Being mindful of World Health Day

For instance, some complementary and alternative therapies, including mindfulness, now emphasise letting go of a narrow personal perspective and opening our minds to a less sensory-based and more all-embracing viewpoint, just as the Hebrew Psalmist advised us to "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10).

Today I had an experience that illustrates the upshot of 'letting go'.

I put my mobile phone down. Once again I felt like I'd been smacked in the face by yet another customer 'support' officer bound by red tape and unwilling to help. Sometimes, I've become angry, resentful and busy planning some sort of self-justified and well thought-out retort via a letter to the manager. This time though, I consciously decided not to react and just 'let go', knowing that all would be well. Ten minutes later the phone rang and it was the guy from the company apologising, saying that they'd made a mistake and would supply the faulty part at no cost.

It was a moment of awe when I realised what had made the difference this time.

Some scientists are no longer 'put off' from investigating fully the health benefits of a spiritual viewpoint by Freud-inspired ridicule of religious and spiritual individuals, portraying them as superstitious and too weak to face reality.

On the contrary, the most amazing health research breakthroughs are leading to a better understanding of ourselves as much more than just a body.

The realisation of the mental nature of health is beginning to enable us to gain even more than many health experts worldwide thought possible - a measure of mastery over the body.