When you think of the term non-violence, you think of the use of peaceful means, not force, to bring about political or social change. An example would be when diplomats use the power of words and peaceful negotiations to de-escalate and resolve disagreements so two sides can come to a peaceful resolution of their differences.
There is another aspect of non-violence that when engaged, is a powerful tool for healing on the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual levels.
Non-violence is an idea and principle to live by. Non-violence can be defined as having a reverence for life where all words, thoughts, and actions are aligned with that reverence. Some examples of applying this idea on the physical level are: not succumbing to pressure from society or others on making decisions that do not feel right, honoring the way the body is organized, trusting the wisdom contained within the cells of the physical body, not allowing someone else to dictate what is best for you, choosing life-giving foods to nourish the body, creating a work-life balance, and not over-riding the body’s own innate process and pace of healing.
There is a phrase that many people believe and some people in today’s world still hold to be true: “no pain, no gain.” There is a difference between increasing your endurance and doing something that you know is going to cause you physical harm. How you could possibly experience healing or make great strides by deliberately, repeatedly, inflicting pain on the physical body or forcing yourself to endure suffering? Much can be gained, new heights can be achieved, and new records can be set without violating our bodies. Pain and suffering, which many believe thy have to endure, is not necessary to grow or heal. Our bodies are sacred temples that house our souls and should be treated as such.
Turn your attention to your thoughts and words. Maybe you need to change some perpetual negative thinking into more positive thoughts. Or perhaps you have a habit of being critical or judgmental of others. By changing the way you think and speak, you are not only transforming energy in the cells of your body for the better, but you are also contributing more peaceful energy out into the world. Energy follows thought. Every thought you think and word you speak not only carries a certain energy but it attracts more of the same. If you could see with your physical eyes the energetic patterns of your thoughts and words, you would be quick to change them into something more positive and life giving because those energetic patterns not only affect you personally but they also go out into the world and contribute to the mass consciousness. Do you want to nourish yourself with peaceful energies or harsh ones?
Last, but not least, is the healing power of non-violence directed towards your soul. We are spiritual beings having a human experience. In the human experience we often get distracted and forget how important it is to take time to go within and spend time in a state of quiet reflection. We are busy multi-tasking and cramming as much as we can into a day up to the point of exhaustion. Many feel they need to have an external measurement of “success” or a job well done.
If you are feeling stressed or on the verge of burnout, your soul might be feeling neglected. Perhaps the stress overload or exhaustion is calling for a regular spiritual practice such as mindfulness, meditation, prayer, yoga, or walks out in nature. Taking care of our soulful self is just as important as eating the right foods and getting enough sleep at night. It is a necessity for health and well-being, not an option.
Only you can truly know what is best for you, whether it is the right foods to eat, the types of exercise to engage in, a spiritual practice that feeds your soul, how you like to be touched, or the best course of treatment for a health condition. You do not need others to agree with or validate your choices to make them right for you. You are the only one who can decide what honors you. Your body communicates with you on a minute to minute basis, letting you know how it feels AND what it needs. Your job is to listen and translate the messages you receive.
Applying the idea of non-violence to your healing and your life not only benefits you personally, but energetically it also contributes to the idea of non-violence(peace) in the world. Non-violence restores balance thus allowing the body, mind, and soul to align and activate the healing energies that exist within each one of us.
“Be the change you want to see in the world.” Ghandi
If you want to make some positive changes in your health and in your life, but are not sure where to begin, please reach out for support. I would love to be your guide on the side. You can contact me here:
