Mental disinfectant
Colds and flu are the most common cause of lost time from duty among young adults in the military. As a result, the Navy works diligently to reduce rates of respiratory illness. In the past century, the military has tried everything from dust suppression, ultraviolet radiation, disinfectant vapors, and dosing everyone with antibiotics. Most recently Operation Stop Cough ordered recruits to wash their hands five times a day. The Navy found this quite successful, seeing a 45 percent reduction in bouts of respiratory illnesses.
Half the recruits found all this hand washing difficult, as would most of us, so it might be wise to look for the mind-body message in this story. For someone who fears germs, ritualistic use of warding-off gestures can lead to feeling safer. The person who announces, "I never get colds as long as I take zinc and Echinacea all winter," probably experiences a significant degree of protection simply because she believes she's protected.
The metaphysical teacher, Seth, confirms this when he talks about how "disinfectants and [the] symbolic chase after germs" act by "ridding the atmosphere of the idea of illness." While he recommends making such gestures for their beneficial psychological impact, he warns us not to get caught up in compulsively pursuing such activities, because the symbolic aspect of taking action is what confers the desired effects. "Such actions simply bring to a sense level your inner intentions, and serve to reinforce them through the physical actions involved," he says.
Reinforce your symbolic gestures with a mental disinfectant we'll call Operation Bright-eyed and Bushy-tailed. Whenever you notice someone spreading fear of illness, turn your attention inward to the exuberant vitality of your being. Imagine yourself overflowing with health. And if you're feeling generous, you can splash some of that energy onto those infected with seasonal health worries. Look them in the eye, give them a warm smile, and tell them how amazingly robust they're looking.
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