| The heart of every woman is a treasured place that | | | | Studies show the power the mind and emotions have |
| is the home to our dreams, our intuition, our feelings, | | | | in creating our physical health. Deepak Chopra quoted |
| our emotions and our instincts. It is the guiding light | | | | in 2008 at the Hawaii Convention Center that "there |
| that gives us direction in our journey through life. This | | | | is a direct connection between our consciousness and |
| treasured place within our hearts is untouched by the | | | | biology. The molecules of our emotional brain attach |
| outside world. It is a safe place that only we know | | | | themselves to the immune system. Our immune cells |
| and all it asks is that we be considerate by listening | | | | listen and participate in the conversation of our |
| and honoring the voice within. | | | | internal chatter. For instance, 'I have a gut feeling or |
| My personal healing journey in honoring my voice has | | | | My heart is full of sadness'." |
| been reflected in my intimate relationships. I can | | | | The messages that our body sends through disease |
| remember clearly as a young woman in my first | | | | may be a sign of a deeper wound that needs healing. |
| relationship, the moment in which I was presented | | | | According to Chinese medicine philosophy, breast |
| the opportunity to use my voice. I was afraid to | | | | lumps and cancer are a symptom of a woman's |
| speak my thoughts, that this man was not the one | | | | emotional stress and frustration. Honora Lee Wolfe in |
| for me for the long term, because I knew eventually | | | | "Better Breast Health Naturally", "states that |
| it would take me away from him, who I was so | | | | emotional frustration, suppressed anger, and stress |
| comfortable with. I also made a direct correlation | | | | affect the free and uninhibited flow of liver and |
| between the pain in my breast and the thoughts that | | | | spleen qi. Because the qi move the blood and body |
| were bottled up inside of me. So for the next two | | | | fluids, either or both of these may become stagnant |
| years I denied the voice of my heart and went on | | | | in the breasts. It is said that one can eliminate the |
| with the relationship. The discomfort in my breast | | | | root of the disease by keeping the heart tranquil and |
| became more noticeable and I sought out medical | | | | the spirit calm." |
| attention to find out the diagnosis of this breast pain. | | | | Christiane Northrup says "our every emotion, internal |
| I was fortunate that my condition was benign, | | | | pain, thoughts, ideas, the food we put in our body |
| though I knew that I would have to be cautious of | | | | and attitudes all have an effect on our health. Health |
| my stress level and diet. I knew for my own | | | | is not just some external thing that happens to us, it |
| salvation I would have to make a change and honor | | | | is a manifestation of our lives, experiences, and |
| this voice inside of me because I was lying to myself | | | | emotions." |
| and my partner. The heart of the matter was | | | | In her audio cassette "Creating Breast Health", |
| speaking my truth in learning to love myself. | | | | Christiane Northrup shows how unhealed issues of |
| As I reflect on the high incidence of breast cancer | | | | the heart may result in breast related conditions. |
| amongst women in our society, I am guided by an | | | | Some examples are holding on to past hurts or |
| inner voice that believes there is a strong correlation | | | | resentments, relationship addiction (why a woman |
| between benign and malignant breast related | | | | stays in a relationship that doesn't support her), |
| conditions and the inability for a woman to love and | | | | emotionally non-supportive or abusive relationships, |
| nurture herself. So many women are on the path of | | | | fear of not being loved, or emotionally unavailable or |
| learning how to love themselves. We have issues | | | | not worthy or being loved. |
| with low self-respect, self-worth, self-image and | | | | Chronic depression and the inability to release stuck |
| self-esteem. This can result from our own karmic | | | | patterns will inevitably create stress on the physical |
| issues that we are here to heal, issues from | | | | body. How we cope with the stress is essential to |
| childhood, perhaps the relationships with our parents | | | | the health of our physical body and well-being. |
| or abuse. According to John R. Lee MD, author of | | | | How can we support our emotional well-being? |
| "How Hormonal Balance can Save your Life", | | | | 1. We must first recognize that there is an emotional |
| suggests that breast cancer can occur when one is | | | | issue that needs to be attended to. |
| not loving or nurturing themselves enough or not | | | | 2. The next step is to feel and acknowledge these |
| receiving nurturing from others. Christiane Northrup in | | | | emotions even if you do not understand them. |
| her book our Bodies, Our Selves",says "much of | | | | 3. Set your intention to resolve to change the |
| breast cancer is related to our need to be | | | | situation. This may mean forgiving oneself or another, |
| self-contained and self-nurturing." | | | | loving oneself more, healing a relationship with a |
| John R. Lee M.D. quotes "a 1995 study said that | | | | family member, loving the inner child in you that is |
| breast cancer increased by almost 12 times if a | | | | calling for your attention or reacting to a situation or |
| woman had suffered from a major life episode | | | | pattern in a different way. |
| including divorce, bereavement, or job loss in previous | | | | 4. Have a vision of the desired state you see |
| 5 years of Breast Cancer diagnosis." He also says | | | | yourself in and see if it matches your current |
| "that our own breasts can in turn attack oneself | | | | situation. |
| when we are not nurturing ourselves is a sign that | | | | 5. Journey into Wholeness- open up to the resources |
| we need to balance nurturing just like we would | | | | of healing through journaling, affirmations, having a |
| balance hormones." | | | | dialogue with your physical symptoms, one on one |
| What lies behind a woman's breast is her heart. The | | | | counseling, deep relaxation, regular exercise, good |
| source of her love and strength. The breasts relates | | | | dietary habits, support groups, meditation, bodywork, |
| to the 4th chakra, our heart center. The metaphor | | | | and energy healing. |
| of giving, receiving, and nurturing. | | | | Remember to breathe. |