We will discuss the aspects of humans that can’t be measured but are essential for health. There is a non-physical aspect to each one of us that needs to be acknowledged and discussed if we want to seek after optimum health.
We are a 3 part whole. We are spirit, have a soul, and live in a body.
Body: Our physical being. This is the part of us we can touch. The body is alive only if the soul and spirit are present in the body. Conversely, the body dies when the soul and spirit depart from the body.
It is by our body that we function. It’s comprised of organs and cells which consists of protein, carbohydrates and fats. Our body contains our nervous system with nerves and the brain. It’s through our bodies that we connect to the physical world with our five senses. The Body: relates to our environment and the world.
Soul: Soul is the best English word for the Greek word psyche. This is the root word for psychological and refers to our personhood or personality, which is separate from our physical bodies, but very much alive and ever changing. The emotional aspect of our being and the distinct personality traits that make us unique are rooted in our soul. The soul can be thought of as our mind, will, and emotions. It’s how we relate to others.
Our soul is what gives us our personality and it’s through our soul that we live out our relationship with God, with other people and with our self. Our soul likely has three major components — our mind, will and emotions. Our mind has a conscious part and a subconscious part. The conscious mind is where we do our thinking and reasoning. The sub-conscious mind is where we hold our deep beliefs and our attitudes. It’s also where we have our feeling, our emotions and retain our memories. Our will is what gives us the ability to make choices. Through a very complex way, our mind, our will and our emotions are connected to the body through our endocrine, nervous and immune systems.
“The mind and body communicate constantly. What the mind thinks, perceives, and experiences is sent from our brain to the rest of the body.” Herbert Benson, M.D
Spirit: Our spirit can be thought of as the immaterial part of us that includes our conscience, our “intuition”, and the part of us that can seek spirituality through prayer or meditation. In this model, spiritual pursuits, prayer, and having moral values would occur in our spirit. A sense of inner joy or peace happen in our spirit. At other times our conscience, a spiritual concept, might tell us we need to forgive someone or make some life changes.
It’s in our spirit that we have meaning and purpose in life. At the deepest level our spirit gives us meaning and purpose and our spirit enables us to love one another, our self and God. It’s through our spirit that we have communion and fellowship with God. Our spirit gives us intuition between right and wrong.
Our spiritual health will have a significant impact on our emotional health which will have a major influence on our physical health. The inter-connection between the spirit, the soul and the body is certainly a complex connection, nevertheless, the connection is very real.
The Interaction Between Spirit, Soul and Body
Many of us are affected by how we handle the stress that life brings us. If chronic stress is left unchecked, over a period of time our bodies will take a toll. A strong faith can help us to cope with the stress that we experience in our life and enable the impact of that stress to be less significant. Without a strong personal faith we must resort to our own resources to cope with the stress present in our life. Often we attempt to cope with this stress through addictions and other methods of escape, or avoiding pain. This behavior can further exacerbate the effect of stress on our physical health. A strong personal faith can be a resource that helps to manage stress.
Our beliefs and attitudes, determined in large degree by our faith, will play a major role in our thinking patterns. Our day to day thinking will have an impact on our emotions and feelings, and our emotions and feelings will have a major impact on our behaviors. In this regard, our thought patterns play a significant role in our emotional and physical health.
Body
Keeping your body healthy includes eating foods that are nutritious and will benefit your body, exercising to keep your body strong, and resting to allow your body much-needed rejuvenation. If you have a physical illness or infirmity, natural healing processes can strengthen your body through proper nourishment. Fresh air, sunlight, and clean water are important to your body’s wellness.
Sould
Your soul can control much of your natural healing capabilities. With positive thinking and a good mental attitude, your soul can work with your body to promote healing and wellbeing. Your soul needs to rest just like your body does, so take a break to pray, read, meditate, or just enjoy a peaceful moment. These practices will keep your mental health as strong and intact as your physical health.
Spirit
Your spiritual health is another important part of the body-mind-spirit connection of holistic health. Your spirit allows you to receive physical healing and mental wellness from God, which leads to natural healing and holistic health that is greater than what you could achieve without His mercy and grace. By cleansing and detoxifying the body, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit; quieting and focusing the mind; and practicing spiritual disciplines, you can know the wholeness of the Holy Spirit. A spiritual connection with God is one of the best things you can do to achieve the life and health you’ve always wanted.
