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An inspiring book
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Words & Swords
a series of journaling with Bernie
- poetic thoughts by Bernie Siegel, MD
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Article
Communication, Messages and Signals
by Bernie Siegel, MD
The key to life in all its forms is its ability
to communicate. This includes the ability of complex organisms like ourselves to
communicate with each other but more importantly within ourselves, our
individual organs and cells. How do animals communicate without words? Studies
show they can count and make intelligent choices when given options yet we do
not know how they are able to reason and communicate without using words.
Life began with one celled organisms who learned how to communicate by altering
the chemistry of their environment. In times of danger they would secrete
substances which led them to come together into a balls of cells which would
survive adverse living conditions like droughts or temperature fluctuations.
Today these same methods of communication go on within us but problems arise
when we do not pay attention to these messages of danger because of our level of
consciousness. Notice I didn’t say intelligence. If we were intelligent we would
pay attention to the messages we are giving our bodies and they are giving us so
that the intracellular signals would be life enhancing and not disease inducing.
Think of the simple fact that Monday has a higher mortality and suicide rate
then other days of the week and you begin to see why we are not the wisest of
creatures. Bacteria develop resistance to antibiotics by intelligent alterations
in their genetic mechanisms and survive. We can’t even get through the week
without succumbing to adverse conditions.
I also marvel at the intelligence within a seed. Did you ever notice how seeds
will sprout and grow through pavement to survive. How do they know which way is
up without sensing warmth? There is a sense of gravity within a seed and they
don’t give in to adversity when they run into obstacles. They push forward or
find new ways to reach the light. What signals them to keep going and not
succumb?
The method of communication has to be chemical signals within the cell directing
its behavior but how a protein molecule thinks and knows what to do is beyond me
and probably science’s understanding. It is awesome to think of one cell
developing into a human being and differentiating into all the components we are
made of and getting them to develop in the right places too. Think of the
endless number of signals which must be given to each intracellular component to
do this.
Now think of the signals this organism receives after it is formed. What does a
touch, hug or caress say to it about living? What do unexpressed fears, despair
and depression tell it about the desire to live. Every cell in our bodies is
aware of our will to live and our desires and intentions. The emotional and the
physical are one. Mind and matter are not separate entities. Just as one celled
organisms reacted to their environment our cells react to both our physical and
emotional environments because there is a chemistry to both.
The question is what messages are you giving your body so that the signals
created are life enhancing and not life threatening. I think the key words and
signals are inspiration and expiration. We use the latter when things are
ending. When someone dies we say he expired. The breath of life has left.
Inspiration is a word that fills us with the joy of living and our desire and
intention to survive. Inspiration means breathing in but it also speaks of being
inspired to create life and survive hardships. When I meet an inspired
individual who is living a meaningful life I know they will live longer in the
face of adversity then others with the same afflictions or problems. I believe
this is why some people overcome so called incurable diseases. They find new
meaning in life and signal their bodies that their desire and intention and
determination is to live. They are not ready to expire because they are inspired
to live, love and serve.
Their bodies get the message and changes occur which lead to their healing and
curing themselves and their bodies. Now we are getting somewhere. Like the
bacteria we are living with a sense of our mission here and role in creation and
respond to adversity with a will to live. We see this idea supported by research
being done today. Join a support group or simply keep a journal of your feelings
and you slow the progression of your disease, reduce the number of symptoms,
lower the recurrence and death rates. It doesn’t matter what the disease is. The
will to live is physiologic and communicated to every cell in your body.
Remember the song, "Eat an apple every day. Go to bed by three. Take good care
of yourself. You belong to me. Be careful crossing streets. Don’t eat meats
‘cause you’ll get a pain and ruin your tum, tum." You don’t know how lucky you
are reading this and not having me sing it to you. The latter might create some
negative signals to your body.
The message is clear. Give your body messages and signals related to your
inspiration and will to live. Your body will do the best it can to sustain you
when you do so. Exercise produces neuropeptides which protect the cardiovascular
system. Massage enhances growth and immune function. The beneficial effects of
love are not an accident. So find your reason for living now and get going. Then
you will never be working and Mondays won’t be a threat to your health.
One last word of advice. This article is not written to help you avoid disease
and death but to help you enjoy life. In Heaven the grumpiest people are the
vegetarian, meditating, joggers who despite eating only vegetables, meditating
regularly and getting up early every day to jog died anyway. So do what feels
right because that is how those chemical messages from your body are
communicated, through feelings and not what is thought. The body signals us too.
The mind matters and feelings matter and when we live right they are the
healthiest unit they can be. Consciousness and matter unify and become one
through the inspirational signals we provide. So get in touch with your body.
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