HEAL YOUR BODY BY LOUISE HAY (2009)

This post isn't just a review; it's an expression of gratitude towards a book that has helped my entire family tackle various health issues through the strength of positive thinking. This book is based on the idea that a healthy body isn't just born from a good diet and exercise. While they play an integral role in aiding growth, they are only a part of the solution. Hay points out that we must balance our mind, body, and spirit through a positive mental outlook towards ourselves.

I was surprised to notice patterns in my ailments and emotions, especially in terms of how I perceive myself. Everything suddenly made sense, as I had been experiencing some unexplained symptoms with acne, poor appetite, and indigestion. This was odd because these problems flared up together, even though I hadn't changed anything in my diet or overall lifestyle. I've been frequenting a gym since April, I mostly eat simple home-cooked food, I rarely drink aerated drinks, and I never consume street food. Then, suddenly, in July, I started experiencing all these symptoms, but I couldn't trace them back to something I did because my lifestyle was pretty much the same. That's when my father advised me to identify my symptoms, locate them in the book, then read and list the affirmations based on the internal causes. So I followed his advise, and decided to print a list of affirmations and attach them on a pinboard in my study. And honestly, these affirmations have really helped me as I've made peace with a lot of internal and external problems I was facing. This book has 80 pages worth of affirmations for every physical ailment. But there is a catch. The affirmations do not target physical health, but one's mental well-being. For instance, it is common knowledge that deep and long-standing resentment is one of the underlying causes behind cancer. This book acknowledges this idea while providing the perfect affirmation to combat this problem.

Affirmations for Cancer

I lovingly forgive and release all of the past.

 I choose to fill my world with joy.

 I love and approve of myself.

Cancer is a prominent example here because Hay was once diagnosed with "incurable" cervical cancer, but she was able to aid her healing by accepting that she needed to let go of her childhood abuse and rape, as this resentment is what caused her to develop the cancer in the first place.

Going through the affirmations made me realise that while all ailments are caused by different emotions, they are all somehow bound together by a lack of self-love. And it is important to note that affirmations are more about being kind and accepting of ourselves than indulging in a sense of grandeur by doing something big and difficult.

Whatever we have done to our bodies through a negative mindset is in the past. But we'll always have our present to change our circumstances. Even if you are dealing with a minor ailment that's not leaving you despite workouts and diet, a positive outlook is the missing piece in the puzzle that can aid your healing.

This is one book that I'll definitely carry with me for a very long time. I'll always keep it in my purse and refer to it regularly to maintain the positive mindset I've developed.

I don't think I need to rate this book when its readers have been giving it a rating of 5/5 for decades now.