Coach To Heal

“We are not victims of our genes, but masters of our fates, able to create lives overflowing with
peace, happiness, and love.”
― Bruce H. Lipton, The Biology of Belief: Unleashing the Power of Consciousness, Matter and
Miracles

Bruce Lipton is a molecular cellular biologist of repute. In one of his early experiments with
stem cells he placed identical stem cells in multiple Petri dishes and added different cultures to
the dishes. The genetic material was identical and the environment was different. The cells
that grew in the different dishes were different, some bone cells, some muscle cells, and some
brain cells. The differing environments caused different outcomes in the growth of identical
cellular material. We are products of not merely our genes but of our environment as well, and
how we respond to that environment. This is the new science of epigenetics.

The science of epigenetics, of which Lipton is a pioneer, establishes that the environment has
a major role to play in how our cells develop, and therefore how develop.

Bruce Lipton and epigenetics have their critics. There are still ‘scientists’ who believe in biblical
creation, that animals have no emotions, atoms are solid, and that mind has no role to play in
wellness. A vast majority of human beings and an overwhelming majority of scientists do
believe based on documented scientific evidence that wellness and illness are as much
functions of the mind as of the body. Eastern schools of medicine such as Ayurveda and
Traditional Chinese, as well as Western schools such as Homeopathy are holistic in their mind
body approach to treat illness. These are often the hope of those lose hope in scientific
Western medicine.

Our wellbeing is affected in multiple ways; physically through accidents, chemically though
what we ingest, cognitively by what we sense, and also emotionally by what we sense. The
last two effects are based on information we collect from around us. Though this information
may be identical, the way the information is processed by each of us uniquely is based on our
personalities and conditioned memories. In short, our perceptions based on our belief systems
force us to respond to identical stimuli in different ways situationally. Illness and wellness are
outcomes of our perceptions of our environment, not merely of the environment alone.
Students of stress are very well aware of this. Stress and resulting illness is not about the
environment but how we respond to the environment.

How we heal from illness to wellness is also about our perceptions. Healing is not about
medicines alone. Often medicine can be toxic and induce nocebo effects. Healing is about the
mind believing in the effect of the treatment, often the one who treats. The healer does not
heal. The patient heals himself or herself. All experienced doctors know this.

Coaches are uniquely trained to treat people affected by stress. Coaches are healers by
training. I am surprised that while there are multiple niches in coaching there is no one who
calls himself or herself a stress coach! Perhaps they think they will cause stress if they do.

Stress arises from limiting negative beliefs. Coaching is about supporting one’s client in
exploring limiting beliefs. A good coach establishes trust and presence, listens generatively
and creates a climate in which curious questions can evoke in the client awareness of what
limits them, and what could be done to liberate them.

Paraphrasing the ancient wisdom of the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, ‘our perception builds our
beliefs, our beliefs lead us to action, and actions determine our wellness.’ Coaching can help
make this cycle virtuous.