by Kim Knight, Director of the Art of Health, Auckland, New Zealand
The difference between healing and fixing
One of the most common phrases I hear from clients is they ‘want to get rid of their symptoms’. And if I had been given a dollar every time a client asked me “Will you fix me?”, and even “Will you fix me in one session?”, I would have a lot of dollars in the bank! I have learnt (and am still learning through my own personal experience), that there is a huge difference between healing and fixing. So this is the topic of this post.
By the time people start noticing symptoms – whether it be of emotional, mental or physical pain – there will usually have been a host of factors that have occurred in that person’s life which have been a precursor to the manifestation of the actual symptoms. Unfortunately, the early warning signs that the body sent were missed. (If they had been noticed, the person would probably not be experiencing symptoms).
So what I’m getting at here, is that there are reasons for the body becoming ill, for exhibiting a state of ‘dis-ease’, and these will often be a host of factors including poor lifestyle habits, perpetuation of stress, negative thinking, traumatic events – in fact, anything which the body finds detremental to a good state of health. The bottom line is, if our mind, emotions and body are not in an inner state of harmony, this puts too much of a load on the various body systems, and it can only handle the extra load for so long. At some point, the body is going to say “That’s it, I’ve had enough, I cannot handle what is going on, I’m now going to get your attention by screaming at you with symptoms’.
At this point, most people seem surprised! This only goes to show just how much we are out of touch with what is going on inside our body. The signs were there, we just missed them.
So, if what has been happening in our lives, and the habits and patterns we have created, have brought us to this point, we can now start to see that illness is an OPPORTUNITY FOR CHANGE. We could say that ‘illness is a healthy reaction to an unhealthy situation’. And as the old saying goes, ‘The definiton of insanity is doing the same thing again and again and expecting a different result’.
Then, it starts to make sense that healing goes far beyond just ‘getting rid of symptoms’. We are being asked to change: our habits, our lifestyle, and most importantly our awareness of ourselves. One of my teacher’s favourite sayings is ‘The Key to healing is awareness’. Once we are aware of what it is we are doing or have done that have led up to illness, we then have CHOICE over where to go from here. Awareness brings choice.
So yes, you can undergo therapy or treatment to relieve your symptoms, but if you don’t learn why they were there in the first place, the likelyhood is they will come back again, or be replaced by another set of symptoms. The choice is yours. Which would you prefer? Do you want to learn and grow and change, or do you want to go back to where you were to start with and stay exactly the same?
True healing involves delving a lot deeper than just expecting someone to ‘fix’ you and your symptoms. It involves getting actively involved in your healing process so that you learn why your body has become ‘dis-eased’. The additional benefit of this is that as you start to do this, you become less preoccupied with eradicating symptoms and more interested in your own healing journey and what I call ‘the bigger picture of life’. You start to see that you are actually on this earth to EVOLVE, to change, to transform, and ultimately to become a better you.
Learning to see illness and health from a different perspective changes everything. Paradoxically, once we start to take more responsibility for our health and healing journey, a space opens up inside for healing to occur. This could never have happened if we had been solely focused on eradicating symptoms. Understanding the true meaning of healing – ‘to become whole’ – is a true gift which each person who understands it will cherish.
I wish you well on your healing journey!
Kim Knight – The Art of Health
It’s an art to keep yourself healthy!
+64 9 833 6553 / +64 21 410 633
For more information see www.taohealth.co.nz and www.mickeltherapy.co.nz
Transformational solutions for optimal wellbeing
Comments 16
Usually by the time symptoms start people had to ignore months of symptoms. by the time they start feeling bad, people just want to feel like they used to feel, whether it is no symptoms or actually being better.
Yes, that’s true. Of course we don’t want to experience symptoms. But the point is they are there for a reason, so we may as well start to ask why and then do something about it.
By the way, thanks for your comment, I was in a bit busy last night to respond fully.
You may wish to check out this article “SYMPTOMS AND MESSAGES” for more understanding of the real meaning behind symptoms:
http://www.mickeltherapy.co.nz/p_info-articles-on-self-healing.htm
cheers Kim
I find this article hypocritical, I did mickeltherapy for 4 years but I have no idea why my body is diseased. I mean you say get to the root cause, but all i got out of it was to keep doing stuff thats enjoyable, okay it might be good for a bit but my symptoms always came back.
hi Liam, apologies for the much delayed response, I have been away and then my computer was out of action for a few weeks.
Obviously I do not know your story, history or circumstances, but I find it extraordinary to have done Mickel Therapy for 4 years without understanding more about why you are ill. The underlying cause of much illness is a lack of clarity and understanding of life and what it is we are doing that is actually going against life. I hope that in time you will come to understand how the mind and body are totally interdependent, and that for the most part we are the creators, unknowingly or not, of our health or disease. I wish you wel, Cheers Kim
I already know that the mind and body are independent, i totally understand why i’m ill but i just didn’t get anything out of the therapy. I found it very dangerous to be honest, also the attitude where the person is to blame is all wrong in my opinion. Ive seen on a few websites that all people are better after doing mickeltherapy, the only ones who arn’t are the ones who have given up, to me this is just a lie, theres no other word to describe it, i asked david mickel for advice but he ignored my email, at one point one therapist tolkd me to go and see my doctor but my doctor had never heard of mickeltherapy so it was kind of pointless really, i just think people at mickeltherapy should be more respectful towards people who they have been unable to help, rather than imply there not ready to get better, because im totally ready but i just didnt find it helpful.
hi Liam again, to comment on some of the things you said:
1. I already know that the mind and body are independent
Actually, the mind and body are totally and absolutely interdependent. The body is a manifestation of the consciousness and mind. There is no separation. The body is the mind solidified, it is the end-result of your emotions, thoughts and beliefs.
2. I totally understand why I’m ill but i just didn’t get anything out of the therapy.
In my experience, if you totally understood why you were ill, you would be better. That goes for all of us. Unfortunately we are not aware of what we are not aware of, therefore, the key to healing is to become aware.
‘There is only one disease in the world: Ignorance. ‘If you know and feel how your body works, you can change anything’. Andre Noquet, Aikido Master
3. I found it very dangerous to be honest, also the attitude where the person is to blame is all wrong in my opinion.
I’d say it was pretty impossible for Mickel Therapy to be dangerous. And as far as blaming the person, this is not it at all. It is about become aware that through our habits, beliefs and thoughts we create our life. If you have not come to understand this concept yet, that’s fine, I quite understand. True healing is all about moving from a place of victim to a place of self-mastery, which means we have to take more responsibility for everything that we think and do. Once we are willing to give up our victimhood, then we can really start to heal.
4. Ive seen on a few websites that all people are better after doing mickeltherapy, the only ones who arn’t are the ones who have given up, to me this is just a lie, theres no other word to describe it, i asked david mickel for advice but he ignored my email, at one point one therapist tolkd me to go and see my doctor but my doctor had never heard of mickeltherapy so it was kind of pointless really, i just think people at mickeltherapy should be more respectful towards people who they have been unable to help, rather than imply there not ready to get better, because im totally ready but i just didnt find it helpful.
Obviously Mickel Therapy was not right for you. I encourage you to keep seeking answers and eventually you will find them. I encourage you to take a look at the many self-help books that are on the market. I have several recommendations on my website.
‘The ultimate cause of suffering is ignorance, wrong perspective, ie, a misperception of reality’ – Dalai Lama, Auckland Dec 2009
I wish you all the best with your healing journey.
I’d say it was dangerous because of how i felt when i did it, for example id crash the car or be sick in the street if i did too much after sessions, maybe its my fault but still if i hadnt done mickeltherapy these things wouldnt have happened, saying ive not understood the concept is blaming me really. I accept that is myabe the policy of mickeltherapy but perhaps they too coould take more responsibiility.
As for the ignorant, maybe I am ignorant and not aware as so many other people who get beter in less 1-6 sessions but i find that extremely hard to believe really
As I said Liam, once you start to change your perspective and start to move out of victimhood, (which requires admitting you are in that space in the first place), then things will start to change for you. There’s not much more I can add for you until then as you are definately stuck in your perspective.
Like I said, I don’t believe im in victimhood, perhaps i do have some sort of emotional problems but ive not a clue what it is and over 4 years of mickeltherapy hasn’t brought me any closer, i was told when i started it, there would be a root cause for my symptoms and i would be helped to find it, but that wasn’t the case
what do you do it you dont feel helped after finishing? It wasnt with you but i feel confused.
I’m really not sure what you mean by the question, what do you mean – after finishing what? To be honest it may be a question that needs a consultation to answer. I’m sorry I can’t help you more in this response.
Wow that was unusual. I just wrote an extremely long comment but
after I clicked submit my comment didn’t show up. Grrrr… well I’m not writing
all that over again. Anyway, just wanted to say wonderful blog!
Yes, very annoying when that happens, thanks for the comment anyway!
Dear Kim,
I think your website is fantastic and so informative. I have recently started Mickel Therapy and am finding it quite hard to recognise what my body emotions are saying to me, although my therapist thinks I am doing quite well. I have had ME for over 25 years and over the years have supressed most of my emotions probably from my experiences from my childhood. I did your meditation this morning and it really helped me. Just wanted to say thankyou
Thats awesome Jaqui appreciate your comments 🙂