Body and mind: a delicate dance in balance.
Pfffff… Here I am, wrapped up in my duvet, with COVID gripping me tight. It brings me to a belief I’ve always held dear: that the mind is stronger than the body. It’s still my mantra—the conviction that our thoughts shape how we feel. And now, as I lie here with a fever and aching muscles, I find myself confronting the nuances of that belief.
The fact that I like to convince myself that the mind rules over the body probably has something to do with being a self-employed entrepreneur who can’t afford to be “out” for too long. Sadly, I can’t live off the morning dew alone. Yet, I’m realizing now that I need to give space to my body, to truly listen to it. And that’s exactly what I’m learning.
Mindfulness and acceptance
You know what I’ve learned? Instead of resisting every annoying symptom (and trust me, there are plenty), I’m trying to simply accept what is. Yes, my body is crying out for rest. And no, convincing myself that I feel fine doesn’t help when every muscle is protesting. So, I choose acceptance. It sounds a bit airy-fairy, but by being mindful—just observing how I feel without immediately judging it—I notice that even my body starts to relax a bit more.
Listening to my body
It’s confronting to see how easy it is, in our performance-driven society, to ignore the signals my body gives me. Always pushing forward because deadlines don’t wait, and bills need to be paid. Always pushing forward, because, well, the mind is stronger, right? But these days, I’m learning to truly listen. My body is no longer whispering; it’s shouting: “Rest! Drink water! Sleep!” And for the first time in a long while, I’m actually listening. It feels like I’m finally having a conversation with an old friend I’ve neglected for too long.
Visualizing in perspective
Even though I feel awful, I still believe in the power of visualization. Not as a miracle cure, but as a little boost. Every day, I take a moment to picture what it will be like when I’m healthy again. How I’ll stand energetically in front of an audience without gasping for breath and then collapsing into a dark, energy-draining hole afterward. It’s not a denial of my current situation but more of a mental support. Like looking forward to spring during a long winter—you know it’s coming, even if it’s cold and dark now.
Realistic affirmations
I caught myself trying to lie to myself at first: “I feel great, nothing’s wrong!” I’d jump out of bed, take a shower, get dressed, go outside… That didn’t work at all. Now, I use words that actually fit: “My body is working hard to heal” or “I’m giving myself the time I need.” It feels more honest, and because of that, also more powerful.
A new perspective on recovery
Science tells us that stress and tension can slow down recovery, while rest and a positive mindset can help. Not as a replacement for proper care, but as support for it. My own experience seems to confirm this. By fighting less against my illness and listening more to what my body needs, I feel mentally calmer. And in that calm, I seem to find more physical space for recovery too. I mention this in my book *Beyond Words* as well. The chapter on the “mini-me’s” is somewhat relevant here.
As I lie here, reflecting, I realize that my old belief in the power of the mind isn’t entirely wrong; it just needs some nuance. It’s not about one dominating the other, but more like a healthy relationship between two people. Body and mind are like dance partners in an endless tango. Sometimes one leads, sometimes the other. And in that harmony lies the true strength of healing.
Disclaimer: I understand that every story has another side and that my experience with COVID and recovery comes from a privileged position. Not everyone has the luxury of taking rest or focusing on mindfulness, and many face systemic and medical barriers that my approach doesn’t fully cover. This blog is my personal story, not a substitute for medical care or advice. It’s meant to show how I use my mind to support my body, not to discourage others from seeking medical help or taking an approach that works for them. I recognize that COVID has been a much heavier journey for many, and that each recovery process is unique.
The making of…
This blog is (again) an example of how human and artificial intelligence can work hand in hand.
The initial prompt
It started with a prompt in ChatGPT about the theme of mind and body when you’re sick:
“I’m lying sick in bed with COVID. I’m a big believer in the idea that ‘the mind rules over the body,’ but these days I have to admit that it doesn’t seem to be working. Suppose you, as a doctor with medical and psychological insight—open to both conventional science and alternative, spiritual approaches—were to give me advice. What would you say about my belief, which doesn’t seem to be holding up right now? No matter how much I try to convince myself I’m getting better, my body says otherwise…”
The first article
It provided a satisfying and informative answer, to which I then asked:
“That makes a lot of sense. Suppose I were to write an inspiring blog in my style, entirely from the first-person perspective, sharing these tips as if I were applying them myself. Could you write that for me?”
Verifying the content
I took the blog text to Claude, another LLM, and asked what a critical reader might point out in the article. The answer was incredibly comprehensive, and I can only recommend that you always ask a GenAI bot this question before going live with a piece:
Critical readers might raise several objections:
1. Too “airy” or alternative
– “Here we go again with mindfulness and visualization…”
– “This sounds like wellness fluff without any scientific basis.”
– “As if positive thinking can cure a virus.”
2. Privileged or biased perspective
– “Must be nice to lie in bed contemplating body and mind. Many people have to work even when they’re sick.”
– “This clearly comes from someone who has the luxury of resting at home.”
3. Oversimplified view
– “COVID can be much more severe than this ‘accept and visualize’ approach suggests.”
– “This downplays the impact of long COVID and other serious consequences.”
– “It sounds like everything can be solved with the right mindset.”
4. Lack of medical backing
– “Where are the references to medical research?”
– “This could discourage people from seeking medical help.”
– “It glosses over the purely medical side of fighting a virus.”
5. Timing/Context
– “After years of pandemic, we’re done with COVID blogs.”
– “These kinds of personal illness stories are unnecessary.”
To address this criticism, we could:
1. Add more scientific context
2. Include a disclaimer about the importance of medical care
3. Acknowledge the socio-economic context
4. Make it clearer that this is a personal perspective
5. Add more nuance to the severity of COVID
Would you like me to adjust the text with any of these points in mind?
The final version
The version Claude then wrote leaned a bit too much towards the ‘serious’ side. A third attempt became the foundation from which I took it further.
The disclaimer was based on Claude’s feedback, refined again by ChatGPT.
In my view, an incredibly fascinating process. How does it land with you?