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Our present day world is very caught up in finding immediate relief and “cures” for everything that ails us. Ads on television urge patients to “ask your doctor” about the latest pill or injection treatment for an ailment they may (or may not) have. Our society rushes to find the easiest way to end our suffering and achieve the “cure.”
But there is a big difference between being “cured” and being “healed.”
The origin of the word “cure” comes from the late 14c., from Old French curer, from Latin curare "take care of," hence, in medical language, "treat medically, cure.” Early in the history of the Christian church, the office of the curate was concerned with caring for the soul of the believers, or “curing” them to ensure the salvation of the parishioner.
We often use the term “cure” in reference to fish and meats, a usage first recorded in 1743, a process that helps to preserve the flesh against corruption or disease and makes it safe for human consumption.
While most words for "cure or heal" in European languages originally applied to the person being treated, they have also come to be used with reference to the disease, too. Relatively few show an ancient connection to words for "physician;" typically they are connected instead to words for "make whole" or "tend to" or even "conjurer." French guérir (with Italian guarir, Old Spanish guarir) is from a Germanic verb stem also found in in Gothic warjan, Old English wearian "ward off, prevent, defend.”
Today, we visit our healthcare professionals with a desire to be “cured” of our dis-ease.
Now compare that with the definition of healing.
The term heal comes from the Old English hælan "cure; save; make whole, sound and well," from Proto-Germanic *hailjan (source also of Old Saxon helian, Old Norse heila, Old Frisian hela, Dutch helen, German heilen, Gothic ga-hailjan "to heal, cure"), literally "to make whole," from PIE *kailo- "whole.” This interpretation suggests a holistic approach that tries “to make whole” or “to care about” (rather than to care for) the whole or total individual. In other words, it implies an approach that aims to return the individual to a state of ease.
This connotes a transformation of how one thinks of oneself and others as part of their worldview or personal philosophy. Consequently, that means that healing is concerned with the quality of life across its entire spectrum, not just the removal of specific symptoms. Rather, it is concerned with the transformation of personality and the transcendence of life conditions.
Let me state that again.
Healing is not just the removal of specific symptoms or ailments, but rather is addresses the transformation of the underlying philosophy in order to transform personality and transcend life conditions, in order to return to a state of ease.
In other words, we may not be able to be “cured,” but we can be “healed.”
As Lissa Rankin explains, “healing and curing are inherently different. Curing means ‘eliminating all evidence of disease,’ while healing means ‘becoming whole.’” And while we can give patients medications or treatments that will control their symptoms, often we cannot remove the dis-ease until the patient is able to heal the underlying causes of the condition.
Curing is the elimination of the signs and symptoms of disease, which may or may not correspond to the actual end of the disease or distress. Curing follows a predictable path, and it is the prominent approach in our current sick care system. Curing focuses on the physical body. We can become so focused on the reduction or removal of physical symptoms that we ignore or forget about our mental, emotional and spiritual health necessary to complete the process.
The integration of the mind, body, and spirit is key to caring for and healing the whole person. It is important to recognize that healing is very different from curing.
Healing is multidimensional, and includes the mental, emotional, and spiritual components of the human system. Curing may not always be possible, but healing is always possible! Healing occurs when all levels of the human system are in the correct relationship. The healing process emerges over time.
The difference is the role of the individual. Expecting a cure means relying on outside forces to magically change your circumstances, physically, emotionally, or psychologically. But healing power comes from within, from the redirection of your own worldview, and the way you approach your life conditions. Thoreau stated, “It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.” In other words, if we look for potential in every experience or encounter, we will have a far more positive outcome than if we anticipate obstacles. That applies to our health, as well.
Healing does not mean that all of your physical ailments will disappear, but it does mean that you will learn how to transcend them to improve your quality of life and lessen their impact.
In her book, Empath, Judy Dyer writes, “Your perception of the world is your reality. If you think the world is depressive and pointless because you choose to focus on all the negative that is surrounding you, that’s how you will perceive the world. You could change that if you would focus on changing yourself. Two people can live in the same environment but perceive it completely differently simply because of their perception.”
To start the healing process, we need to become introspective and aware, and take charge of our worldview in order to transcend the life conditions that challenge us.
Are you ready to start healing?
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