For most of us, the word symptom stirs fear. We were taught that if a symptom appears, something is wrong with us. The traditional biomedical model focuses on removing the symptom—through medication, surgery, or avoidance.
But symptoms are not only medical problems. They are messages from the soul. Instead of silencing them, we need to listen.
Symptoms as Guides to Healing
A symptom is never random. It arrives with a deeper purpose:
- To signal that an important change is needed in your life.
- To call you back to your core energy and inner wisdom—your soul.
- To remind you that your essence is not flawed.
- To show you that the symptom itself carries meaning.
When we listen, we discover that symptoms are not obstacles but guides on our healing journey.
Where Do Symptoms Come From?
Symptoms don’t simply appear out of the blue. They develop gradually.
We are relational beings. Our health depends on how we relate:
- To ourselves
- To other people
- To our environment
- To God (or our Higher Power)
When one or more of these relationships becomes unbalanced, stress accumulates. The body and psyche respond by sending signals—small symptoms at first, more serious ones if ignored.
Patterns and the Brain
From early life, we develop patterns to cope with the world. A baby cries and is comforted. A child learns to withdraw to avoid trouble. These coping strategies once kept us safe—but later they may limit our growth.
Repeated patterns create permanent neural pathways. They become automatic, subconscious responses. At some point, our deeper self begins to resist. That is when symptoms arise, urging us to realign with our true self.
Listening Instead of Suppressing
Modern medicine is valuable and often necessary. But healing is incomplete if we treat only the outer symptom and not the inner meaning.
Suppressing a symptom without doing the deeper work often results in another symptom appearing in its place. True transformation comes when we:
- Pause
- Listen to the message behind the symptom
- Make the changes needed to reconnect with our core
This is not about blame. Every problem exists within a larger web of relationships. Instead of asking “Who is at fault?”, we can ask “What is this symptom teaching me about myself and my relationships?”
Symptoms as Friends
Over time, symptoms can become our friends. They remind us when we are living out of balance. Ignoring them, however, can lead to crisis—whether illness, burnout, relationship breakdown, or even life-shattering events.
The invitation is clear: Listen, translate, and act on the message.
The Life Energy Approach
The Life Energy Course, developed by Dr. Cornel van de Merwe after years of psychiatric practice and research, offers tools to help people listen to their symptoms and live from their core energy.
This approach combines knowledge, self-reflection, and practical skills. It supports people in restoring balance in their relationships—with themselves, others, their environment, and the divine.
Instead of treating symptoms as enemies, we can welcome them as teachers guiding us toward health, joy, and conscious living.