Hello, I am Naweko San-Joyz. I have had acne for over eight years
and tried nearly everything on the market to rid myself of this
condition. I was even very tempted to try Accutane. But once I
discovered how many people have had acne return after having
committed to the tiresome experience of using Accutane, I decided to
proceed in another direction.
After meditating on my acne for some
time, I received several power revelations about this disease.
Acne Messages is born of a heart- felt belief that humans have
forgotten the ability of the body to heal itself. We have somehow
learned to distrust our bodies and transferred all of the confidence we
previously had in the power of our bodies to medications.
Perhaps my genes from my mother’s family allowed me to experience
acne. Some of my maternal aunts and uncles still have acne in one
variation or another. Seeing this led me to believe that my acne would
not vanish with age as some professionals consoled. Moreover, my
sister is over thirty and her acne condition seems to be getting worse as
opposed to better.
I know that my acne condition would be as aggravated as my sister’s
had I not made definite lifestyle changes to better understand what
acne was trying to tell me about my body and life. The huge difference
between my sister and me is that I am willing to make lifestyle
adjustments to ensure that I am in the healthiest state of mind and body
possible- whereas my sister still believes in the power of medications
and creams.
Although medicines and drugs serve their purpose in
certain situations, I feel that society has allotted them too much power
and trust. Rather than assuming a take-charge attitude about the state
of our health, too many of us wait on the sidelines for pharmaceuticalcompanies to
develop some drug to cure or better yet cover our ills. I
offer this book to implore individuals to acknowledge and trust the
curative powers within their bodies.
I do not intend to undermine the medical profession nor its
contributions. Rather, I aim to highlight the burden of obtaining and
sustaining health that society has transferred from the individual, to the
medical and pharmaceutical industries. Dr. Herbert Benson, MD
attests to awesome power of the this belief transfer as he writes:
“Ironically, the reputation physicians have enjoyed throughout
history, privileged and esteemed in every culture and time one
can name, was built on and cultivated by the success of
remembered wellness and on the three modes of belief-inspired
healing: the belief of an individual in a treatment, the belief of
the caregiver, or their mutual beliefs.”
We are conditioned to trust in the power of the pill and if something is
“wrong” with us, we are advised to see a doctor. In certain instances
this may be sensible, but we shortchange ourselves by refusing to
explore the deeper messages behind our apparent illnesses. As
Caroline Myss, Ph.D. reminds us: “As terrifying as a disease is, it is
also an invitation to enter into the nature of mystery.” On this accord, I
am able to genuinely say that investigating the causes of my acne has
afforded me an array of lifestyle improvements that include:
-My self-esteem has shot up dramatically.
-I have lost over 10 pounds of body fat.
-I am more sociable, and I am constantly meeting people that bring
great joy to my life
-I engage in activities that I once thought that I was not good enough
for.
-By altering my diet, my energy level has increased.
-Small issues no longer sadden me.
-I am less sensitive to the criticism of others.
-When I look in the mirror, I see confidence, vitality and beauty
looking back at me.
-When I notice even the slightest change in my energy level or
confidence, I can use biofeedback to get my health back to its
optimal level.
-I am less self-centered and insecure about my looks.
I am confident that anyone wishing to see having acne as an
opportunity to learn more about him or her self can emulate the
benefits that I have received through my acne experience.
That is the essence of why I am writing this book. For years I agonized
over why I was cursed with this condition. I begged God to give me
“good” skin. Meanwhile, as I soaked in shame and shied away form
socializing, I sought out every over-the-counter and aesthetic treatment
there was for acne. Sometimes costly treatments gave me great results,
but a few months later, my face would be covered with acne and scars
once more, and so the search for my “cure” would again ensue with an
unyielding fire.
Acne was not only an emotional drain, but a financial parasite as well.
I admitted to myself that my willingness to pay and do almost anything
to get rid of acne was taking the joy out of my life on several levels. I
felt unworthy of love because acne disgraced my face. Needless to say
my self-confidence plummeted. To make matters worse, I surrounded
myself with talk such as: “If I did not have acne my skin would look
great, I’d look much prettier”; “If I did not have acne, I would feel
more like a professional, more presentable”; and “I’ll be so glad when
I don’t have acne.”
For years this is how I addressed myself, as a victim trapped in a body
that had betrayed me for some cause unbeknownst to me. And
everyday, I was on a mad search for a cure. This misguided and frantic
search was costing me thirty percent of my already miniscule salary.
Then, one day, I came to my senses. I decided that I could keep paying
out money to dermatologists, aestheticians, and beauty stores till the
magnetic field of the Earth reversed itself. But this was not going to
cure me. It was at this point that I resolved that this acne was here to
tell me something and I was going to be patient and listen to it. That
day, I chose not to see acne as personal enemy number one, but as a
primary source for understanding who I am.
That was a miraculous day that started me on a healing and inspiring
journey of self-exploration and empowerment. Along the way I have
gathered numerous tools that have helped me to appreciate the being
that I am and love myself. In the process, my views on life and health
have changed substantially. It is my goal to allow you to enjoy the
same sense of enlightenment and strength that can come from working
to unravel the many messages of your acne.