I recently shared how my body was struggling with not feeling well last week, which prompted me to reflect further on the “germ theory vs. terrain theory” debate.
I am not writing this to pit one against the other because, obviously bacteria, viruses, and all those little microbes play a role in our health. But there’s also something empowering about remembering that our bodies are constantly conversing with the world around us.
When we get sick, it’s not just something “attacking” us—it’s our body’s way of asking for some attention, like a nudge to check in with how we’re really doing.
Most of us are familiar with Germ Theory, which tells us bacteria, viruses, and pathogens cause dis-ease. While it’s clear these pesky little things play a role in sickness, there’s a deeper question: Why is it that one person can come into contact with something and get sick, while another doesn’t?
This is where Terrain Theory offers an interesting perspective. It suggests that the state of our internal environment—our “terrain”—plays a huge part in whether or not we get sick. It's not just about the germs we’re exposed to, but the condition of our body, mind, and energy that determines how we respond.
I’ve been reflecting on this personally a bit more in navigating pneumonia. Getting sick was one thing, but what came next was a bit of a double whammy. I could feel a bit of fear start to set in. I began to worry about not being able to do what I needed to do, and stress about getting worse.
Fortunately, I was able to shift it pretty quickly. Yet, for many of us, that fear can create a secondary layer of stress and tension that seems to make the illness harder to shake.
It’s easy to fall into fear when we’re sick, especially when we’re bombarded with messages that illness is something to be fought against. But what if we shifted our perspective to see illness as part of a larger conversation between our body and its environment?
What if this is our body’s way of asking us to pay attention to something deeper?
I’ve also been researching the connection between heavy metals and disease extensively—how toxins in our environment affect our body’s natural balance. Why do some people seem more affected than others when exposed to the same thing? Our terrain—the condition of our body, the emotional and energetic baggage we carry, our stress levels—all play a part.
This is why it’s so important to approach our health holistically. It’s not just about avoiding germs or taking the right supplements (though these can be helpful). It’s about taking care of the whole terrain—our mental, emotional, and energetic well-being.
Especially around the holidays, when stress levels rise, and we often do things out of obligation, our energy can shift in ways that leave us more vulnerable.
A friend recently mentioned how we sometimes go through the motions, doing things because we feel we “should,” but we really don’t want to be where we end up and then are not fully present anyway. I believe this shift in energy—this misalignment—can impact our health more than we realize.
When we act out of obligation or push ourselves too hard, our frequency dips, and that can be just as much of a factor in illness as germs are. So how do we keep our terrain strong and resilient, especially during times of heightened stress or exposure?
I want to share a few ways to empower your health and vitality, especially as we move through the holidays:
1. Honor Your Body’s Needs
If your body is asking for rest, give it rest. If it’s asking for nourishment, listen to that. Too often, we push through symptoms, feeling like we don’t have time to be sick. But this only prolongs the healing process.
2. Release Obligations That Don’t Serve You
Check-in with your body before saying “yes” to things. If your energy feels resistant, pause and ask yourself why. Are you agreeing to something out of guilt or obligation? If so, it may be time to realign your commitments with what truly nourishes you.
3. Reduce Toxins
Whether it’s environmental toxins, heavy metals, or even emotional toxicity, clearing out what no longer serves your body can help keep your terrain strong. This might mean detoxing physically, or it could mean setting boundaries and releasing emotional baggage.
4. Stay Present
Even when we’re doing things for others, staying present and mindful can shift our energy. When we’re fully engaged and aligned with what we’re doing, our body responds with more resilience.
5. Find Joy in the Small Things
Joy can feel far away when our body or mind is under stress. But even small moments of joy—laughing with a friend, stepping outside for fresh air—can uplift our energy and help us heal.
Healing isn’t just about avoiding germs or illnesses—it’s about nurturing the whole self. When we see our body as part of a larger ecosystem, working in concert with the environment around us, we can move through illness without fear, knowing that our body is capable of healing itself when we support it.
May this help you Unmanic your Monday by creating a strong, vibrant terrain that can handle what comes your way, regardless of what you hear in the media or the hive mind about a “bad flu season” or how the weather may affect us. By tending to our internal landscape with love, presence, and awareness, we create a body that is resilient and empowered!
Stay tuned in, stay present, and know that your body is always working with you, not against you.
In health and harmony,
Alara
