In the last 50 years, the advances that have been made in technology are astounding.

So too are the advances that we have made in the field of healing and healthcare.

Technology has obviously vastly improved the western medical world in terms of testing and diagnostics, surgical procedures, transplants, prosthetic devices and the like.

Then there are the ever-increasing number of healing therapies available to all walks of life: acupuncture, chiropractic, hypnotherapy, reiki, healing touch, massage and bodywork, yoga, ayureda, etc.

Ancient knowledge and wisdom from across the globe is being combined with new awareness, information and current thinking.

Healers are popping up everywhere, ready to assist anyone they can with their particular healing modality, hoping to make a difference in someone’s life and help them improve their quality of life and overall wellbeing.

We are fortunate to live in such times when there is an abundance of help available.

However, not to take away from all those practitioners who have many hours and/or years of study and practice and tremendous skills to offer, we sometimes overlook the innate ability each of us has to heal or assist someone in feeling better about themselves.

Example: One of my daughters likes to keep me up to date with her music by playing me her latest favorite songs. Recently she introduced me to a song called “Bowl of oranges” by Bright Eyes. I immediately liked everything about this song – its simplicity, melody and lyrics. There is one verse in particular that I liked and which gave me the inspiration for this post. Here it is:

“Then I came upon a doctor who appeared in quite poor health,
I said “there’s nothing that I can do for you you can’t do for yourself”.
He said “Oh yes you can, just hold my hand,
I think that that would help”,
So I sat with him a while and I asked him how he felt.
He said “I think I’m cured, in fact I’m sure,
Thank you stranger for your therapeutic smile”.

It reminded me of how simple healing can be. Have you ever been touched by a caring look or smile? Have you felt the effect of a gentle, soothing voice in the depths of your being? Has someone offered you a hand at a time when you felt completely alone?

Yes, there is tremendous value to be found in the thousands of capable healing practitioners available today. But none of us are powerless. We each have the ability to heal and help others.

Don’t underestimate the power of your smile, your voice or your touch and the simplicity of the healing they can create!

Photos courtesy of stock.xchng.