As we usher in the new year, our resolutions often focus on saving money, eating healthier, and exercising more. Yet, an essential aspect frequently overlooked, which is vital for our well-being, is the profound connection between our emotions and health.
The Power of Positive Emotions
Recent studies underscore the significant impact of positive emotions on our health. Gratitude, whether for a loving partner, personal achievements, or the simple joy of existence, not only uplifts us emotionally but also offers tangible health benefits. These include bolstering the immune system, reducing blood pressure, and accelerating recovery processes.
The Physical Toll of Negative Emotions
In contrast, negative emotions bear a physical burden. Research from Ohio State University reveals that chronic emotional suppression can precipitate serious health conditions like diabetes and heart disease. Stress, particularly, plays a detrimental role by escalating cholesterol levels and increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Emotions and Organs Health: Insights from Traditional Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) provides valuable insights into the direct correlation between specific emotions and organ health. TCM links lungs with sadness and worry, the heart with joy, the liver with anger, the spleen with overthinking, and the kidneys with shock and fear. These associations are not merely symbolic but are integral to TCM’s approach to health and illness. For example, the TCM concept of an “organ” encompasses more than its anatomical counterpart in modern medicine, with each organ relating to specific emotional and physical health aspects.
Understanding and Channeling Negative Emotions
In today’s culture, there’s a tendency to glorify positive emotions and stigmatize negative ones, partly influenced by social media’s pressure to showcase an idealized life. This skewed perspective can be harmful. Both ancient wisdom and modern science emphasize that suppressing negative emotions can damage our physical and mental well-being. TCM views the six primary emotions as neutral, serving as guides for appropriate decision-making. This is echoed in scientific understanding – for example, fear is essential for survival, triggering our “fight or flight” response, while anger can be a catalyst for seeking freedom and change. Recognizing and properly channeling these emotions is crucial. Instead of suppressing them, we should learn to acknowledge and express them in healthy ways to make beneficial decisions for ourselves.
A Holistic Approach to Health
Aligning with the World Health Organization’s definition, health is not just the absence of disease but a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being. This calls for a harmonious balance involving regular exercise, a balanced diet, emotional management, and stress reduction. TCM and modern science both agree that diet plays a role in this emotional-physical health nexus, suggesting that foods like whole grains and certain roots (“white color” whole foods associated with “lung” energy in TCM) are vital for both gut health and emotional well-being. For example, one of the unpleasant effects of a low-carb diet is the feeling of “low” and “blue” and sometimes anxiety.
Conclusion
As we pursue our new year’s resolutions, it’s important to widen our scope to include our emotional health, which is deeply connected to our physical state. Listening to our bodies is key as they often send signals when we suppress emotions, whether intentionally or unintentionally. In my upcoming blog post, I’ll explore how dreams can be a window into understanding these connections and the role of diet in managing our emotional health. Let’s embark on this journey of comprehensive well-being, embracing the intertwined nature of our emotional and physical selves.
