If your stomach disputes you, lie down and pacify it with cool

"If your stomach disputes you, lie down and pacify it with cool thoughts." These words from Satchel Paige speak to the delicate relationship between the mind and the body. Paige, the legendary baseball player known for his wit and wisdom, here offers us a profound lesson in how to manage stress, anxiety, and discomfort. The stomach, often the first part of the body to react to emotional turmoil, is an internal battleground where our physical and mental states collide. Paige’s suggestion is simple yet profound: when faced with discomfort, calm the mind, and the body will follow. In his view, the power of the mind is so great that it can bring peace even to the most restless parts of our bodies.

In the ancient world, balance between the body and mind was seen as essential to living a healthy, fulfilled life. The great philosopher Hippocrates—often called the father of medicine—recognized that the physical body and the mental state are inseparable. He believed that maintaining equilibrium between the two was crucial for health, famously stating, "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food." This sentiment echoes Paige's wisdom: when the body is in distress, the mind must remain calm and find a way to restore peace. By cultivating mental tranquility, we can often heal or prevent the physical turmoil that comes with anxiety and stress.

Consider the story of Marcus Aurelius, the Stoic emperor of Rome, whose life was defined by self-control and the pursuit of inner peace. In his Meditations, he writes about the importance of maintaining a calm mind amid the chaos of life, saying, "You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength." Aurelius often faced challenges—political, personal, and military—but he knew that the key to overcoming these was not through force or aggression, but through mental fortitude. When faced with adversity, he would turn inward, cultivating peaceful thoughts and refusing to be disturbed by external circumstances. In the same way, Paige teaches us that when the body, like the stomach, rebels, we must seek peace within the mind to restore balance.

This principle is not confined to ancient wisdom; it continues to resonate in modern times. Consider Mahatma Gandhi, who faced physical hardships during his campaigns for Indian independence. Though he endured imprisonment, hunger strikes, and personal attacks, he consistently turned to mental discipline to endure suffering. Gandhi believed in the power of inner peace and practiced meditation and nonviolence to remain calm, even in the face of extreme discomfort. Like Paige, Gandhi understood that the mind could influence the body—that by finding inner calm, one could endure even the most difficult physical challenges.

Paige’s advice can be applied to our everyday lives, especially in moments of stress or anxiety. Often, when we feel our bodies react to the pressures of life—whether through an upset stomach, tension, or fatigue—we think we must fight the discomfort or power through it. But Paige offers us an alternative: pause, find mental peace, and allow the body to follow. The wisdom in this suggestion lies in the power of the mind to influence the body’s reactions. If we can train our minds to stay calm and clear, we can often alleviate or even prevent the physical manifestations of stress.

The lesson here is profound: the relationship between mind and body is not one of domination, but balance. As Hippocrates and Marcus Aurelius taught, and as Paige reflects, the mind holds the key to healing and restoring balance when the body is in distress. When we face discomfort, instead of reacting with fear or tension, we should seek to calm our minds, focusing on positive, cool thoughts that can bring peace to both body and soul. This is the wisdom that has been passed down from ancient philosophers to modern thinkers—and it is a wisdom that can guide us through life’s struggles.

Let us take action by cultivating a practice of mental tranquility. When faced with discomfort—be it physical or emotional—let us not panic or rush to correct it with force, but instead, calm our minds, breathe deeply, and focus on thoughts that soothe and restore balance. Whether through meditation, journaling, or simply taking a moment to pause, we can train ourselves to find peace within. Just as Paige advises, and the ancients teach, the ability to calm the mind in times of turmoil is a powerful tool for healing. Through this practice, we can embrace the wisdom of the body and mind’s connection, and navigate the challenges of life with grace and clarity.