What It Means To Be Body, Soul And Spirit

I have been thinking about the connection between body, soul and spirit a lot lately.   During a recent Capoeira training session where I nearly hit rock bottom, I learned so much about this connection, that I have to write it down, share it and learn from it!

If the concept of body, soul and spirit is new to you, this is probably one of the best resources I have watched in a long time.  

If you want more information, be sure to watch part 2 and part 3 in this little series by Andre Wommack.  

To me the concept is clear as daylight because it is a fundamental truth that I learned at the age of 14.

Naturally, that doesn’t mean, I have understood the full meaning of what it means to be transformed.  Sadly, for many years, I have been trying to ‘fix’ myself through physical effort and perseverance. 

Let’s be honest, it hasn’t worked!  Not on a physical level at least!

Background | My Present Situation

I currently find myself in a sticky situation.  Really, we as a family, are finding ourselves in the worst possible situation!  If it was just me, I would probably roll into a ball and simply give up.  But it is affecting my kids, my partner, the whole family dynamic and unfortunately, we are left in a position where we need to trust in ‘the system’, even though ‘the system’ has failed us completely up to now.

Now I know I am talking in riddles and wish I could talk openly and honestly without the riddles.  In time I will, but for now, I find myself in the heat of it all.  I don’t know the outcome,  I don’t have the answers.

All I can do is pray and wait.  I have done everything I could have done and now we wait.

If there is one thing you ought to know about me, it is that I hate waiting.  I hate being at the mercy of something that I don’t have control over!  I’d much rather hustle and find alternative solutions, but in this very instance, there is absolutely nothing I can do, but pray, fast and put my faith in the Lord.  

So what am I doing, in the meanwhile?

We all know the serenity prayer!  “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.” 

For me in particular, my only way of coping with what’s happening externally is by focusing my attention on something that will have a positive impact on me, even if I don’t fully understand it.

In this case, it has been, the mind.   

I started listening to the teachings of Dr Caroline Leaf and although I don’t want to go into all of that in this post, I am mentioning where I started.

To keep things brief, I would like to say, that the crux of what I understand from Dr Leaf, is that, the mind (soul) controls and allows the brain (body) to grow.  Think about the brain-paths being created while repeating study material. 

We all know that the mind is divided in a conscious and subconscious part –  not rocket science.  What we tend to underestimate, is the fact that the subconscious mind, impacts the conscious mind, and the conscious mind the body, or really the brain.  

When you start looking at the close connection between thoughts and the brain, there’s something really valuable to learn!

Caroline also mentions that our mind (soul) has one foot in the door of the spirit and one foot in the door of the body – which makes total sense – and the key, of course, is your subconscious mind.  

What does it mean to be body, soul and spirit?

Up until now, I have approached the subject of body, soul and spirit from a pretty theoretical perspective.  So let me tell you what happened in last week’s Capoeira class.  

Like I mentioned in the background information I am finding myself in a difficult spot – emotionally (soul) and pretty much physically, although my body itself isn’t really affected.  

Capoeira is an extremely challenging martial art.  This is one of the things that I love about the sport!  I am literally forced out of my comfort zone on a weekly basis.  It’s also one of the things that I hate the most about Capoeira.  It really is a love-hate relationship like nothing I have ever experienced.  

Related:  Why Capoeira?

Losing Control In A Capoeira Class Taught Me The Impact Of The Mind On The Body

Anyway, on this particular day, I didn’t have the mental capacity to practice the sport.  But I had stayed away for a couple of classes for this particular reason.  Essentially, I had run out of excuses and the boys really needed it!

Before we started training I warned my mestre or coach.  Naturally, however, he kept training at what he referred to as a slow pace.  Little did he realise that my capacity to train was a lot less than his slower pace.

At a stage, I told him I wasn’t feeling well and needed a moment to regroup.  As I went to the bathroom, I felt breakpoint.  I was about to burst into tears and give up completely.

It may sound trivial to you and let’s be honest for a moment.  Capoeira has nothing to do with what is happening in my life at the moment.  They are two separate, unrelated entities.  Capoeira had the ability to push me beyond my limits to where I no longer had any control.  

It felt scary.  Uncomfortable and once I realised what was happening – liberating!  

At that very moment, I understood the impact my mind (soul) had on my ability to cope physically, in a demanding Capoeira class.

Essentially, this particular Capoeira class taught me something about the impact of the mind on the physical body.

If that is the ability of the mind, can you imagine the impact the spirit has?  My spirit who is inspired, empower and enabled by the Holy Spirit?