What Does it Mean to Say Healing Must Include Mind, Body, and Spirit.
And why the right guide makes all the difference. (Estimated reading time: 5 minutes)
At times, healing is spoken about as if it happens in only one dimension: the mind, the body, or the spirit. Other times it’s spoken about through the lens of mind, body, and spirit… but what does any of this even mean?
The Mind: Rewiring Patterns
Our thoughts and beliefs shape our reality. Decades of research in neuroscience show that the brain is plastic, capable of forming new connections and shedding old ones. This means we can unlearn limiting memories (that cause behavioral patterns) and replace them with healthier ones. Norman Doidge, in The Brain That Changes Itself, illustrates how people can transform their lives by intentionally rewiring thought, belief, and behavior. Healing begins when the mind is given new, safe patterns to follow.
The mind is not a fixed script — it is a living story you can rewrite.
The Body: Releasing Stored Stress
The body carries the imprints of our history. Unprocessed emotions live in muscle tissue, immune function, and even chronic illness. Bessel van der Kolk’s The Body Keeps the Score demonstrates how unresolved stress shapes physical health and nervous system responses. Releasing these imprints — through somatic practices, breathwork, or movement — allows the body to reset, making space for peace.
The body remembers what the mind forgets — and it can also release it.
The Spirit: Reclaiming Meaning
Without connection to something larger than ourselves, healing can feel incomplete. Spirit does not always mean religion; it is the sense of belonging, purpose, and wonder that helps us feel alive. Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning shows how even in the most difficult circumstances, meaning sustains resilience. Spirit lifts us beyond survival into a sense of wholeness. It’s the unexplained nudges that we get to go somewhere and do something that brings us joy or steers us from danger – intuition.
Healing is not only about relief. It is about reclaiming meaning.
Why the Right Guide Matters
Mind, body, and spirit each carry wisdom — but they do not always heal at the same pace. Additionally, seeing the mind, body, and spirit from a different and knowledgeable perspective can accelerate growth. A skilled guide helps weave them together. The right approach recognizes that you are not just a mind needing discipline, a body needing repair, or a spirit needing faith, but all three, integrated. The spirit will struggle to thrive without the signals that come in through the mind and body. This is why Repor exists: to offer science-backed tools that invite healing across every layer of your being, so harmony can be realized as soulfully and efficiently as possible.
A true guide doesn’t heal for you. They help you gather the pieces into wholeness.
Healing Takeaway
Today, notice which part of you is asking for attention: your thoughts, your body, or your spirit. Offer one small act of care — a calming breath, a kind word to yourself, or a moment of stillness. Healing happens when these pieces are invited back into harmony.
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References
- Norman Doidge – The Brain That Changes Itself - Inspiring stories of neuroplasticity, showing the brain’s power to adapt and rewire at any age.
- The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D. — foundational work on trauma, healing, and the body-mind connection.
- Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning - A powerful memoir and psychology text showing how purpose and meaning help us endure even life’s greatest suffering.
- Gabor Maté, When the Body Says No - A powerful look at how stress and suppressed emotions manifest as physical illness.
Believing in you, your power, and grace,
Shannon
Shannon Sanguinetti M.Sc. | Founder of Repor - Where Science Meets Soul
