As we go along in life, most of us periodically encounter obstacles or other checks to our welfare and well-being that cause us to question ourselves, our values, and our life circumstances. As we inquire with ourselves, we may find that we’re wanting in certain areas such as preparedness, resilience, and adaptability. If we look deeply enough, we may also discover that there is a deficiency in kindness, generosity, and empathy with others and even with ourselves. If we’re not honest with ourselves, the whole process is doomed to fail. But if we are, we will eventually have an opportunity to locate a spark of hope, a brighter light that points the way toward the means of resolution, specifically, a process of self-discovery and self-healing.
This self-healing process of growth and development may take many forms. For some persons, engagement with one of the world religions, such as Judaism, Islam, or Christianity, may provide a deeply rewarding and meaningful journey of self-realization. For others, launching and maintaining a daily meditation practice provides an effective method for achieving inner growth and self-actualization. As well, others may discover timeless wisdom in the works of the great philosophers, including Plato, Aristotle, Augustine of Hippo, Thomas of Aquino, Baruch Spinoza, David Hume, and Immanuel Kant. Many persons, over time, may embrace all of these methods of participation in the life of the self and others, as one’s ongoing investigations and explorations point the way to additional sources of learning and fulfillment.
Thus, there is no single and exclusive means of achieving self-knowledge. One is guided by one’s instincts and inclinations, based on one’s inner understanding of what is truly meaningful. What works for you, works for you, and what is of deep interest should be pursued. Importantly, none of these processes of developing a relationship with oneself is a solipsistic endeavor, that is, a process that is only directed inward. We all have a responsibility, an obligation, to know ourselves and improve our capabilities. We also have a corresponding responsibility to help further the goals of others, to assist others in achieving their dreams and aspirations.
Regular chiropractic care is a critical part of one’s journey of growth and development. Regular chiropractic care improves spinal alignment and removes sources of nerve irritation, helping to further the physiological benefits of our mindfulness practices.1,2,3. In this way, by helping to optimize our health and well-being, regular chiropractic care helps to facilitate both our inner processes of self-discovery and our outer activities that contribute to the welfare of our family, community, and society.
1Zeidan F, Vago DR: Mindfulness meditation-based pain relief: a mechanistic account. Ann NY Acad Sci 1373(1):114-127, 2016
2Khusid MA, Vythilingam M: The Emerging Role of Mindfulness Meditation as Effective Self-Management Strategy, Part 2: Clinical Implications for Chronic Pain, Substance Misuse, and Insomnia. Mil Med 181(9):969-975, 2016
3Armani KA, et al: The Impact of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Emotional Wellbeing and Glycemic Control of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. J Diabetes Res 2018 Jun 10;2018:1986820. doi: 10.1155/2018/1986820. eCollection 2018
