Overcoming the Obstacle of Fear

WELCOME TO MY WEEKLY BLOG!

I am overcoming my fear of writing this blog by writing it while afraid. What am I afraid of? You may be writing your own list of fears to overcome, so why be bored with mine? The good news is that we are in it together. Life takes courage, and when we help each other, it is easier to be brave. Compassion is born out of personal trials, and our ability to encourage is a consequence of overcoming our own obstacles during different seasons of life; but, what do we do when there is no one on the horizon to offer a hand up, and we find ourselves going down that path of discouragement and depression?

During those times, we wonder why it is that some people face challenges like a bull elephant, while others withdraw into their shell like a turtle? It seems that some people are just born with a courage gene, stampeding through life without a flinch. Fortunately, most of us are somewhere between the elephant and the turtle, and no one has discovered a courage gene that I'm aware of, yet. The mystery still remains. How do I find courage - How can I be brave enough to truly live my life with purpose, and experience it to the fullest, especially if my obstacle is poor health?

Fear freezes us when we receive a serious diagnosis, and is something that can only be understood when we are on the receiving end. I remember sitting in the claustrophobic examining room, planning a quick escape, as the doctor's indifference and negativity spewed from his mouth, as if he were evaluating a bear market on wall street. I glanced at my husband sitting awkwardly on a small stool across from the examining table, and watched tears well up in his eyes as the doctor provided his probable diagnosis and what I should do next. He said it was either lymphoma or sarcoidosis (an auto-immune disease that also effected the lymphatic system). During our second visit, the physicians' words were harsh and impatient. "So what's it going to take?!" All I could think of was that his superior manner was an attempt to compensate for his hobbit-like stature. He reiterated his belief that I had some kind of lymphoma and pushed for the biopsy. Illness and death had been the outcome of conventional medicine in our family, so, given my gene pool, I suspected chemotherapy and surgery would not be the best option. What good would it do to puncture my neck and discover I had cancer cells, if I wouldn't survive the treatments?

I left the clinic knowing that I would choose an alternative philosophy, and pursue a treatment that focused on healing, not disease. Hope heals; despair kills. Over the next three months, I met with three different naturopaths, and though their various approaches were confusing, they all emphasized hope instead of pessimism. I began my own research in the Encyclopedia of Healing Foods (Michael Murray, N.D.), and read: "The problems of nausea and vomiting, anorexia, and cachexia are sometimes the results of cancer itself, but often they are the adverse effect of chemotherapy or radiation...By some estimates, approximately 40 percent of cancer fatalities result not from the disease itself but from malnutrition." After more research and earning a master's degree in holistic nutrition, I was able to regain my health through a gradual implementation of a whole foods diet, healthier lifestyle choices, and many hours of prayer and positive thinking.

During my pursuit of natural healing, I consistently found that what I removed from my diet was just as important as what I replaced in my body. When I returned to my old ways of eating processed foods, especially those high in nitrates and sugars, the fevers and swollen lymph nodes would return. When I removed the dietary culprits, and replaced them with whole nutrient-rich clean foods, health and vitality followed. Healing through nutrition, specifically phytochemicals, is an exciting frontier to explore, and with each new discovery, nutritional science mandates a stronger voice among the medical community. Ideally, we will one day combine the efforts of holistic health practitioners and medical specialists to provide the best possible results in achieving optimum health and wellness for all individuals.

My journey began in fear - fear of the unknown, until I realized I had more power over my own health than anyone else. I learned to take accountability for my diet and lifestyle choices, and believed that old saying, "Time heals all wounds." Miraculously, our bodies are designed to regenerate and heal! As my fear waned, I was able to accomplish more, produce greater results, and empower myself with the education needed to continue down the path of courage. I now have the privilege to help others, through education and counseling, to walk down the courageous path of managing their health through nutrition and lifestyle choices to achieve their health and wellness goals.

Courage is a choice. Feeling fear is human, but moving forward in spite of fear is the definition of courage. Thank you for allowing me to take this journey towards improved health and wellness with you! We will be brave together.

"Do not be afraid; only believe." (Luke 8:50)