A Letter to My Patients

On Fear, Faith, & Courage

A person’s speech, tone of voice, and the way he or she walks, all tell me something about that individual. His or her choice of words reveals even more. But the most illuminating aspect is the person’s shen or “spirit”. What energy does he or she put off when entering the room? Is it light or heavy? Is this person defeated or optimistic? Does this person believe in a negative outcome or a positive one? Does this person engage in fear-based thinking or faith-based thinking? Ultimately, we are asking the question:

How does this person’s attitude impact his or her health?

The issue of fear vs. faith is important in relation to health because it has a direct impact on one’s ability to heal. Does this person abdicate responsibility for his health because he believes he is powerless to change his condition, or does he participate in the process to expedite a recovery he knows will happen? If you believe you can’t get better, that will most certainly be the case. If you have faith -- more specifically, the belief in a positive outcome -- your chances of reaching your goals are much greater.

The issue of courage comes into play when we look to change long-standing patterns.  It takes courage to make difficult changes and to understand and accept new perspectives. It takes courage to believe in a positive outcome when we have convinced ourselves that a negative outcome is sure to be the case.

So, it is these three global concepts -- fear, faith, and courage -- that impact one’s health.

I encourage you to replace fear with courage, and  begin to participate in your own healing process.

It’s your health-- you choose what happens to your body, mind, and spirit.

Sincerely,

Ted Ray, L.Ac.