What is Health?

The common meaning of the term 'health' refers to a soundness and vigour of body and mind, including a state of balance within the systems of the body.

However, this definition of health is not considered sufficient to describe a 'healthy person' in most disciplines, including Philosophy, Psychology, Sociology and Economics, nor even in the physical and biological sciences.

In order to be truly Healthy, a person requires a state of balance in all aspects of their life. These include intangible concepts of powerful meaning such as the perceived nature of relationships with ourselves and with others, and of truth, justice and the liberty to advance in accordance with our real nature.

It is common experience, and increasingly supported by scientific studies, that these 'invisible' aspects of a person are as important to the well-being of the person as the 'visible' aspects, such as the physical nature of the person as defined by the condition of organs, joints, chemistry, etc; and that the former has an enormous, even critical impact upon the latter. Thus, the consideration of Health in the fullest sense must address human values and meanings at least as much as human physiology. People who are Healthy in this wider sense are also much more likely to be healthy as commonly understood.

Psychology and philosophy tell us that a person who is Healthy in this wider sense holds lightly to experienced reality, because they have seen how easily their perception may change with more information and insight. They know that truth can be relative and that the spirit with which something is said or done can be more important than the words spoken or the action taken. They know that those things of most significance in life cannot always be grasped or measured or fixed, and that the value that they attribute to themselves and to others depends upon the clarity of their perceptions of each.

Their connection to their own true thoughts gives them access to the source of their strength and creativity. Their recognition of other persons and of the nature of their relationship to them prevents them from thinking or acting in ways that could be harmful to others. Ever open to fresh experience and learning, they pursue their work in life with joy and gratitude, to the benefit of all.

Such perception is the constant state of the ideal 'Healthy Person', and any thought or action or experience that leads to a Moment of such perception may be called Healing.

About the author:

Peter Bloch is a teacher and healer of more than 25 years' experience, based in Wilmslow, Cheshire, near Manchester, UK. Bloch Healing is a unique, person-centred, evidence-based form of hands-on healing.

Website: http://bloch-healing.co.uk

Author: Pete Bloch
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