About the Author
• About the Book
• Dedication
• Copyright Information
• Acknowledgement
• Introduction
• Chapter 1
• Chapter 2
• Chapter 3
• Chapter 4
• Chapter 5
• Chapter 6
• Chapter 7
• Chapter 8
• Chapter 9
• Chapter 10
• Epilogue