Explanation of the Interrelationship of the Body, Mind and Spirit for the challenge of good spiritual health. Also refer to essence, soul, computer, software, physical, mental, brain, Ron Kurtus, School for Champions. Copyright © Restrictions
Interrelationship of the Body, Mind and Spirit
by Ron Kurtus (revised 2 January 2006)
Besides looking at your physical and mental health, we also consider spiritual health. It is obvious that you have a physical body and a mind, but most people also believe that humans have a spiritual essence or soul. With this assumption, there is an interrelationship between the body, mind and spirit.
Questions you may have include:
- What is the relationship between the body and mind?
- What is the relationship between the mind and spirit?
- How do the three work together?
This lesson will answer those questions. There is a mini-quiz near the end of this lesson.
Body
A common view is that your body is the physical machine in which you exist. It has certain characteristics, strengths and weaknesses, according to inheritance. Outside forces, such as disease and environment affect the health of your body.
Body and mind
The body and mind are connected by the brain and glands. The brain is the organ that processes information and creates thoughts. Glands provide chemicals and hormones that affect such feelings as emotions. Illness or injury to the brain or glands can create mental illness.
Mind
Besides the physical connection, the mind also consists of thoughts that are a result of experiences, input from other people and self-talk. The mind can be considered analogous to computer software.
The environment in which you exist affects the health of your mind. Traumatic experiences, abusive input and negative self-talk can cause mental illness.
Mind and spirit
The mind and spirit are connected by the actions that are the result of thoughts. Negative or evil actions can cause spiritual illness.
Since actions exist after a person dies, it can be said that the mind also exists after death.
Spirit
Besides the mental connection, the spirit also consists of the essence of God. It is something we cannot explain but what we do seem to feel in our hearts.
It is assumed that the spirit exists forever. Perhaps it is another dimension, beyond time.
Body, mind and spirit
Your time on Earth is a combination of your body, mind and spirit. Actions from your mind exist after your body dies. Your spirit transcends time.
Summary
You have a physical body and mind. Most people also believe that humans have a spiritual essence. There is an interrelationship between the body, mind and spirit, such that one can cause illness in the other.
Help others be healthy too
Resources
The following are resources on this subject.
Websites
Books
Top-rated books on Spiritual Health
Mini-quiz to check your understanding
1. Is the mind the same thing as the brain?
2. How are the mind and spirit connected?
3. How is the spirit different than the body or mind?
If you got all three correct, you are on your way to becoming a Champion in being Spiritually Healthy. If you had problems, you had better look over the material again.
What do you think?
Do you have any questions, comments, or opinions on this subject? If so, send an email with your feedback. We will try to get back to you as soon as possible.
Share link
Feel free to establish a link from your website to pages in this site.
Or use our form to send this link to yourself or a friend.
Students and researchers
The Web address of this page is
www.school-for-champions.com/spiritualhealth/body_mind_spirit.htm.
Please include it as a reference in your report, document, or thesis.
Where can you go from here?
Interrelationship of the Body, Mind and Spirit