I am usually healthy. Recently I’ve been sick twice. A few weeks ago I had a bad cold that lasted 2 weeks. A few days ago I got sick again. A visit to my doctor confirmed that it is viral, just like it was last time. Clearly, my body is trying to tell me something. But what?

It was time for Pause and Reflection. I stepped back and became an observant (rather than just a participant) in my own life. I realized that I have been de-cluttering, cleaning up, and packing for our move in 2 weeks, and at the same time I’ve continued to do what I really love ? coaching privately and in groups and teaching. You see, it is all good and exciting stuff. I’m excited about moving, and I love helping people transform their lives. It is not like there is some negative energy that’s draining me now, and still ? it was too much for my body. Although I love everything I have on my plate, I had to take some things off. After reflecting, it was clear to me that my work and the move are my top priority now, after my health. So in order to maintain balance, I rescheduled personal appointments for after the move, and I will not attend any social events right now. Based on my experience not only this week but many times before, I developed my philosophy around self-healing.

Here are 4 steps for self-healing:

1. Take an active role in the healing process.
   Don’t leave it all up to your doctors. Your doctor’s job is to focus on your illness, and doctors see things from that perspective. Your job is to take a more holistic look at your situation and to explore additional ways you can support your health. I’ve worked with many people who felt hopeless and victims to their physical situation until they realized that they can take care of their well-being on an emotional, spiritual, mental, and environmental level to support what conventional medicine can do for them. For example, Reiki and meditation is for me what yoga and other healing practices are for other people: a natural way to get your body to its natural state of balance, harmony, and good health. Filling up your tank daily and not waiting for a crisis is important and is going to help you be engaged in the healing process.

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2. Listen to your body and respond with action.
   Your body is always talking to you. You just need to listen. What do you do when you get a message from your body in the form of a little ache or pain? Do you suppress the cause of the symptom by taking a pill, or are you looking at the cause of the discomfort? If something is eating at you inside and the negative emotions or the stress has manifested in your body, you can only heal if you pay attention to what is causing the dis-ease. Louise Hay, queen of positive thinking, says: ?The body, like everything else in life, is a mirror of our inner thoughts and beliefs. The body is always talking to us, if we will only take the time to listen?.

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3. Ask yourself one important question: what can I take off my plate?
   Apparently your body is telling you that ?something? is too much. Even if you are like me and you love everything you do, it can still be too much for your body. Experiencing discomfort or being sick is the perfect opportunity to evaluate what you have on your plate and to take some things off. If this concept speaks to you, please read my two previous articles:
   What Can You Take-off Your Plate
   Get Your Family to Share the Load

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4. Do whatever it takes to feel better emotionally.
   Well-being is the natural state of the body. Instead of working hard on healing the cells of the body, focus on feeling better and allow healing to unfold. I’ve learned this philosophy from Esther Hicks, and I believe in the importance of separating the physical and the emotional journeys. Like Esther says: ?You can be sick and feel hopeful or you can be sick and feel afraid.? When you’re sick, pay attention to your emotional journey first.

Above all (and it should probably be my step 5 for self-healing) BELIEVE that you are healed and be grateful to the message your body is giving you. Being sick this week provided me with a great opportunity to pause and reflect, get clear with my priorities, and thank my body for the important reminder.

When you get sick, don’t resist it. Be grateful for the opportunity to grow and change and listen to your body. Your body knows.