Where the mind focuses and attention is given, energy flows. Thus, when we focus on our physical body and its health issues, when we create fear or anxiety over our health status, we are actually opening up a pathway for the very concerns we are worried about. Positive healthy attention to the needs of the body is one thing, but when we shift over to a negative state of worry, we get in touch with the things that cause the worry, and thus, create a link that allows them to enter. We are in effect ‘inviting them in’ with this type of attention.
When we shift our focus away from these things, and concentrate on our higher interests, on thoughts and emotions that are uplifting and energizing, we bring into play the higher forces that carry these healthy and healing vibrations, and thus, actually allow healing to occur much more effectively.
The Mother observes: “My advice is not to worry. The more you think of it, the more you concentrate upon it and, above all, the more you fear, the more you give a chance for the thing to grow. … If, on the contrary, you turn your attention and your interest elsewhere you increase the possibilities of cure.”
“Do not torment yourself and do not worry; above all try to banish all fear; fear is a dangerous thing which can give importance to something which had none at all. The mere fear of seeing certain symptoms renew themselves is enough to bring about this repetition.”
Sri Aurobindo and The Mother, Living Within: The Yoga Approach to Psychological Health and Growth, Disturbances of the Body and Physical Consciousness, Preoccupation with Illness, pp. 91-93
Santosh has been studying Sri Aurobindo's writings since 1971 and has a daily blog at http://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com and podcast at https://anchor.fm/santosh-krinsky He is author of 16 books and is editor-in-chief at Lotus Press. He is president of Institute for Wholistic Education, a non-profit focused on integrating spirituality into daily life.