SCP 11-3
Salutogenesis centers on the origins of health—what cre ates it, sustains it, and helps maintain it, even amidst the chaos of life. Rather than focusing on what causes illness, salutogenesis emphasizes what keeps us strong and well. It would not be surprising to be more familiar with the patho genic approach, which dominates the modern healthcare sys tem. In this model, people visit doctors to report symptoms of illness, receive a diagnosis, and pursue treatment—often medical or pharmaceutical. While we can all appreciate the life-saving advancements of modern medicine, a downside of this diagnosis-driven, pathogenic focus is that it often overlooks the whole person, who is intricately created with mind, body, and spirit in a tridirectional relationship. Each part affects the other positively or negatively searching and desiring equanimity (Weber, 2021). Salutogenesis is a rapidly growing field dedicated to promoting health by exploring the interconnected biological, psychological, social, and spiritual factors, assets and resources that contribute to overall well being. The 21st century culture is laced with comfort, ease and efficiency—making most humans feel crazy or simply hang ing on by a thread through chaotic circumstances of life. So much of humanity is spent out of alignment, working against, or dysregulated with the way God intended his creation to work and function. Emotional stability, or equanimity, is achieved by aligning and balancing the biological, psycho logical, social, and spiritual aspects of a person. Humans can seek and learn to live within the capacities and limitations of mind, body, and spirit building intentional alignment with God’s creation. Before moving on to therapy, practice, or coaching, we must address a bigger question: “ Does health exist?” Genera tion Z is having a hard time believing if health even exists and this doubt seems to be seeping into every generation (Jia & Li, 2024). The pathogenic approach finds everything and any thing that is wrong…deficiency, error, or defect. In a world full of diagnosis-focused care, there is no lack of uncovering disease or decay in the human body. Often referred to as sick care , defeat and discouragement has changed the way people cognitively think of general health. So many people wait until something is wrong to seek medical care, making medical in tervention a necessary avenue for treatment. Understanding health feels as if it has been reduced to a number on a blood test, the word diet has become fad dieting, instead of simply the food that is consumed, and the medical specialties have splintered conclusions creating pharmaceutical overlap gener ating a life of symptoms and ignoring the person as a whole. Change requires change. The answer to the philosophical question ‘Does health exist for humans in a fallen world?’ is yes. Humans can thrive in the limitations on earth by work ing with God’s creativity and diversity. Health in mind, body, and spirit is available. This does not mean perfected health or health prosperity is an option or goal, but a thriving healthy alignment of mind, body and spirit is plausible. First, stop the thought damage, God is love and the source of all good ness. The human body, mind, and spirit are God’s masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10, New International Version). Humans have been given the ability to love and find God’s goodness in life. Just because it is a fallen world does not mean God’s goodness ceases to exist—even though it will take human effort to find, align, and render it. There is wisdom in addressing the un derlying question, “ Does health exist?,” by ensuring the client’s belief that God’s goodness can provide health to the mind, body, and spirit.
RENEWAL THE NEWSLETTER OF THE SOCIETY FOR CHRISTIAN PSYCHOLOGY
2
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker