Father’s Day was a grand celebration for men in Barbados. Many took the time to reflect on themselves and their families. I hope they also reflected on the silent doctors.
In this thought-provoking interview with Nola Estwick. a colleague on the health team, she offers these words of inspiration: “Positive healing thoughts can be categorized as silent doctors. The power and control the mind has over the body is generally underestimated.
“Research shows that chemical reactions are produced throughout the body by our thoughts, emotions and interactions with others.
“This awareness means that there is really no such thing as ‘just a thought’. What is known as the ‘placebo effect’ validates the reality of the impact of the mind on the body.
“Feelings of anger, apathy, gloom and resentment can weaken the immune system and damage health, whereas positive thoughts of love, compassion, joy, humour and the like support physical health.
“Every thought has a physical effect on your cells. Negative thoughts, particularly about disease and death can literally kill you.”
Some men may not handle sickness very well and therefore need to understand the principles of positive thinking. One of them is found in Job 22:28 – “You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you; and light will shine on your ways”.
The decree is made in the thoughts. On the road to health and healing, most damage is not done by the negativity of others but by our own negative internal self-talk – our “mutter chat”.
In 2003, I was catapulted into a health journey, commencing with unexplained weight loss. Prayer and seeking God’s will launched me onto a platform of positive thinking. My husband, the quintessential optimist, joined me there. Women need such men; men who understand the principles of positive thinking and live by them. Healing begins in the mind.
I thoroughly concur with Raymond Francis’ comment from his book Never Be Sick Again: “Having a purpose, a higher meaning to your life than mere existence, is a critical part of the whole picture of health.” You may call it positive thinking or call it faith.
At times vilified by logical thinkers, faith in a Creator God can generate healing thoughts: “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” – Proverbs 23:7.
Positive thinking does not make us immortal but it can contribute to longevity.
Men, think positively! Think life!
