The Body Effect of Emotions and Healing

Today I'm going to talk briefly on the effects of negative emotions and being healed of them on our
physical body.

Don't think you have any toxic emotions? Check out some of the effects of stress has on our bodies:

Back Pain
Headaches
Chronic Fatigue
Colitis
High Blood Pressure and stroke
IBS
Peptic ulcers
Diminished sexual desire
Rosacea
Eczema
Psoriasis
Low immune system, prone to sickness/disease

Mentally speaking, I know of several people (including myself at times) that often have anxiety attacks or racing heart beats. Emotions such as anger, fear, bitterness, guilt, shame, hurt, etc... cause our body to release chemicals that effect the body negatively. In the brain we actually form patterns of negative thinking... the cells to these paths look like sickly trees. Here's a picture of a normal brain cell.

"Research has found that permanent memories are stored when nerve cells in the brain reorganize and strengthen the connections with one another." (Single Brain Cell/Memory)

How often do we get upset about something, encounter a negative emotion and go on with our busy day? Even though we are now consciously thinking about our job or task at hand those negative effects do not go away naturally.

"Negative emotions don't die. We bury them alive!" 
                    - Dennis and Dr. Jennifer Clark 
(Book - Touching God: How to Heal Your Deepest Hurts and How To Connect with God 24/7)

Before you may think, "I have so many things that could be effecting me from this week alone, not to mention my whole life," there is a surprisingly quick and easy way to have peace fill those places and let healing take place. Now to the good part...

What Dennis and Dr. Jennifer Clark have discovered was that forgiveness is the resolution to these toxic emotions. Not the kind of forgiveness where we talk ourselves into it mentally, or even cry over it, but actually letting Christ Jesus the person, inside of us, do the forgiving for us. After all, it is now Christ that lives in us, we no longer live (Gal. 2:20), right?

In the same way, we were instantly forgiven of ALL our sin (past, present, and future), Jesus Christ, the person, can instantly cleanse us instantly through forgiveness.

I'll admit it sounded kinda too good to be true, but each night before bed I am asking the Holy Spirit to come and show me places where I have not forgiven or places of irritation, fear, or anger that I may still be holding onto under everything. Each time I have let Christ the Forgiver come in and through my emotions I have felt so much peace. One other thing you can do, which has been a big one for me is to receive forgiveness from the Lord for holding onto those emotions (knowingly or unknowingly). You would be surprised how amazing it feels to have forgiveness yourself.

To bring it around full circle, once you feel peace and joy... through forgiveness... neuropeptides fill the body and oxytocin is released (Most know oxytocin being related to sex or giving birth) and your body allows neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity, allows the brain to be moldable, giving the ability of unlearning and learning. Say good bye to those sickly brain cells and hello to a whole new way of thinking. Christ minded thinking!!

I've spit out some brief information on what the Clarks have to say. If you're wanting more information I would encourage you to visit their website at: Full Stature Ministries

Hope you enjoyed this segment of emotional/physical health!! More to come on creativity, rest, and just thoughts about Jesus as a person!

Healing From Within

I've recently studying the healing of the heart. When I say heart, I don't mean the one that is located on the left side of a human chest. I don't even mean the one that is represented at Valentine's Day. I'm talking about the part of a human that holds our emotional memories of good and bad life events. It's actually located in our belly. Sounds crazy, but if you close your eyes and take a deep breath you can actually feel things in your gut. Biblically referenced by Jesus, it's the "Out of your belly will flow forth living waters." Our spirit man resides in our belly and we it was made to FLOW! How many times have you gotten hurt so deeply it felt as if you had been, "punched in the gut?"

I realized by some events over the years and encounters with some disappointments that I've felt pretty stagnant. . . dull. . . board. . . blah. . . even numb.

I came across some DVDs and books from Dennis and Dr. Jennifer Clark ( Full Stature Ministries ). They have some amazing insights on the brain/heart connections. They mention that Psychotherapists, and Psychologist, even Christian counselors, have been trying to get people's minds to control their emotions in order for them to be healed or at peace within, however, they have discovered that there is an easier way to release people into healing and it is completely opposite of what's been taught. Now there is a lot that goes into what I'm about to say, so feel free to check their website out (listed above) because I'm only going to mention a snippet. . .

Many times we try to control our emotions by changing our self talk, our thoughts... we grind our mind to think certain things, we force our thoughts to change, however, as I have personally experienced we do not really and truly get a break through until that desperation point. The desperation point causes us to... let go... surrender... give-up so to speak and in that moment is when we actually open up our heart and release. . . Can you relate?

What the Clarks have said is that we can start at the point of release by simply going to our emotions first rather than thoughts. Now, one important aspect is that once we find the emotion, say it's frustration.. we find the thought... say, trouble at work... at that point we ask Jesus to come into that emotion and bring peace to us. Since Jesus is already Spirit it is easy access for the Lord to meet you there. He can come and release peace into the place of frustration. You can then think about the trouble at work with a peaceful feeling, rather than the frustration felt before.

This is amazing to me because I've found that in my personal journey of peace and joy I found it the easiest to believe the truth when my emotional state was open to it. I've tried and tried to think positively, but I found myself becoming fake and not really honest. The Clarks talk about how our belly/heart is the place God designed us to operate in power and authority. I found this to be true!!! As hard as I tried to believe the truth about being forgiven or even forgiving others, the reality of the truth was not really functional until a genuine, lasting peace or joy was in place in my heart.

I am so thankful that Jesus did not make things complicated or heavy! When we invite Jesus into those places of negative emotions, HE carries it away... all we do is receive... (sigh) too easy huh?

N e x t . . .  I'll write a little bit about the physiological effects that this heart healing has on us. It's pretty amazing!!  



   

Rest !

. . . Rest . . .

"We need to change our paradigm by giving more value to the sacredness of rest. If we begin by seeing it as a part of our design, apart of our spiritual DNA, we will feel more permission to enter into it and cease running." 
              - Kim Thomas (Author of "Even God Rested") 


What I'm finding is that rest is truly an art and not simply the absence of doing work. So much of rest is heavily weighed on our emotional responses to life, which is heavily steered by our thoughts and personality. Rest is apart of our spiritual DNA and is a worth while the investment for our spirits.

It's funny how things like doing dishes, jogging in the brisk cold air, watching the birds squabble at each other or even editing photos are therapy for me. The act in and of itself doesn't seem outwardly like therapy, but the way my spirit reacts to doing these things gives me so much life inside and even peace. With that said I no longer believe that rest always looks like that vacation to the beach (although the beach is definitely a favorite of mine). Different things in life speak to different people.

My dad, for instance, finds driving his car VERY fast, stress relieving. My brother enjoys watching the WHOLE season of Scrubs, watching a few before bed each night. These things by no means relax me at all or speak peace to my inner self.

We are all so different and so unique why would we all find rest the same? The last year or so I have been on a journey to find these things that refresh and reignite life in me and I'm finding that even though I am a people person I really do enjoy the quietness of a still empty house. As hard as it is for me to sit still, the stillness rejuvenates my spirit like a cool breeze and I can actually feel whats going on inside. Peace. If you feel ADD most of the time, stillness may be your best friend.

One last thought, a lot of true rest I believe, includes letting go of all the clutter in our minds/souls. The worries and fears that nag, or the To Do's that push, or people who pull on you... I'm learning to let them go. My best friend, Jesus, takes it all for me and reminds me of what is needed for each day. Giving things to the Lord in verbal prayer has been quite a release.

"You take off my heavy boots and You wear them for me." 
                     - Chloe Leavers  (Singer/Song Writer - "Heavy Boots")

More to come on rest...

News flash!
A new 2013 challenge is to post 1 blog entry each week! I'm excited to try this out and see what becomes of it. I welcome you to view and comment along the way!!