Bridging the Knowledge Gap Between Wholeness and Health: Reigniting Innate Wholeness as a Primary Healing Step
French philosopher and scientist René Descartes's proclamation, “I think; therefore I am,” was a catalyst for mass perceptual change and the beginning of schism in how societies view and interact in the world. Placing the thinking mind at the center of our being, many people have lost touch with the nuances of their innate wholeness, connecting to the core of who they are and what they need to thrive. While nature reveals how creative, intelligent systems are highly efficient and coordinated in function, this pattern is also represented in the body.
Serving as the body’s pattern-matching mechanism that filters sensory experiences, the brain assesses what is comfortable, familiar, and safe in a constant fashion within the context of our five primary senses. Through this sensory lens, the brain aids in discerning the environmental conditions to support survival. Keeping stored experiential memories, the brain aims to process information to protect us from potential danger and avoid reenacting harmful events.
While many were taught that the brain functioned as the body’s master organ, the burgeoning fields of systems and information biology have shed light on how the brain is an essential, but not solo, element in a much greater integrated system. These biologies present a complex system in which the brain interacts via multiple shared bi-directional communication pathways.
The bodily system works as a complete unit to communicate and coordinate growth, restoration, and detoxification processes (1). Therefore the brain does not act alone but responds to input from other systems within the body. Such is the case in greater amounts of neural networks ascending from the heart and the gut directly to the brain.
So what exactly is wholeness, and how is it related to health? Of the many scientific perspectives that evolved within the last century, one of the most impactful is the finding that the universe is wholly interconnected and coherent (2). While wholeness embraces the totality of everything within and around us, fundamentally, there is no separation.
Albert Einstein’s work in quantum physics was elemental to this understanding. Since wholeness is our nature, for many, it is a multi-dimensional remembering at the levels of matter, energy, space, and time (3). Through the perspective of wholeness, we can reignite our connection with one another, nature, and ourselves, which is necessary for a sustainable future, for ultimately, there is no experience without it.
With the formation of medicine specializations over the years, we have lost sight of the necessity of wholeness approaches in many areas of medicine. Today, we are now seeing the costs of this in different regards. There is a clarion call for embracing the body, mind in spirit for complete healthcare. Patients want to feel seen, heard, valued, and known by their healthcare practitioners. Health outcomes providing patients with such opportunities reflect the benefit of these holistic processes and trusted relationships.
Throughout the past years and pandemic, we have seen rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide double. Social isolation and loneliness are at epidemic levels. People are looking for answers and tools to solve such dilemmas. However, through the brain’s sensory perception and processing, many have learned to focus their attention outward, often identifying with the mind and its thoughts that can leave one feeling separate, fearful, and anxious without the ability to self-regulate.
As a culture, many individuals have learned to look outward for approval, acceptance, and belonging, often adapting their behavior in ways that cause disassociation or dislike for parts of themselves they deem unacceptable. In this process, we learn to hide or push away parts of ourselves, fearing others will reject us. This process can leave one feeling fractured, broken, or incomplete. An energetic block preventing dynamic life flow can occur since it takes massive energy to suppress emotions and these unaccepted parts of ourselves.
When we feel the absence of wholeness, cut off from ourselves and others, the impact on our health is great and akin to the body unsuccessfully relying on one of its organ systems for complete health. Research in the social determinants of health has shown that those without access to quality healthcare, income, housing/environment, transportation, social inclusion, positive early childhood development, social safety networks, and education are at greater risk for adverse health outcomes. For this reason, policies providing foundations for these health pillars are necessary to ensure those most in need can obtain health equity.
Wholeness embraces complete care and whole resources. We all need certain conditions to flourish. Feeling whole from within, being integrated into society, and experiencing living in a thriving, accessible community are all critical factors in the healing process.
Our connections with nature are well known to support positive mental health and serve as the essential foundation for our food, water, and clean air sources. When we function from a holistic perspective, we take care of these precious resources, for they take care and support our existence at the very fundamental level. We can all give back in small ways that nourish nature’s balance which sustains life on this planet.
Key Points and Call-to-Action
Our nature is wholeness. Sometimes through the trials and tribulations of life, we may have felt incomplete, broken, or not enough; however, at the very core, we are always whole, complete beings by our very nature. We need a focused, repeated reminder and the strength of conviction reflecting this simple truth, for this will overpower familiarized depleting feelings that can keep you stuck.
When we feel whole, the landscape of healing is augmented. The body is always listening to what is communicated and felt internally. The potential to heal is set in action.
When we feel whole, our interactions with others and nature change. We realize we are not separate, and our interactions can significantly influence the people, places, and things around us in beneficial ways through care, collaboration, connection, support, and cooperation.
Social Determinants of Health are the conditions in the places where people live, learn, work, and play that affect a wide range of health and quality-of life-risks and outcomes (4). These conditions can potentially affect health more than healthcare and lifestyle choices alone.
REFERENCES
Jastremski, H. Bright Heart Wellness Newsletter, 2022. “The Body’s Healing Priority: Creating an Internal State of Change to Promote Healing and Systemic Coordination.”
McCraty R, Childre D. Coherence: bridging personal, social, and global health. Altern Ther Health Med. 2010;16(4):10-24.
Chopra D. What Is Wholeness? The Consciousness View. Glob Adv Health Med. 2021 Sep 2;10:21649561211043794. doi: 10.1177/21649561211043794. PMID: 34497737; PMCID: PMC8419538.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2021. “Social Determinants of Health: Know What Affects Health.” https://www.cdc.gov/socialdeterminants/index.htm
*Please share this newsletter with others who may benefit. We can change our collective health by assisting others.
**As always, please consult your physician before changing your health regimen. The information provided is for educational and informative purposes only and is not intended for treatment or diagnosis.
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