Do Little to improve Mental and Physical Health. And see Dolittle.

Movie lovers run to the theaters now for the latest Dolittle, a story of a famed doctor who becomes a hermit, hiding himself, with only his menagerie of animals for company.

When Queen Victoria falls gravely ill, a reluctant Dolittle is forced to set sail on an epic adventure to a mythical island in search of a cure, regaining his wit and courage as he crosses old adversaries and encounters wondrous creatures. He’s guided by the wise and trusted advisor Polynesia.

Besides the nice distraction from everyday life, people like to see movies based on mystical tales. We are attracted by magic, especially when magical healings take place. When there seems no cure, something magical happens, and with regained Health happy endings follow. If only, it opens possibility for us, when we see no cure.

The beauty of books and movies is that most are multilayered; it is in the eye of the beholder what you see in it. Now who is the one to be cured in Dolittle? Queen Victoria may seem the obvious answer, but is Dolittle as much in line to regain Health? I think Doliitle is a beautiful tale, in so many ways.

We tend to help those who have physical ailments and we all see the reality of physical disease. It comes with lack of energy, fatigue, mobility limitations, inability to live life to the fullest. It’s obvious in many ways. We help these people to drive them around, escort them when they need to go somewhere. We all would be willing to help people in a wheelchair, wouldn’t we? Everyone runs to someone bleeding on the street, because it is so obvious they need help.

But how about those with mental illness? Most, far most of those with mental disease are quite functional on the outside. Maybe even have high paid jobs, be a public figure with all the welfare that comes with it or maybe we do not see them at all because they close themselves up for their spouse or friends. Scarcely we help these people. Because it is not obvious. It doesn’t look real. At some point, or many, these people seem functional. And in some way they are, just like people with a chronic disease can be functional. But those with mental disease are limited to live their life to the fullest too.

It is no surprise that half of the people in the USA (and as well in many other western countries) suffer mental illness, and, almost half of the population suffers chronic disease. Please note it is not just the other half. Of course, there is a huge overlap. It is just that the people with physical disease are this far in the process that their bodies cry with them. Not only in tears, mostly in loudness.

To me it is no surprise that many movies include healing in some sort, and in tales it is often archetypically pronounced. In archetypes, the ones with mental and physical illness are separated roles. The ones with a physical disease get a healthy body, the ones with mental disease ‘see the light’. Archetypes per definition highlight a certain characteristic we can recognize in ourselves or in others, but it is never an isolated trait in real life. Movies and tales that are made this way clarify a lot, make us understand what is going on, but, the downside is that we underline our either/or beliefs. Which it never ever is.

When we understand that physical disease, and I’d like to call it physical imbalance, results from mental disease, and I’d like to call that mental imbalance, we will to open up to go to the source of illness. Not treating the symptoms of mental- and physical chronic disease, but the cause. We would understand that treatment for this imbalance is not something exotic we catch from a mythical island outside ourselves. But is the treasure inside ourselves, that we carry with us at all times.

Once we realize thát we open ourselves up to Polynesia, this warm wise trusted voice that guides us to Health, both mental and physical Health. Beautifully pictured with a reluctant Dolittle, who doesn’t want to hear at first, stuck in his own situation. Stuck in the naggy voice in the mind. But slowly making place for the wise voice. A wise voice showing us options and making us understand we have to make choices to move out of certain situations. A warm, and gentle advisor, so distinct, you can always know who’s talking.

Moving out of situations starts with quieting the mind from the nagging voice. Maybe by meditation. Maybe by doing something joyful more often. In any case, let go of overwhelm and  anxiety. And go on a mind travel to a beautiful mythical island and do little. Just do little. Relax. Relax. Relax. It will improve balance in mental states and physical states. It will.

No surprise I’d think you should see this new movie Dolittle. And do little. What a more than perfect title to address symbolically the treatment for mental and physical disease in the world. Do little in your Mind. Just Do little. And see Dolittle.