Beyond Symptoms: Listening to the Body, Befriending the Soul
- healthcareawakening
- May 18
- 3 min read
By Stephanie MoDavis
For over 25 years, my journey with chronic illness, sensitivity, and healing has taught me that what we often call “symptoms” are not just problems to be fixed-they are messages, invitations, and sometimes even sacred guideposts from our deeper selves. Yet, in our fast-paced, symptom-focused world, we are often missing or mistreating these upstream signals, overlooking the profound ways our nervous system and body are speaking to us.
The Language of the Body: More Than Just Symptoms
Modern medicine, for all its technological marvels, is largely built on treating symptoms. It excels at keeping us alive, but too often it fails to help us understand why we are suffering in the first place. We may be prescribed medications for pain, anxiety, or insomnia, but rarely are we encouraged to ask
What is my body trying to tell me? What deeper imbalance or unmet need is being expressed through these symptoms?
When we ignore these questions, we risk becoming passive passengers in the “movie” of our lives-living on autopilot, suppressing discomfort, and missing the deeper story that is unfolding within us. As the poet Rainer Maria Rilke wrote:
“The only journey is the one within.”
Attuning to Our Feelings: Developing a Relationship With the Soul
True healing begins when we attune to our feelings-not just the pleasant ones, but the full spectrum of emotion and sensation. This is how we develop a language of the body, and, ultimately, a relationship with our soul or higher self. When we listen deeply, we discover that our symptoms often carry wisdom and meaning. They may be asking us to slow down, to grieve, to change direction, or to reconnect with what truly matters.
This psycho-spiritual attunement is not just a luxury; it is essential, especially in the context of illness. As Carl Jung observed:
“Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakens.”
When we ignore the soul’s call, we risk apathy, disconnection, and a sense of being lost in translation-missing the profound transformational experience that life, and even illness, can offer.
The Transformational Power of Illness
Illness, when approached with curiosity and reverence, can be a profound teacher. It can strip away illusions, awaken compassion, and invite us into a deeper, more authentic relationship with ourselves and the world. As Gabor Maté writes:
“The attempt to escape from pain, is what creates more pain.”
By facing our pain with openness, we allow it to transform us. We move beyond mere survival and begin to participate in the sacred unfolding of our own story.
The Limits of Modern Medicine: Meaning Beyond Survival
While modern medicine is invaluable for acute care, it often falls short when it comes to meaning, purpose, and the psycho-spiritual dimensions of healing. This is why, despite our medical advancements, so many remain unwell, unfulfilled, or searching for answers.
The Bible reminds us:
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”Proverbs 17:22
Healing is not just about eradicating symptoms; it is about restoring wholeness, joy, and connection-to our bodies, our stories, and our souls.
My Invitation to You
As someone who has lived this journey from all angles, I invite you to pause and listen-not just to your symptoms, but to the deeper wisdom within. Ask yourself:
What is my body trying to communicate?
What feelings have I been avoiding?
What does my soul long for?
When we honor the language of the body and the call of the soul, we move from surviving to truly living. We reclaim the power to rewrite our story-not as victims of circumstance, but as conscious participants in the great mystery of life.
With compassion and hope,Stephanie MoDavis
References & Further Reading:
Maté, G. (2021). The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture
Jung, C.G. (1963). Memories, Dreams, Reflections
The Holy Bible, Proverbs 17:22
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