Transform Your Space for Inner Healing: Day 1 - Lessons for Optimal Health

Move Away from a Place of Survival to a Place of Harmony.

Dr. Isaac Eliaz, MD, MS, LAC, was one of the presenters at the Breast Cancer Breakthroughs Summit. His book, The Survival Paradox, discusses how our inherent healing capacities can turn on us. His lessons on moving from the sympathetic to the parasympathetic systems were a gentle reminder to live through the heart.

Survival is an innate instinct ingrained within the human species. This instinct is present within every single cell of our bodies. In moments of stress or anxiety, our sympathetic nervous system takes charge, priming our bodies for a fight or flight response. However, suppose we find ourselves constantly surrounded by stressors. In that case, this can result in chronic inflammation, a leading contributor to the development of chronic diseases and certain types of cancers, including breast cancer.

One way to reduce chronic inflammation is to transition from our sympathetic nervous system to the parasympathetic nervous system, also known as the rest and digest system. This system is responsible for creating a state of calm, peace, and relaxation within us.

An exercise that is helpful for you in designing your environment to be supportive of the parasympathetic response is to do a T chart. Divide a paper into two columns. Write in Column A the things or activities that bring peace, calm, and joy. In Column B, write down the things that bring you stress or anxiety.

Reflect on both columns, do the things in Column A, and reduce or eliminate the things in Column B. It is as simple and as complex as that. Take your time moving forward, but please move forward to create your calm, peaceful, and respectful home and/or workspace.

When I underwent my initial round of breast cancer, I opted for a lumpectomy. Simultaneously, I decided to undergo a (Name-ectomy) of individuals or work contracts in my life that contributed to unwarranted stress. This second time with reoccurring breast cancer, I am writing down my lists again and making the commitment to ensure my environment and the choices I make assist me in living life over cancer.

Know that you are worthy of a healthy life. Remember that absence of disease does not mean you are healthy. Take the first step today and confidently tell yourself and those around you that you are embracing a heart-centred approach to living optimally, prioritizing your well-being above all else.