Berkhamsted
I have recently discovered Gabor Maté, and am working my way through all his books. This is his most recent one. It's very readable. Here he explores the connections between physical illness and psychological distress or trauma.
I think many of us have an instinctive understanding of the impact our psychological state has on our physical condition. Here Maté explores these issues in depth. This book has helped me come to a greater and deeper understanding of how our physical bodies send us warning signals, which all too often we in the western world ignore. Because of the pressures of our busy lives we often choose to numb ourselves with substances or activities rather than face what is really wrong in our lives. Our fast paced way of living doesn't allow us time to be ill. One of the profoundly healing aspects of therapy I find is in how it can help us reconnect with our bodies. Therapy can help us slow down and listen to the body's warning signals, leading to greater physical as well as mental health in the long run.
The Nature of Love:
I've been thinking about the nature of love today, especially romantic love. When we fall in love we seem to look in awe at our beloved often thinking "you are amazing". Little realising that this love is rather fragile and conditional. If we tell our beloved "I love you because you are amazing", this leaves open the possibility that one day they may not be so "amazing" and then we won't love them anymore. Which is of course what so often happens when we 'fall out of love'. Unconditional love is when we can truly tell our beloved "I love and accept you as you are". Perhaps this is more easily felt towards our children. It seems to me that this is the love we all want and need. This love is much more secure and stable, we do not have to be "amazing" and perform high wire acts to impress in order to receive it. I believe we are all both amazing and ordinary. To be ordinary is also to be amazing. The most average person is also a most amazing being if we can but spend the time to get to know them. I believe if we could really bring this understanding in to our relationships as parents, lovers, friends, colleagues, there would be a lot less suffering in our society.