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Spiritual Dis-ease

Updated: Feb 23

How do you know if you have a spiritual dis-ease? How can you tell it apart from organic psychiatric conditions? What are the clues and signs? Why does it matter about the difference?


60 percent of blue light ambulance call outs in London are now cries for help with spiritual dis-ease or psychiatric disease. But how do you triage these? What is the treatment or solution?


When you are struggling, it may either be a spiritual dis-ease, a psychiatric condition, or both. There are many reasons why we suffer.


Viktor Frankl, the Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist said that “The purpose of our lives is not to avoid suffering but to find meaning and purpose in the midst of it.” And this happens to be how you heal from suffering.


In 2 Corinthians 12:9 it reads “God’s Grace is sufficient for us, even in the midst of chronic illness. His power is made perfect in our weakness.”


Paul Levy wrote “There is a psychospiritual disease of the soul that originates within ourselves and that has the potential to destroy our species or to wake us up, depending on whether or not we recognise what it is revealing to us.”


The Buddha said “The secret of health for both mind and body is... Live the present moment wisely and earnestly.” He went on to say that “Every human being is the author of his own health or disease.”


James Altucher says wisely that “What you need to do is build the house you will live in. You build that house by laying a solid foundation: By building physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health.”


Marcus Tullius Cicero, the Roman statesman, scholar, and philosopher, said that “Diseases of the soul are more dangerous and more numerous than those of the body.”


Pope Francis said that “Rest is so necessary for the health of our minds and bodies, and often so difficult to achieve due to the many demands placed on us. But rest is also essential for our spiritual health, so that we can hear God’s voice and understand what he asks of us.”


Dis-ease or disease?


Spiritual dis-ease has a spiritual solution. When you feel down, and the root of your characteristics is spiritual, then only a spiritual solution will be effective in healing.


This may become apparent because you have been given a diagnosis of a psychiatric condition that, despite multiple interventions such as drugs and psychotherapy, has not responded in any way, or you are floundering: This means that you are struggling along clumsily in the mud of misdiagnosis. But it’s not your fault. Many physicians don’t believe in the soul, so how can they treat it when it is spiritually dis-eased?


You can tell that you have a spiritual dis-ease when it gets better using spiritual principles. This is the spiritual solution. When you have a spiritual dis-ease and no drug or therapy is touching it, then you may have been mis-diagnosed with a physical or psychological condition.


Lysa TerKeurst wrote that “Getting healthy isn't just about losing weight. It's not limited to adjusting our diet and hoping for good physical results. It's about recalibrating our souls so that we want to change - spiritually, physically, and mentally. And the battle really is in all three areas.”


Saint Padre Pio wrote “Do not fear illness or adversity; rather, embrace it as an opportunity for spiritual growth and surrender to God’s will.” Instead of fearing illness or adversity, we can choose to embrace them as catalysts for spiritual growth, trusting in God’s will.


Saint Faustina Kowalska wrote “Suffering is the greatest treasure on Earth; it purifies the soul.”


Saint Paul wrote “By uniting our sufferings with Christ’s, we participate in His redemptive work and find meaning in our own pain.” Saint John of the Cross said that “The cross is not a burden to bear, but a means of transformation and salvation.”


Saint Therese of Lisieux wrote that “Illness can be a pathway to holiness, as it gives us an opportunity to unite our sufferings with Christ’s.”                 


Saint Paul wrote that “Through our weakness and vulnerability, God’s power and strength are made manifest.”


There is a spiritual solution to dis-ease and it is very simple: One that solves all problems based on dis-ease. It simply involves a short journey from the head to the heart. This is the same as the journey from the ego to the soul; from the wounded child in us to our Higher Self; from separation to oneness.


The solution is the short journey from the head (ego - our wounded self) to the heart (soul - Higher Self): A journey from the middle column to the right hand column of my chart above


This journey brings us to presence, guides our intuitively inspired actions, ends hatred and conflict on every scale, and is the only true way to go from chaos and personal ‘Hell’ to a Utopian 'civilisation.' Take the journey for your children. Take it for your Self. Take it for each other. This is the only way to ensconce us as a loving, living planet full of wisdom and spiritual wellbeing in this Universe.


This journey takes us from being fearful, self-centred, angry, shaming, blaming, resentful, and hateful, to being open, vulnerable, courageous, and resilient beautiful souls. It's what we all need right now. This is my manifesto at this evolutionary turning point in history. This is ‘The Shift.’


Sharon Weil extols the benefits of connection, saying that “Separation from the community creates isolation. Isolation is the source of most physical, emotional and spiritual dis-ease.”


Existentialist Jean-Paul Sartre said, “‘Hell’ is other people.” He believed that others create our suffering. But the brilliant philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein wisely and insightfully disagreed with Sartre. “‘Hell’ isn’t other people. ‘Hell’ is yourself,” he observed. ‘Hell’ is not outside us. ‘Hell’ is within, he thought.


Wittgenstein recommended that we look inward rather than outward to face our demons and our suffering. The psychiatrist, psychotherapist, founder of analytical psychology and all round spiritual Master, Carl Gustav Jung agreed, saying “One who looks outside, dreams. One who looks inside, awakens.” So a spiritual solution to dis-ease means looking inwards. The solution to psychiatric conditions is outwards in the form of pills and therapists.


The fundamental root of our pain is in our mind. We are responsible for our own inferno. Our internal state largely determines the quality of our life. Our relationship with ourself is the primary source of our suffering. Our minds create our spiritual bliss and also our ‘Hells.’ Anger, fear, anxiety, worry, holding on to grief, resentment, envy, greed, and jealousy - these are our demons, should we choose them.


Our thoughts, worries and painful memories from our past are the sources of our ‘Hell’. The stories we tell ourselves about our past, present and future experiences determine the quality of our life. When we are kind to ourselves, life is easier. When we feel life is happening against us, we are triggered by our past experiences, and so we suffer. Eckhart Tolle wrote that “Suffering has a noble purpose: The evolution of consciousness and the burning up of the ego.” Suffering teaches us to be gentle with our souls and to have compassion.


We are the gods and goddesses of our own inner state: Creators and destroyers. Reality is defined from within. Your ‘Heaven’ or your ‘Hell’ starts from what you perceive to be the only Truth. The good news about Wittgenstein’s brilliant wisdom is that it means we have control. For spiritual dis-ease you don’t need a doctor or a therapist. Though you may need a guide or an Enlightened Witness.


Facing the unconscious is excruciatingly painful. It reveals our shadows. The unconscious self is a dark, often terrifying place. It hides our deepest fears, hidden desires, and unacknowledged traumas. So, people would rather blame others for their pain: This is the well known concept of psychological projection. Avoiding our shadows means choosing ‘Hell.’ It is to live in a perpetual state of blame. If you are unwilling to descend into yourself and integrate your unconscious self because it’s too painful, you will remain in your self-created ‘Hell’ and blame others. If you are unwilling to know what and who you are, life can easily be a form of self-deceit.


Wittgenstein wrote “Nothing is so difficult as not deceiving oneself.” Descend into yourself to reconcile your Truth or decline into ‘Hell.’ Personal Truth is the secret to freedom. When I feel trapped or stuck, I look inward. Blaming others is easy, cowardly, and hateful. We project our suffering onto others. We blame external factors for our unhappiness. Others can be our triggers, but it is our own reaction to them, not others per se, that creates the inferno. Blame is a shield. It protects your ego from the Truth; so you create your very own monsters, demons, and ‘Hell.’ Others become scapegoats for your inner turmoil. It’s a false sense of security. It’s a comfortable Hell. To truly live, we must choose the other side of the ego. We must break down our false defence mechanism. John Milton, the English poet and scholar, wrote “The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven.”


We are separated from ourselves: And separated from ourselves, we are insane. As Mahatma Gandhi said “The problem with the world is that humanity is not in its right mind.”


Carl Jung said "Modern people are ignorant of what they really are. We have simply forgotten what a human being really is, so we have men like Nietzsche and Freud and Adler, who tell us what we are, quite mercilessly. We have to discover our shadow. Otherwise we are driven into a world war in order to see what beasts we are."


J. Krishnamurti, the Indian philosopher, wrote “It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.” We live in a Dystopian, dysfunctional world.


We got the movie script to our life, but we didn’t know how to live. We have no lasting happiness. We all think that we are drowning. Competition is really just a desperate effort not to drown in our own self-constructed fear. J. Krishnamurti wrote “Real learning comes about when the competitive spirit has ceased.”


Only by living a heart-led life can we find stillness. It is only in stillness of the mind that we will find the answers on how to live. J. Krishnamurti wrote “To understand the immeasurable, the mind must be extraordinarily quiet, still... You know, if we understand one question rightly, all questions are answered. But we don't know how to ask the right question. To ask the right question demands a great deal of intelligence and sensitivity. Here is a question, a fundamental question: Is life a torture? It is, as it is; and man has lived in this torture centuries upon centuries, from ancient history to the present day, in agony, in despair, in sorrow; and he doesn't find a way out of it. Therefore he invents gods, churches, all the rituals, and all that nonsense, or he escapes in different ways (from addiction to oblivion). What we are trying to do, during all these discussions and talks here, is to see if we cannot radically bring about a transformation of the mind, not accept things as they are, nor revolt against them. Revolt doesn't answer a thing. You must understand it, go into it, examine it, give your heart... With everything that you have, to find out a way of living differently. That depends on you, and not on someone else, because in this there is no teacher, no pupil; there is no leader; there is no guru; there is no Master, no Saviour. You yourself are the teacher and the pupil; you are the Master; you are the guru; you are the leader; you are everything. And to understand is to transform what is." You only need to work on you. That is all any of us need to do. You yourself are your saviour.


Krishnamurti continued “When I understand myself, I understand you, and out of that understanding comes love. Love is the missing factor; there is a lack of affection, of warmth in relationship; and because we lack that love, that tenderness, that generosity, that mercy in relationship, we escape into mass action which produces further confusion, further misery. We fill our hearts with blueprints for world reform and do not look to that one resolving factor which is love... To transform the world, we must begin with ourselves; and what is important in beginning with ourselves is the intention. The intention must be to understand ourselves and not to leave it to others to transform themselves or to bring about a modified change through revolution, either of the left or of the right. It is important to understand that this is our responsibility, yours and mine.


Edward Bach wrote that “Dis-ease is, in essence, the result of conflict between soul (your true Self) and mind (your ego), and will never be eradicated except by spiritual and mental effort”


Are you ready to take the journey from your head to your heart? That is where true spiritual healing resides.


Pope Francis said that “Illness is one of the ways in which we are reminded of our dependence on God and the fragility of life.”


Henri Nouwen Wrote that “Illness can be a sacred time of transformation and awakening, a chance to deepen our relationship with God.” In the midst of a debilitating illness, an individual finds themselves grappling with physical pain and limitations. Despite the difficulties they face, they choose to perceive their experience through the lens of spirituality.


Recognising that illness can serve as a sacred time, they embark on a journey of self-reflection and spiritual growth. In the quiet moments of solitude, they turn their focus inward and seek solace in prayer and meditation.


Through this intentional practice, they begin to uncover a profound sense of presence and awareness of God’s presence in their life. As they navigate the depths of their illness, they discover that it becomes a catalyst for a deeper connection with their Faith and spirituality.


Through this process of transformation and awakening, they find a renewed sense of purpose and meaning. Their relationship with God becomes more intimate, providing comfort, guidance, and strength to face the challenges of their illness. In the sacred space created by their illness, they witness the beauty of spiritual growth and the transformative power of deepening their connection with God. Thus, illness holds the potential to be a sacred period of transformation and awakening, providing an opportunity to cultivate a deeper connection with God.


Saint John Paul II wrote “When we offer our suffering to God, it becomes a powerful source of Grace and redemption.”


Mother Teresa said that “In suffering, we are reminded of our need for God and find solace in His presence.”


Saint Teresa of Avila wrote that “True healing comes from surrendering to God and allowing His love to transform us from within.” God often uses our trials and sufferings to draw us closer to Him and to mold us into who He created us to be.


Spiritual dis-ease can become a vehicle for spiritual growth and a catalyst for aligning our lives with God’s divine plan. We come to embrace the truth that our trials are not in vain, but rather an opportunity for God to mold us into the person He created us to be.


In Bill Wilson's reflections in 'As Bill Sees It' he states that "Resentment is the Number One Offender. It destroys more (of us) than anything else. From it stem all forms of spiritual dis-ease, for we have been not only mentally and physically ill, we have also been spiritually ill. When our spiritual malady is overcome, we straighten out mentally and physically."


Our trials and sufferings have the potential to draw us closer to God. It is through these experiences that we can grow spiritually and develop a deeper understanding of our purpose.


It reads in Psalm 34:18 that “God is near to the brokenhearted and hears the cries of those who suffer.”


Hamza Yusuf wrote “This is the difference between someone whose heart is purified and sound and one whose heart is impure and corrupt. Impure people oppress, and the pure-hearted not only forgive their oppressors, but elevate them in status and character. In order to purify ourselves, we must begin to recognise this truth... If we work on our hearts, if we actually implement what is suggested here, we’ll begin to see changes in our lives, our condition, our society, and even within our own family dynamics. It is a blessing that we have this science of purification, a blessing that this teaching exists in the world today. What remains is for us to take these teachings seriously.”


Mahalia Jackson wrote “Faith and prayer are the vitamins of the soul; man cannot live in health without them.”


Amen.


Namaste.


Sending you love, light, and blessings brothers.


Olly



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Hello,

I am delighted and enchanted to meet you. I coach men with 'Deep Coaching', 'Supercoaching', and Transformative Life Coaching (TLC). Thank you for reading this far. I very much look forward to connecting with the highest version of you, to seeing your highest possibility, and to our conversations. Please do contact me via my email for a free connection call and a free experience of coaching on Zoom or in person. 


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I have a Bachelor's degree in Natural Sciences from Trinity College, Cambridge; a Master's Degree in Philosophy from Trinity College, Cambridge; a PhD Doctorate in Scientific Research from University College London (UCL); a Medical Degree (MD/MBBS) from The Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London and have been a doctor and reconstructive trauma and cancer surgeon in London for 20 years. I have a number of other higher qualifications in science and surgery. I have published over 50 peer reviewed PubMed cited scientific journal articles, have been an associate editor and frequent scientific faculty member, and am the author of several scientific books. I have been awarded my Diploma in Transformative Life Coaching in London, which has International Coaching Federation (ICF) Accreditation, as well as the UK Association for Coaching (AC), and the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC). I have been on my own transformative journey full time for over five years and I am ready to be your guide to you finding out who you really are and how the world works.




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