A Lesson of Balance
By Terri J. Andrews
Do you feel incomplete as a person? Are you often ill? Is your mind constantly bombarded with negative thoughts or internalized anger? Are you spiritually disconnected?
If you answered yes to any of these questions - then you may be off-balanced.
In order to thrive, love, forgive, heal and prosper - we must be in balance with ourselves and with the world around us. We are each a part of nature, consisting of four basic units - the spiritual, the emotional, the physical and the mental. Together these quarters represent one whole person - but when one part is not working as it should be, then the entire person becomes off center. The body becomes off-balanced.
Balance and the Native American People
To the Native people of North and South America - balance is and was the key ingredient to a healthy planet, healthy communities, and a healthy person. It was represented by the circle - the symbol used as a reminder that all things were connected. The circle, when divided into 4 equal parts, was called The Medicine Wheel. - a representation of the 4 parts of the human person: the physical, the mental, the spiritual, and the emotional. To the aboriginal people, each aspect must be equally developed, tested and strengthened so that one will be a healthy, well-balanced being. When one was ill - the individual would address each section of the body - bringing the parts into the center of health and the individual back into balance.
Healing using the Medicine Wheel
To heal, you must involve all aspects of yourself in the process. When one aspect of the body is not where it should be - it forces the whole body to react - causing illness, depression, weight gain, a loss of direction and difficulty with relationships.
Even today, it is possible to use the Medicine Wheel as a self-improvement tool. By going around the wheel, measuring your strengths and weaknesses, you can assess what areas need the most work. You first need to determine what part(s) are off balanced. Ask yourself if you agree with the following statements:
*I am overweight and/or unattractive
*I am unhealthy and/or I have no energy
*I am ashamed of my body
This is an example of lacking health in the "Physical" area
*I do not think I am intelligent
*I am a pessimist
*I can not let go of my past
*I feel depressed, sad, overwhelmed, crazy or out of control
You may be lacking proper "Mental" health
*I never or do not know how to pray
*I have lost (or never had) my spiritual connection
*I feel alone in this world - unconnected to the planet
Your diagnosis may be a lack of "Spiritual" health
*I tend to become upset easily
*I think I need counseling to help me deal with my problems
*I do not feel loved or appreciated
Your "Emotional" health may be in need of help
Finding Balance - a How-to Guide
Like the circle, the path to completeness is not over until your entire being is connected. Even after you have accessed your weak areas, it is time to make yourself a strong, balanced person. For each of the 4 parts - ask yourself the following questions. The answers will reveal the solution, the cure, that is already within you.
What holds me back from feeling complete?
Why do I feel this way?
What people in my life make me feel bad about myself?
What is needed to make the necessary changes?
What health problems have I suffered from within the past year?
What is needed in my life right now (love, faith, health, happiness)?
What are my life’s goals?
Now that you have a general idea of what part of is out of balanced, and how and why you feel this way, it is time to develop a plan of action. Here are some tips to develop each area of your life:
Physical - exercise, drink water, sleep, eat well and take your vitamins!
Mental - clarify your mind with meditation! It’s wonderful. I also use ginkgo for my mental stamina. You would be amazed at how well it works
Spiritual - pray! Connect to the Earth with walks and enjoying the sunshine.
Emotional - if you feel like your emotional well being is out of balanced, try keeping a journal, seeing a therapist, talking to a friend and herbs such as St. John’s Wort. A b-vitamin complex is also excellent for the nerves, as is calcium and kava-kava.
If you consistently work to bring yourself into balance, asking your internal soul self-analyzing questions and then developing a plan of action - you will be using the power of the Medicine Wheel. No other can bring you the balance that you need to live strong and healthy - only YOU can bring your being into a center area where you are at peace with yourself. The Medicine Wheel can remind you of the path to completeness, but only you can walk along the circles path. Only you can bring give yourself the gift of balance.
