There are only two times during our existence that we are perfectly “balanced” – prior to birth and upon our demise. The reality is being healthy is a dynamic process that is constantly in flux, adjusting to our external and internal environments. How our mind and body work together determines our psychological and physiological processes and clearly affects our equilibrium.

Equilibrium is defined as: “A condition in which all acting influences are canceled by others, resulting in a stable, balanced, or unchanging system – mental or emotional balance; poise”

Disease is defined as: “A condition of ill health or malfunction in a living organism – any disordered or unwholesome condition”

Balance is defined as: “A state of equilibrium or parity characterized by cancellation of all forces by equal opposing forces “

Homeostasis is defined as: “The ability or tendency of an organism to maintain internal equilibrium by adjusting its physiological processes”

American Heritage Dictionary

The diagram below attempts to illustrates equilibrium in a state of constant change, moving through balance into homeostasis then again through balance and into homeostasis.

We can all relate to (A) in the diagram, those unfortunate times when we’ve experienced a sense of dis-ease. Likewise, most of us can relate to (B), those moments of centeredness and clarity usually resulting in some peak experience.

We are limited only too what we have learned within our lifetime to maintain homeostasis. Ideally, (C) is a more apt illustration of the equilibrium we would like to permeate our live’s.

In daily living, feelings and reactions are automatic and predictable. Creating life spontaneously, rather than having each moment determined by past experiences, is indeed a struggle. Addiction, along with traumatic accidents, unexpected changes in life, breakups, the death of a loved one, etc. all require healing and recovery.

It is significant to realize that the self has in large part, coordinated our respective states of health and happiness, along with strife and pain and upset – whether consciously or unconsciously. The addictions we create in our lives are the very steps we overcome in the ladder toward our own self-realization – a necessary part of our evolution. Self-reliance then, when properly understood, offers us a useful framework for personal transformation. If trauma, dis-ease and imbalance have been generated by our selves; at any given moment, then our solutions for creating ease, harmony and health and wellbeing can also be generated by our selves.

For most, especially in patterns of addiction, many of our movements or choices are not considered ones. Rather, most of us function from a place of habit. Few people are exempt from this way of life. Whether its the one who is addicted to alcohol or drugs (including pharmaceuticals), or the worker who is addicted to work, or the artist to making art, and the athlete who can’t miss a day of jogging, or the drama king or queen who can’t go long without creating drama of some kind, or the worrier who doesn’t know how to live without worrying. We all possess addictive behavior of some sort; what need be addressed, however, are the patterns that interfere with our abilities to create and sustain health, well being and a joyous, fulfilled existence.

Concept… if you have a seed… a tomato seed, a flower seed, it doesn’t matter… if you put the seed in fertile soil… give it sunshine and nourishment, it will discover its potential and grow towards its fulfillment.

And so it is with everything, especially a consciously considered life, joyous living and self-realization. Create a fertile environment… plant seeds and potentialities grow… self-fulfillment is inevitable.

We are always more potential than we are actual. Actualizing our potential is growth… a step toward life… the unknown…. to do otherwise is… well, otherwise. Lets just say it only feeds dissatisfaction.

So here’s the big secret -

When you feel good, It’s not because the world is right.

It’s because your world is right!

And that’s really what it’s all about… how to consciously address specific aspects of your life… to make your world right.

“Right” is definitely relative. One mans bliss could be another’s hell. What remains absolute however, are the three aspects of human existence that can be consciously and consistently cultivated.

There is a saying in the Yellow Emperor’s classic on medicine:
7 bites of food = 1 drop of blood and
7 drops of blood = one drop of chi (vitality).
7 drops of chi = one drop of jing (vital fluids) and
7 drops of jing = 1 drop of shen (spirit)

The transition from food to blood is about digestion and elimination;
the transition from blood to chi is about breathing;
the transition from chi to jing is about restful sleep;
and the transition from jing to shen is about ones personal practice.

So there it is, the internal, the energetic, sleep and the external:
Digest and Eliminate – Breathe – Sleep – Practice

Conscious awareness and cultivation of these most basic aspects of our existence is the first step toward cultivating a long healthy existence. It will strengthen immunity, facilitate recovery and is a key to illuminating and managing addictions.

” – health is a balanced, sensitive, and complete interaction between the various facets of our existence and our environment. The natural connection or unity of all these factors should be experienced… otherwise health is lost and so are the sensitivity and vitality involved in Cultivating the Way.

The purpose of health therefore, is not to support personal longevity in some narrow, self-serving sense. Health permits a full open-ended participation in the illuminating process of the living universe.”

Dragons Play, Charles Belyea & Steven Tainer – ISBN: 0-9629308-1-4