Illness Can Be An Evolutionary Process

Anne Redelfs, MD

Illness Can Be An Evolutionary Process

November 19, 2021 Uncategorized 0

Illness Can Be an Evolutionary Process

Deer in SnowWhen we perceive illnesses as a threat, we often react first with our animal nature—flight, fight, or freeze. We flee from illness if we can—staying away from those deemed to be contagious, avoiding what is thought to cause illness, and taking into our bodies what we believe will keep illness at bay. We may fight off our symptoms with the most powerful drugs available or the quickest fix. Or perhaps we choose the route of surgeries and procedures to combat these afflictions. We freeze at times too in response to our body symptoms—pretending the problem isn’t there until it has grown to such a degree that we can no longer ignore it.
 
Although our animal bodies are biologically programmed to respond to threatChild in Pajamas on a Couch with flight, fight, or freeze, our animal nature is not all that we are. We have a soul or psychological body that is housed in this animal body, which is not so easily threatened. In fact, it is using the body that has the majority of our attention to deliver its messages of problems that need addressing, as well as hope and healing.
 
My swollen, inflamed right eye was healing nicely, when I woke up one morning with a swollen, inflamed left eye. Tuning into my left eye, I had many more abuse memories from my past. My left eye, of course, was not the only eye harmed over the years, and my right eye was now sharing its story and outrage. It never ceases to amaze me how every part of us needs to share the truth of its experience! Every part needs to share its feelings. Every part yearns to be a welcomed as a worthy contributor to our lives.
 
Is any part of you expressing a storyline that needs to be integrated into your life and self?

What is a soul gardener?

For much of my life, I’ve enjoyed growing fresh vegetables and herbs as well as plants that feed butterflies, hummingbirds, and nature in general. I find many similarities between gardening plots of land and tending the various aspects of our psychology that together comprise the soul. I call myself a soul gardener because I help you to get the soil of your psyche in good condition and to care for your plants that are in need. As the garden of your life becomes increasingly bountiful and beautiful, others will naturally follow your inspiration.