By Linda Dulicai and Katherine Gotthardt
My. Oh my. My, my.
The possessive form of the word “I,” “my” is an interesting word. It’s a word we use to refer to the things in our lives, the things that belong to us. We also use it to refer to our bodies and physical conditions. In doing so, we claim pieces of ourselves, making them our own — even those things we don’t want in our lives, like disease.
If you listen to commercials advertising medication, you will hear the actors say things like, “My doctor talked to me about mydiabetes.” Or, “I am learning more about my high blood pressure.” Or, “I am trying to do something about my weight problem.” They are not saying, “I am learning more about the diagnosis.” Instead, the large pharmaceutical companies are equating the person with the disease. They are trying to sell you something by making you claim it.
Off screen, in offices and hospitals around the nation, many doctors and nurse practitioners will try to personalize a conversation by talking about “your diabetes,” “your high blood pressure” or “your weight.” This might be well intentioned, but it can have the opposite effect. Instead of getting better, you get worse because you accept the disease through your words and your thoughts.
While some practitioners might think taking ownership for a medical condition is the way to conquer it, we don’t. We believe that when we take ownership, we develop a kind of attachment to whatever it is we’re referring to. Think about how you feel when you say, “my dog,” or “my car.” Do we really want to put those in the same category as an illness?
We are not saying any of this to instill guilt in those who suffer. Illness may be a difficult thing to deal with, and we know most people would not bring it on themselves intentionally. But in being more aware of our words and thoughts, we have the power to claim health instead of illness. We don’t have to buy into the mainstream that asks us to own a disease.
The next time you catch yourself referring to a condition as “my,” stop and ask yourself. Is this something I want in my life? If it’s not, reword the thought. In doing so, you are taking that first step towards healing.
A practitioner for more than 37 years, Linda Dulicai is a Certified Natural Health Professional and an Advanced Loomis Digestive Health Specialist educated in more than 25 modalities of wellness. She is CEO of The Healthy Zone.
