3 layers of healing

~ LAYER 1: EXTERNAL ~
The body/mind is always healing and moving towards its default state of optimal functioning, which is a natural and intrinsic state of serenity, health, intelligence and vitality. In a majority of cases, the lack of these qualities along with what we typically call "illnesses" and "disorders" are a direct result of LIFESTYLE - the things we do and encounter on a regular basis, particularly in terms of the content and quantities of what's absorbed in:

• interpersonal engagement
• media, information, stimulation
• foods, liquids, substances
• environmental contact

The majority of us are imbibing contents on a near daily basis which are harmful to the body/mind and from which we must perpetually recover/heal from. In most cases, suboptimal functioning, "illnesses" and "disorders" (whether physical or mental) are signs that something repeatedly harmful is being absorbed or engaged with that needs to change in order for the body/mind to complete the healing process and return to optimal functioning. Terms like illness/disease/disorder are often misleading because they imply that something is wrong with the body/mind. In most cases, the symptoms and discomfort are results of the body/mind responding appropriately to one's lifestyle in its perpetual efforts to signal, process and heal. In most cases, the causes of illness/disorders/disease are interpersonal and environmental. They are natural results of repeatedly harmful:

• relational patterns
• physical, emotional and psychological contact
• imbalanced work/rest/play patterns
• eating and drinking patterns
• food and drink options/choices
• substance consumption
• media consumption
• sensory overstimulation
• environmental contact (insufficient access/contact with earth, sunlight, grass, trees, wildlife, fresh water, clean air, etc)

In many cases, conventionally prescribed solutions to "illnesses" and "disorders" only serve to inhibit the symptoms (physical, emotional, psychological) that signal something in the lifestyle and/or environment needs to change, typically by numbing or removing them. This thereby enables further harmful engagement to continue.

Though perfection in lifestyle is typically impossible (and unnecessary), as enough factors are sufficiently improved to increase internal health and equanimity, steady progress towards further healing will accompany as a byproduct.

~ LAYER 2: INTERNAL ~
As equanimity and clarity are increased as a result of growing awareness and disengagement from harmful lifestyle factors, deeper and subtler levels of healing and recovery can take place in the body/mind. These are primarily those of EMOTION and PERCEPTION.

To a degree, this will and must occur alongside external changes. As lifestyle factors are adjusted and improved, attention and energy is freed up to focus on healing from harmful internal (ie psychological and emotional) factors. Healing will be limited if either external or internal factors are addressed without the other. If internal factors aren't sufficiently addressed, the body/mind will be compelled to recreate the external circumstances which led to the need to heal in the first place. This compulsion is typically a result of psychological conditioning and traumatic experiences and circumstances which weren't sufficiently explored and processed when/after they occured. The results were harmful:

• beliefs about self/others/life
• habitual thought patterns
• unprocessed/unreleased emotional energy
• habitual emotional states and reactivity

Healing on these levels is typically a coordinated effort between unconscious processing and conscious exploration. SPACE and TIME are necessary for the body/mind to process the accumulated internal contents which must be corrected and/or released. Facilitating the unconscious processing also requires some amount of conscious ATTENTION directed towards these areas in order for the body/mind to fully process and release.

The optimal approach is an alternation of solitude and interpersonal engagement. Solitude is necessary to partake in conscious internal contemplation and exploration and also to give the unconscious plenty of room to process old and new information, experiences and emotions. Outside of this, others can, and in some cases must, serve as mirrors against which one can come to more accurately perceive and comprehend oneself/others/life. Others can also act as facilitators to bring previously unconscious contents which require attention into conscious awareness. This can occur intentionally or as a result of unintentional (and often uncomfortable) triggering, both of which become necessary and helpful aspects of internal healing so long as there is sufficient space and time to process and integrate. Intentionally engaging with others can also provide relaxation and recreation which, aside from their innate value and enjoyment, replenish energy stores necessary for optimal functioning and healing.

~ LAYER 3: ??? ~
To be continued when I find out...