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Writer's pictureAnna Gavrilides

Mindsets for Healing and Strengthening



 Lately I have been thinking about the process of healing. In our modern society we find many people who experience illness, disease, disorder, or weakness in their lives and go about seeking a cure. Perhaps if I go to this specialist, try this diet, see this therapist, or start this workout routine I will find the panacea for my ills. This individual, that program, or that diet will be the thing to fix me. One and done. One appointment, this doctor, that protocol. One and done. The challenging truth is healing, growing, and strengthening is a process. The word “process” has several definitions all of which point to something advancing or changing in an ongoing way. According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary a process is, “a natural phenomenon marked by gradual changes that lead toward a particular result.” Woah! Did I hear that correctly? A natural phenomenon marked by gradual changes that lead towards a particular result. This statement should situate and challenge our attitudes towards healing, growth, and strengthening. 


     If healing, growing, and strengthening is a gradual process, why are so many of us frantically seeking a “quick fix” for our ills? One could argue that it is the result of impatience and this is certainly part of the problem. We live in a very fast paced, hurried, productivity oriented society in which we oftentimes derive our worth from what we do and produce, instead of who we are in Christ. Sometimes our attitude comes out as, “I have too many things to accomplish and I don’t have time for this illness, this problem, or this weakness.” Other times our attitude reveals itself to be, “I should be able to achieve this thing right away if I pay for it.” In our materialistic society we often think we can exchange money for some of the greatest goods of life; happiness, relationships, community, etc. We are living in an age of instant gratification. 


     In addition to these attitudes of impatience there is something else at play behind the desire to find a quick solution for our problems. The reality is that some people are genuinely in pain. Some people are struggling and suffering an immense amount. Some people are in a ton of pain and they are seeking a quick fix or immediate solution for their problems because they desire to find relief from their pain. This is very understandable. 


     Then there are many of us who I believe actually fall in between these two categories. We are impatient with the problems we encounter in our health, our relationships, our physical weakness and we want to do something to move us out of this state so we can be done with it. There are aspects of these problems that are truly and deeply painful. Fatigue and anxiety can so wear away at our person that we are fueled with a desire to immediately rid ourselves of these things. Those stomach aches aren’t debilitating to the point that it interferes with my work but it’s an annoyance and I don’t want to be slowed down anymore. But am I willing to partner with those people or resources I have access to to begin the process of making gradual changes that lead to a particular result? Am I willing to make that appointment, make those dietary changes, or start that workout? Am I willing to partner with God in my healing, growing, and strengthening process? Am I willing to grow in patience in this process of healing, or growing, or strengthening? If I’m not willing to stop, partner, and slow down I will not find the healing or growth I desire. Healing is not found in the quick fix, pop the pill mentality but rather in the slowing down, the catching ourselves and letting ourselves be caught, and in the steady building of a new foundation. It is not a one and done prescription, person, or protocol that will heal our ills. Healing is found in the attitude and mindset by which we approach the process of gradual changes that lead toward a particular result, in this case, our health and wellness. If we want to heal our stomachs, grow our muscles, or strengthen our minds we have to first do the work of changing the attitudes that produce our mindset. As we adjust our mindset, healing, growing, and strengthening will become possible. 


 


Anna received her education and certification in functional nutrition counseling from the accredited Functional Nutrition Alliance Program and is a part of the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. In addition to her certificate in nutrition counseling, Anna also has a B.A. in Pastoral Theology and a certificate in ESL. An interest that has been a common thread in all of her academic pursuits has been to empower others to become the best version of themselves in God and to live their lives to the fullest. 



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