Despite everything, the disease is not you

What is it, without a doubt, we have in common all human beings?

While we live our lives, we do a lot of routines necessary to survive and also we enjoy moments of relaxation with the people we choose, with those who love us and whom we want. Meanwhile, on that path we pass each other, we look at each other (or not) and we We relate (some more, some less) with those we know or with whom we bump into 'random'.

Our way of thinking about life

We share life, in some moments more, and in others less, some people more and others less... actually it doesn't matter how we relate, the most important thing is how we perceive that experience of living and each of the experiences within life: how we notice them, first, for ourselves. It is so important to feel comfortable walking our day to day life in our own shoes!

Whatever way we choose to live and relate to each other, we all have thoughts on a daily basis.: This is another point in common, we all have them. Thoughts are part of our very existence - whether or not we are aware of them. We even learn to silence them in different ways, such as with some of the techniques known as meditation or mindfulness.

• Related article: "Personal Development: 5 reasons for self-reflection"

The emotions

It is also a common point the emotions that each one of us experiences at the time and with their circumstances. These also characterize us. The emotions and thoughts that each human being has make us who we are, each one a different being from the rest, a unique person. And even with everything we experience, there is something that even gives meaning to that unique and non-transferable personal experience, something that makes us all the same: we all die.

• You may be interested in: "Emotional management: 10 keys to master your emotions"

Death is an inseparable part of life

On a day-to-day basis, although the vast majority of people do not think about death, it does become more present from certain ages or at the moment in which diseases or conditions appear.

In these moments we see life in a different way, we approach situations in a different way and we are more aware of the value it has our body as an instrument that allows us to experience and our brain as a powerful control center indisputably inseparable from the body.

• Related article: "Stoic psychology: a commitment to tranquility"

Who enjoys a good level of health?

When we suffer from pain or difficulty in our body-mind, our entire daily life is 'splashed' with this discomfort and makes the day to day weigh more: life weighs more.

The Preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organization (WHO, 1946) states: "Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of infirmities or diseases". Following this definition I ask myself: Is this state permanent? Is health within anyone's reach? Who is healthy?

The physical body deteriorates with the passing of the years; and I insist that the body includes our brain and the mind that has its way of assimilating what happens to us, so understand it, think about it, accept it or not, and of course also, to allow ourselves to feel how we are before what we occurs. Our life experiences, every second we live, add to this "natural" deterioration of living beings., and it has a lot to do with how we face them, what we do and our attitude towards them.

There are people who enjoy a strong body-mind, who, in addition to the genetics that accompanies them, take care of themselves in the different areas of life: nutrition, exercise, emotional and personal-work balance, etc

It has been shown that the body and mind can be kept functional well into old age, and this supposes a deep well-being (remembering the WHO quote). But beware, that complete well-being maintained day after day, after day, every day of our lives, includes knowing how to look at and accept less good moments; from a flu that affects our body (and, therefore, our mind) and leaves us "lying down", to a momentary anger with something or someone that influences our state of mind.

Likewise, people who have physical and/or mental problems or difficulties can also enjoy a truly felt "well-being". It can cost more: suffering from a disease directly affects the perceived quality of life, but this does not mean say that you can't feel that "you're okay", have good times and learn to adapt your life to that condition.

Conclusion

You are not your disease or your circumstances. You are much more than what happens to you, physically, mentally, at work, socially... You are much more. There are ways to look straight at what we live and accept it; This acceptance results in a more authentic "well-being", despite the condition, despite the illness, Despite the problems that life sometimes presents us at the different levels cited by the WHO: physical, social and mental.

Despite everything, the disease is not you.