As you might imagine, I’m not referring to sports.

Your “game” refers to your unique way of life and the delicate balance that enables you to feel your best.

Staying on top of our game rarely becomes our primary objective when simply making it through each day is tough enough. I suppose life itself is a game – one that sometimes becomes progressively more challenging each day. It’s obvious that “survival,” our principal objective, is bound to take precedence over playing well.

So if our energy is spent on surviving or simply getting from point A to B each day, where does the “game” enter the arena of life? No doubt living in a fast-paced society takes it’s toll, yet isn’t there more to living than simply existing?

If you spend a few moments pondering this issue, perhaps you’ll discover a rational personal strategy for staying on top of your game. And when you do, I’m certain you’ll be rewarded for your efforts. Playing the game of life with greater ease and joy than you’ve ever imagined is certainly worth the effort.

The key to staying on top of your game often requires a change of perspective, or better yet, an attitude adjustment. Perhaps the best place to begin is self-reflection prompted by one important question.

Ask yourself if you really feel the way you’d like to feel.

Far more challenging than it seems, this question is often avoided. Sometimes it triggers sarcasm or a series of defense mechanisms. It’s far easier to avoid one’s personal truth. Yet for now, try to set your standards at least a few notches beyond just breathing or being able to look down and see green.

Why not stop what you are doing, take a few slow deep even breaths, and focus on how you really feel inside?

The following questions may guide you to the heart of the matter:

• Is there a sense of melancholy that’s blocking a smile?
• Is there something you’re dealing with that hurts deep within?
• Is there a relationship that’s tearing you apart?
• Is there an unfinished goal that’s preventing you from being who you want to become?

Your answers are likely to produce more than insights. The pain associated with one’s sense of reality often bring forth unpleasant emotions that signal emptiness or loss. Perhaps that’s why we tend to ignore our personal truths.

Consider writing down your answers and set aside some quiet time each day to explore them one at a time. Entertain potential solutions and develop a simple and doable plan you feel comfortable carrying out.

If this challenge seems overwhelming for you alone, why not discuss the matter with a loved-one, close friend or confidant. If these resources aren’t available, consider speaking with a spiritual leader, a therapist or your personal physician. Sometimes working with a caring and dedicated professional can help unlock the gates that are preventing you from playing your game.

While this process might superficially seems like no more than a mind game, I can assure you it is not. Rediscovering peace of mind and restoring what’s missing in your life is the true essence of healing – becoming whole again in body, mind and spirit.

For the body and mind are inseparable teammates, and your game requires both players. Whether you’re facing financial challenges, struggling through raising a family or dealing with a serious illness, the playing field requires your active participation.

The rules are simple: in order to stay on top of your game, you must play.

Perhaps it’s time to ask yourself if you are really playing on the field of life, or are you just struggling to mop up the field in order to simply keep it dry? It’s amazing how fast life can pass us by without any real engagement!

Achieving your best possible quality of life depends on you! Ultimately the choice is yours. Far more than you might imagine is at stake – peace of mind, freedom to experience life as a player rather than as an observer, and most importantly, your body-mind health.

So ask yourself if you’re at the top of your game. And always be prepared for the answer and the next inning. For the bases are loaded, and the next pitch isn’t going to leave the glove without you standing bat in hand at the plate.

Remember the words of Woody Allen, “75% of success is showing up!” Strive to be present in your existence, take an active role in your well-being and step up to the plate. Most importantly … play your game with gusto. Your next swing could be a grand slam – Mind Over Matter!

Full attention is focused on deep breathing. A soothing melody gently begins to fill the room with calming notes. Eyes gradually close. The facilitator’s words meticulously paint a multi-sensory mental image of a picturesque pond amidst a row of willow trees, a glorious field of flowers anointed by the scent of spring and a refreshing breeze choreographing swaying treetops. As each person progressively settles into a relaxed sense of calm and inner peace, biology begins to change.

At first, heart rate drops, breathing deepens and blood pressure begins to fall as muscle tension seems to gradually evaporate. The stresses and burdens of life give way to a rejuvenating sense of tranquility. The time is pensive. Thinking becomes clearer and sharper as one learns to connect with the inner self. Some people pray. Others discover the answers that are buried deep within.

What I’ve briefly described is a guided imagery session. And while you might believe that such an experience is as far from conventional medicine as possible, I’m delighted to tell you that such is not the case. Guided imagery is now becoming mainstream.

Not only is it offered at more than 3,000 hospitals and renowned university medical centers throughout the world, it is also gaining respect and a dedicated following from leading insurers and HMOs.

On May 5, 2000, USA Today reported that Blue Shield of California is offering a new prescription: “free audiocassettes for patients aimed at harnessing their imagination to promote healing.”

The tapes, created by Belleruth Naparstek (Healing Journeys – www.healthjourneys.com), an experienced and charismatic counselor, provide opportunities for people to learn to cope and deal with many of life’s greatest challenges. Her repertoire of programs covers health topics that range from stress reduction, insomnia, headaches, cancer, diabetes, and surgery to post-traumatic stress disorder, smoking cessation, grief, HIV and others.

Blue Shield is committed to reaching 5,000-7,000 patients each year with her surgical counseling tapes coupled with a phone consultation from a nurse to track outcomes compared with individuals who do not use the tapes.

According to Bruce Bodaken, Chairman and CEO of Blue Shield of California, “This program supports our members’ desire to utilize complementary therapies and helps members become more active participants in their health, particularly at a time when they are most vulnerable.”

It is also likely that Blue Shield decided to test the waters based upon a rapidly emerging bank of scientific data suggesting guided imagery efficacy. Published peer-reviewed research studies performed at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, Memorial Sloan Kettering, UC Davis Medical Center and the Pennsylvania State College of Medicine have demonstrated statistically significant reductions of hospital stays, diminished blood loss and reduced need for pain medications.

Based upon the wide-spread utilization of guided imagery in the healthcare arena, it should not be surprising that this approach is rapidly gaining acceptance in other areas as well. Naparstek’s tapes are presently being used by survivor’s of the shootings in Littleton, Colorado and the tornados in Oklahoma. The department of Veteran’s Affairs is offering her program for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) patients who survived the Vietnam war. One Veteran, Jim O’Rourke, admits that at first he was fully prepared to dismiss guided imagery. He stated, “A few of the fellows thought the tapes sounded sissyish. All that talk about putting your heart back together. But I was pretty desperate for help, and I’m sure that I’m changed because of the tape.”

And many others have benefited as well through the dedicated efforts of Belleruth, Bernie Siegel, MD, Patricia Palmer, EdD and a growing number of healthcare professionals who recognize the need to encourage people to take an active role in their own healing process.

From clinical and research perspectives, guided imagery plays an important role in our disease-based integrative outpatient programs. We are also in the midst of a hospital-based pilot project testing the effects of using guided imagery tapes before, during and after surgery. While the data is not in, initial patient comments appear to reflect a favorable trend.

In conclusion, with so much negative self-talk these days coupled with a desperate need to encourage self-care in our nation, this physician is convinced that the use of guided imagery is now firmly established as a growing practice in the conventional medicine arena — Mind Over Matter!

It may indicate that your life has been stressful, or that everyday challenges seem overwhelming.

In any event, you might be convinced that laughter is great for those happy moments when smiling doesn’t take an effort. For the pressured times, who can laugh anyway?

Frankly you might be surprised.

For many, laughter is a powerful healing elixir, or better yet …natural Prozac. It enables us to reframe our worries and it has extraordinary capacity to help us reestablish a positive and healthy perspective when we’re down. Yet even more amazing is the fact that some of the best jokes are based on true-to-life stories about things that actually happen to ordinary people.

Some of the most famous comedians who ever lived developed their materials through one phenomenal talent. They progressively honed their awareness of what was really happening around them. Through such observations, they were able to surgically extract a light-hearted perspective even in the darkest of times.

Yet if it is true that some of the best jokes are based on real occurrences, why aren’t we all laughing?

The answer tells us a lot about ourselves. Essentially there are two basic reasons. The first is that no two perspectives are necessarily alike. Some people naturally discover the light-hearted side of things while others seem to settle into a “doom and gloom” mode about practically everything that occurs in their lives.

The second reason is based upon what few of us ever really want to face – self-reflection and self-image. After all, some of what we do and what happens to us must be very funny! Obviously the comedians think so. The bottom line here is straight-forward. Can you laugh at yourself in a positive way?

So why aren’t we laughing?

This answer is simple: because we want to be seen as “perfect!” And when we “mess up,” we don’t want anyone to notice those ridiculous things we do, or the silly situations we somehow create for ourselves. Yet “to err is human.” Change just 2 letters and what we have is “to err is humor!”

Isn’t it surprising that the words, “human” and “humor” are so alike? Maybe our ancestors knew something we as a society need to re-learn. Simply stated, none of us are perfect.

Frankly I believe the quest for perfection has profound physiological effects like wrinkling of the forehead and a strong gravitational pull on the mouth muscles. I’m also convinced that when we discover the “sense of humor” areas of the human brain, they’re likely to be atrophied in those who take everything so seriously – only kidding! I’d hate to be the researcher searching for those regions in some of the people I know.

I suppose we all know those people. In fact, we are those people a good part of the time. The most important question we face is “how to turn that frown upside down?”

The process requires 7 simple steps.

1. Give yourself permission to laugh at yourself.
2. Rediscover your sense of humor by easing off your drive for perfection and seriousness while encouraging a light-hearted approach whenever possible.
3. Stimulate your mind to uncover the humor in every situation and give your laughter muscles a daily workout.
4. Allow laughter to replace alcohol, tobacco, drugs and medications when you’re stressed and need to cope.
5. Encourage your playful side to emerge even during those challenging times.
6. Accept every funny happenstance as a gift to be shared. When you laugh, especially at yourself, everyone else will join in. Laughter is nothing less than contagious – and healing.
7. Don’t take yourself or anyone else too seriously.

There is a fundamental body of medical evidence that shows laughter’s positive effects on the immune system. It has also been recently established that future health outcomes are enhanced by “the glass that’s half full” as opposed to “the glass that’s half empty.” The same rationale likely holds true for those who laugh.

Someday, I’m sure we’ll find what a great philosopher once said, “he who laughs … lasts”” – Mind Over Matter!

His ocean blue eyes glistened with youthful energy and enthusiasm that day. His heartfelt words filled my mind with countless possibilities, and a vision of what could be.

He was a knight undaunted with an unwavering mission. It struck me that he was about to create a revolution that would reverberate throughout the world. Courageously resolute, he would not turn back.

As I reflected upon the elements of his dream, I realized my life was about to change.

For as I was drawn to listen, he was willing to share.

Speaking of personal transformation, he was convinced people could learn to move beyond their perceived limitations. Illuminating a comprehensive vision of inner balance, he recognized and believed in each person’s ability to nurture or reestablish the gift of well-being regardless of health challenge. For him, the concept of wellness in mind, body and spirit didn’t end with the individual, it extended to all humankind.

Though he sounded like a physician, sociologist and philosopher, he wasn’t one. Yet his journey covered much territory in the school of life.

He spoke of a single unifying element that changed his life.

That element was “music” – not just any kind of music. What he elaborated upon was not a song or a symphony. It wasn’t a concert, a band, a performer or an instrument either. Surprisingly it had nothing to do with ability, performance, accomplishment, or applause.

It was far more.

That day he taught me about living life fully through musical expression that had little to do with…of all things…music!

He described “Recreational Music-making” and defined it in the context of the Latin word, “recreatio” which according to Merriam Webster means “restoration to health.” His expanded definition follows:

“Recreational Music-making encompasses enjoyable, accessible and fulfilling group music-based activities that unite people of all ages regardless of their challenges, backgrounds, ethnicity, ability or prior experience. From exercise, nurturing, social support, bonding and spirituality, to intellectual stimulation, heightened understanding and enhanced capacity to cope with life’s challenges, the benefits of Recreational Music-making extend far beyond just music. Recreational Music-making ultimately affords unparalleled creative expression that unites our bodies, minds and spirits.”

As a physician focused on whole person care, it didn’t take a stretch of my imagination to understand what he conceived. That day didn’t end with mere conceptualization either. I joined him.

The rest is history – in the making that is. Over the last few years, we’ve worked closely to inspire people to take an active role in their own well-being through non-performance-based musical expression. And it’s satisfying to know the word is spreading globally.

Our goal (notice how he’s allowed me to share his mission) extends far beyond Recreational Music-making activities. We’re convinced that a cultural transformation must take place in order build upon and sustain the concept well into the future.

This is described as “Musiculture” a term we’ve coined that suggests: “an integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief and behavior that extends man’s capacity for learning and transmitting the expression, enjoyment and bio-psycho-social benefits of Recreational Music-making to succeeding generations.”

From a speech I recently delivered at the United Nations in New York to a presentation we both shared at the Global Economic Summit of the Music Products Industry in Spain, people are now listening, learning and beginning to take the message to heart.

With the goal of uniting the music products industry and the healthcare industry to work diligently toward improving quality of life using Recreational Music-making as wellness strategy, we’re prepared to build upon a credible fund of knowledge that will enable this concept to encircle the world.

And it’s finally happening.

A few months ago we began a comprehensive interdisciplinary Recreational Music-making program for seniors with a generous grant from Yamaha Corporation and support from Remo Inc. This multidimensional project is taking place at two leading centers: Wesbury United Methodist Retirement Community in Meadville, PA and Fredericka Manor in Chula Vista, CA. Through dedicated leadership and unwavering commitment, both centers are working with us to forge a new evidence-based standard for a sustainable Musiculture that has great life enhancing potential for seniors throughout the world.

Before closing, you should know that the man I’m working with, the visionary who started it all just happens to be the recognized “Father of Music-making and Wellness,” Karl T. Bruhn. His genius and dedication is enabling all of us to begin tomorrow and every tomorrow thereafter on a healthier note – Mind Over Matter!

If conflicting medical reports and opinions are getting you down, perhaps you should read on.

It’s not surprising that the foundations of a health conscious society are shaky. While it seems like there’s a medical breakthrough each day, new health information often contradicts what we relied upon in the past.

Despite extraordinary technological advances, many of the latest medical insights logically focus on improved preventive measures. As medical scientists learn more about disease processes and their causes, improved vigilance and self-care are natural goals to be assumed by each of us.

The practical question however is: What should I specifically do in order to maximize my health?

A thousand years ago the answer would have been to adopt a healthy lifestyle; eat the right foods, exercise regularly, get proper sleep, take time for recreation and visit the local shaman at regular intervals.

Perhaps the answer isn’t so different these days. Yet determining what’s really healthy isn’t an easy task.

Let’s begin with the stuff we consume. What we’re beginning to understand is that a well-rounded diet of REAL FOOD, low in animal fat, seems to offer significant advantages in the context of health preservation and disease prevention. It’s no surprise I suppose. Our grandmothers never heard about beta carotene or lycopene, yet they insisted carrots, tomatoes and lots of vegetables were good for you. Health food stores didn’t existæ they simply prepared healthy foods.

Perhaps they were lucky. According to a July 11, 2001 article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), eight of the most commonly used herbs including echinacea, ephedra, garlic, ginkgo, ginseng, kava, St. John’s wort and valerian are associated with a number of serious side effects. Just this past week, Sweden’s Medical Products Agency released a warning that St. John’s wort, a highly touted natural depression remedy, may actually block the contraceptive effects of birth control pills. The real life implications are obvious.

Let’s move on to sleep. Everyone knows 8 hours a night is just right. Wrong! Not only does the normal amount of sleep vary by age, there also seems to be some new data suggesting that more is not necessarily better. According to an article published in the February 2002 edition of Archives of General Psychiatry, much of what we assume to be true about sleep may actually be wrong. The researchers found that people who slept more than 8 hours each night were likely to have a 15 percent greater chance of dying earlier than people who sleep 7 hours a night. The study’s principal investigator, Daniel Kripke, MD, professor of psychiatry at the University of California San Diego commented, “The average American sleeps six and a half hours [a night] and people who sleep five, six, or seven hours are perfectly safe and don’t need to sleep any more.” Perhaps the “early to bed, early to rise” slogan is correct after all!

It should also be mentioned that his group discovered that those who used sleeping pills (presumably to get what they thought was the right amount of sleep) experienced a 25% increased risk of mortality.

Bottom line – in an age when experts are disputing the optimum interval for screening mammography and whether or not to ban kava kava, what rational steps can we take toward optimizing our health?

Perhaps we should simply ask our grandparents. For just about the only thing that isn’t in contention these days is the need to seek ways to de-stress ourselves. So why not sit back, enjoy another sip of your coffee (decaf preferably?) and take a deep breath (breathing is in you know) and exercise your smiling muscles. Maybe it’s time to stop taking ourselves too seriously after all – Mind Over Matter!

]]> 6305 https://healthy.net/2002/04/12/weight-loss-supplements-losing-more-than-expected/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=weight-loss-supplements-losing-more-than-expected Fri, 12 Apr 2002 21:38:07 +0000 https://healthy.net/2002/04/12/weight-loss-supplements-losing-more-than-expected/

They’re touted as safe.

And business is booming – it’s up an estimated 300% from 1997 to 1999. More than 3 billion servings of dietary supplements containing Ephedra (ma huang) are now consumed annually by people who are desperate to lose weight.

According to the Ephedra Education Council supported primarily by members of the Ephedra Committee of the American Herbal Products Association, the supplement has been proven to be safe.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) disagrees. They counter with data dating to 1994 supporting over 1,400 reported health problems including high blood pressure, strokes and heart attacks in people taking products containing Ephedra. Included in that data are reports of more than 80 deaths.

While you might assume that it’s hard to pin these widespread health problems on a single substance, you may be right. Yet there’s more to Ephedra than meets the eye.

In 1999 two Vancouver teens died when their car was struck by a woman who hit them from behind. Driving at a high rate of speed, she claimed to be hearing “voices from her car radio that were urging her to drive faster.”

It was deemed she was “not criminally responsible by reason of mental illness.” Yet there was another factor to consider.

Her psychosis is being blamed on a popular weight loss supplement called Xenadrine which contains a combination of ephedra and caffeine – a combo referred to as a “Speed Cocktail.”

Despite the fact that data exists in the psychiatric literature to support the association between this cocktail and mental illness, Cytodyne, the supplement’s manufacturer, denies the association. Interestingly however they fall back on their warning label which cautions people at risk, or who are being treated for any of the following: high blood pressure, liver problems, thyroid problems, diabetes, pernicious anemia, nervousness, anxiety, depression, seizure disorder, cardiac arrhythmias, stroke, pheochromocytoma, prostate enlargement and psychiatric disease.

While their label seems responsible on the surface, I’m having a great deal of difficulty rationalizing the value of a printed warning for people who do not suspect they are at risk for any of these stated disorders. To complicate matters further, what is the real danger for those actually suffering from these conditions who have yet to be diagnosed?

When the Public Citizen Health Research Group called on the FDA to ban the production and sale of Ephedra dietary supplements, the Ephedra Education Council reneged it as a public health concern when consumed according to current standards, which includes limits on serving size (25 mg) and daily consumption (100 mg). They also countered by comparing the relatively low number of Ephedra-related side effects with the rather high incidence of aspirin-related side-effects (13,000 per year).

Their last point is especially well-taken. Yet it doesn’t seem rational to justify legitimacy of risk with the inherent danger of another unrelated substance that has been proven to have vast health benefits.

Such rhetoric only serves to cover up the real danger and the facts. Frankly as medical scientists we don’t have all the answers.

There’s no reasonable means to determine whether or not a person who presents to the hospital with a seizure, heart attack, stroke or psychosis is on an herbal supplement. Routine blood screening for every over-the-counter substance isn’t feasible, and it’s well-established that patients do not typically advise their physicians of such use.

Factor in the strong tendency to hide the use of these substances even from loved-ones and the real problem begins to surface. When side-effects do occur, how many Ephedra users are actually willing to acknowledge them? Does that occasional palpitation (irregular heartbeat) justify fitting into that fashionable outfit?

Human nature isn’t surprising.

I strongly believe that no person should be taking an herbal dietary supplement without a thorough medical examination and follow-up. We cannot expect people to serve as their own doctors – few can correctly pronounce all the disorders listed on Xenadrine’s warning label. Why would anyone realistically place their lives in the hands of a supplement sales person indoctrinated with marketing hype?

In conclusion, we do not have all the answers. We certainly need to know more, yet we must proceed with caution. Once Ephedra’s safety and efficacy is established, it should then be prescribed only by a physician, who in the words of Paul Harvey, “knows the rest of the story” – Mind Over Matter!

]]> 6326 https://healthy.net/2001/12/22/basic-freedom-a-wellness-perspective/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=basic-freedom-a-wellness-perspective Sat, 22 Dec 2001 22:35:24 +0000 https://healthy.net/2001/12/22/basic-freedom-a-wellness-perspective/

This holiday season is becoming a shocking eye-opener.

Amidst the typical trials and tribulations of our fast-paced society, who would have expected America to be immersed in a war against terrorism? And who would have expected the stark reality this war has already revealed?

I’m not referring to the strategic advances or the fleeing Taliban. The focus on human suffering that extends so far beyond even our worst expectations is inescapable.

In our ever-changing world, it is impossible to break away from the definition of “healing” which refers to the process of becoming whole again in mind, body and spirit. How is such healing possible when all human freedom gives way to the tyranny of terrorists so vastly supported throughout the world?

Immersed in preparation for an upcoming presentation on international wellness, I recently spent a great deal of time focusing on the issue of human rights from a world-wide perspective. At first the news of a liberated Afghanistan provided some solace. Yet as I followed the changes in Kabul, I couldn’t help but feel taken back by the overwhelming plight of the Afghan people – especially the children.

It is difficult to maintain a positive perspective when one fully realizes the extent of the hopelessness and suffering these children endure. Two examples are indelibly etched in my mind: the first is the child soldier, the second is the child slave.

A 14-year old boy wielding a Soviet rifle was recently interviewed by a member of the international press. Ragged, war-torn, dust-covered and exhausted, he surprisingly managed to crack the slightest smile as he sat against a rock and recounted his 8 year career as a soldier. Life for him was one skirmish after another. His only family was the Northern Alliance. Foreign governments and the U.N. were perceived as threats – and shockingly not for the reason you might expect.

The young warrior lamented about losing the little that remained in his life. Cease fire and disarmament would destroy the only thing he knew – being a soldier. When the reporter asked him about any possible aspirations for becoming a doctor, lawyer, accountant or engineer, he simply looked up, smirked, shrugged his shoulders and quietly responded, “in Afghanistan?”

Those words reverberated painfully through a calloused exterior which could not conceal a void so deep and so estranged from hope, the energy that fuels the healing process.

Yet the soul of the Afghan people had barely been touched. For down the road in the remains of a filthy hovel, the true ravages of the Taliban stood as a painful example of what our world had so conveniently disregarded over the last several years.

In a dimly lit room hung a rug in the process of being woven. It wasn’t just an ordinary rug – it was symbolic. For those who manned the loom it was a deplorable flag, a shocking way of life for the world to see. It revealed an unimaginable darkness no one should ever endure.

For the half-dozen blank-eyed silent 5-year-old girls lined up side to side, each rapid repetitious mechanical movement means a life without freedom, self-expression, creativity, happiness or hope. For a wage equivalent to 13 cents per week, barely enough to buy a loaf of bread, the Taliban repulsively stole their souls.

Such oppression and slavery was allowed to continue despite the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations in 1948 which established basic inalienable protections for all people world-wide. Those who are fighting a supposed “Holy War” have deliberately turned their backs on those articles of freedom. The world powers have also ignored their inhumanity until now.

This war wasn’t brought about by accident – there is a scheme to things and perhaps there is a higher order in sight. To liberate Afghanistan isn’t enough. To enable the Afghan people to heal themselves in mind, body and spirit has to be the ultimate legitimate goal of a world alliance working toward ensuring and preserving basic human rights.

What started as retaliation for a terrorist attack has now revealed the dehumanizing impact of contemporary terrorism. This is our chance to accept the challenge in order to make a sustainable humanitarian difference for generations to come. It is also a timely opportunity to demonstrate to our children that the prospect of world peace cannot exist when basic human rights are ignored.

This holiday season let’s take time to remember and value the precious freedoms, often taken for granted, we enjoy under God and country. Together we can strive to preserve and protect basic human rights as an essential healing elixir for every child in our world – Mind Over Matter!

]]> 6324 https://healthy.net/2001/12/15/healing-an-individual-perspective/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=healing-an-individual-perspective Sat, 15 Dec 2001 11:06:05 +0000 https://healthy.net/2001/12/15/healing-an-individual-perspective/

Something’s bothering you… Perhaps it has for some time. Difficult to ignore, it’s keeping you off balance.

How did I know, you might be asking. The answer is simple. As humans we have more in common than what separates us. Life holds few surprises.

Sometimes what’s worrying you is subtle. At others, it’s pervasive, inescapable and overwhelming. For some, it’s difficult to rationalize, contemplate or fully understand. For many, there’s no obvious solution in sight.

Over the years I’ve learned that no one can truly exist in balance all the time amidst life’s challenges. Death and taxes aren’t the only inevitabilities we face as humans. “Change” affects just about every aspect of our being. And just about everything changes…our work, our relationships, our capabilities, our needs and our health.

Some adjust better to life’s challenges than others. Many survive through denial and never face the underlying issues that progressively serve to undo them. Unfortunately the richness of life characterized by the process of healing is rarely fully experienced.

According to Merriam Webster, “healing” means “to make sound or whole, or to restore to health.” It also refers to “causing (an undesirable condition) to be overcome.”

While health professionals often employ the term, “healing” in the context of “undesirable conditions” or diseases, other implications of healing should be considered.

Perhaps the one we need to focus on the most is “dis-ease,” a term that implies discomfort. Anything that generates this feeling goes against our nature or moves us away from our comfort zone.

Unfortunately dis-ease is more prevalent that you might imagine – in fact it’s contagious. Often it’s disheartening as well. In the context of mind-body medicine, dis-ease and disease are inseparable – what affects the mind clearly and indistinguishably affects the body and visa versa.

Our tendency however is to avoid dis-ease, rather than to prevent it. That realization takes us back to our starting point (what’s really bothering you).

To further unravel this issue, I’d like to share a conversation I enjoyed with Richard Bach, the renowned author of the best-selling book, Jonathan Livingston Seagull. In the context of healing, he shared an important and unforgettable insight. To paraphrase, Bach explained that as human beings we have the extraordinary tendency to make a mess of practically anything or everything in our lives. He proceeded to state that such action predictably set the stage for action utilizing our greatest human potential – to rise up and heal ourselves. He clearly implied the tendency for most people to get caught up and paralyzed in the process.

It is perhaps paralysis that keeps us off-balance and disturbed by the things that unnerve us. Remaining ill at ease robs of us of quality of life.
So how can we better deal with the issues that stress us or move us beyond our comfort zones?

The answer is to begin by taking time to stop and contemplate the way we really feel. Getting in touch with our feelings rather than ignoring them provides the basis for effectively dealing with dis-ease. Once the disturbance is recognized, we have the opportunity to ask ourselves whether it’s the issue or our perspective that’s causing us pain.

It isn’t surprising that our perspective is often at the root of the problem. Frequently we cannot alter the target upon which our worry is centered, yet we can improve the manner in which we handle it. The challenge becomes developing a healthier perspectiveæ one that serves us well. That’s where creativity and openness comes into play. Creativity enables us to formulate a positive stance for resolution. Openness provides an outlet for seeking the outside help needed to get back on a healthier track.

And if your world perspective is what you find most unsettling, perhaps the words of Mahatma Gandhi will serve you well: “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” Let the healing begin one person at a time – Mind Over Matter!

The holiday season is upon us.

Amidst the rush and the commotion that’s so typical this season, it’s time to imagine settling in and finally being with our families and loved-ones. After all, that’s why we spent seemingly endless hours shopping, standing in line, decorating, cooking, baking and preparing for the festivities ahead.

Can you picture those wonderful get-togethers you’ve planned for so long? Or is your memory failing you at the moment?

If all you can imagine is a cluttered kitchen and a marathon-like effort preparing a dinner that’s gobbled down in less time than it took to make the gravy, read on.

Perhaps it’s time to take a few moments to think back. Do you remember last year’s Christmas dinner, or the one before, or for that matter, can you recall the details of any holiday dinner in the last 5 or so years? If you can, what do you remember?

If what surfaces is a feeling of loss for those no longer with us, your sentiments are understood. If you recall the children in your family scurrying to open presents, that’s understandable as well. If the recollection of venturing out to pick up Uncle Harry because he couldn’t start his car 10 minutes before your guests were about to arrive comes to mind, I wouldn’t be surprised either. Yet beyond the preparation, the sense of loss, children opening gifts and mishaps, are there any other memories that live on within you?

Don’t be surprised if you draw a blank. Most family get-togethers aren’t particularly memorable these days. It’s not uncommon to devour a meal in less than a 30 minutes, thereafter proceeding to watch football or parades for 3-4 hours on the tube.

I’m not suggesting you avoid these activities altogether. Yet I don’t particularly believe these are the elements of memories that are likely to make you feel your efforts were worthwhile. In an age when computers and television replace human interaction, there typically isn’t much of value to recall the next day.

With this in mind, why not consider creating wonderful memories during this year’s holiday get-together?

Perhaps the easiest way to begin is by thinking outside the box. Consider trying something new that has not been steeped in tradition. Perhaps this is your time to play!

Yes play.

I’m not talking about board games like chess or checkers. I’m suggesting you consider activities that inspire creative group expression. As an example, why not consider music-making?

If you’re saying to yourself, “that’s ridiculous because we don’t have an instrument in the house!” think again. Those pots, pans and silverware you just feasted with are the perfect percussion instruments of a family orchestra you will never forget.

And remember, the most basic instrument is your voice. Why not consider singing, caroling, or making up songs about your family’s heritage that inspire distant memories? Imagine the learning experience and lessons for young ones illuminated by your creativity? After all, sharing stories about your ancestors used to be rather entertaining.

This is not just a time to get together – it is an extraordinary opportunity to create a memorable family celebration of life!

And if you take this chance to extend your boundaries, there’s another phenomenal benefit you may have never considered. Playing together and expressing yourself creatively builds a sense of nurturing and understanding that has great potential for moving you and your loved-ones beyond any perceived underlying conflicts that may exist. Imagine letting your hair down, really getting to know members of your family on another level and simply enjoying yourself! This is a great way to strengthen bonds that may have been stretched by considerable distances.

The real key however is creating joy and happiness that live on in our hearts. These are the moments that inspire the memories which make all of your efforts worthwhile. This is your opportunity to make that joyful noise that will never be forgotten.

As Garth Brooks once said, “Just keep taking chances and having fun.” May your holiday get-togethers be filled with joyous memories that will make it all worthwhile for years to come – Mind Over Matter!

]]> 6323 https://healthy.net/2001/11/16/a-festive-perspective-support-and-friendship/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a-festive-perspective-support-and-friendship Fri, 16 Nov 2001 14:42:19 +0000 https://healthy.net/2001/11/16/a-festive-perspective-support-and-friendship/

Tis the season to be jolly?

Not if you’re one of the three quarters of a million Americans who lost their jobs after September 11th. And certainly not if you’re in the manufacturing sector that had already experienced fifteen straight shrinking months prior to September.

No doubt times are challenging. Amidst uncertainty and fear, people are struggling to regain a needed sense of balance in their lives.

The upcoming holidays unfortunately have a tendency to increase the already overwhelming perception of stress and pressure for many people. While joyous for many, this season often serves to emphasize loss, isolation and despondency for others.

In troubling times extra vigilance is warranted. I’m not referring to terrorist threats, but rather to an awareness of the feelings of those around us – our loved-ones, friends, neighbors and co-workers. Subtle hints are often overlooked. Withdrawal is especially worrisome – sometimes frightening.

Over the years, working with patients at the Mind-Body Wellness Center has provided many unique learning experiences. Our staff has witnessed phenomenal transformations in individuals who have taught us many valuable lessons. Their examples have demonstrated the true healing power of nurturing, support, camaraderie and friendship.

I’ll never forget one particular example that occurred during a Pulmonary Rehabilitation session. The group was actively engaged in discussing personal strategies for promoting happiness and well-being. One gentleman in particular seemed rather despondent to the point of appearing annoyed. Actually his pent up frustration was about to explode.

Lashing out, he declared, “You don’t know what it’s like. Life hasn’t been easy for me. I’ve struggled my entire life – two or more jobs at a time. I’ve raised a family and never expected much. I really looked forward to retiring someday and fishing. Now I’m too old and sick to fish, and (referring to his oxygen tank) I’m chained to an anchor. How can any of you expect me to be positive when I can’t do what I’ve always wanted to do?”

His point was well-taken. It was heartfelt and painful.

Yet before we could even venture to answer his question, another statement took us by surprise. It wasn’t a complex existentialist analysis of his problem, nor was it an attempt to reframe his challenge on a higher level. Rather it was simple and to the point. It didn’t come from our staff either.

Another patient simply leaned over, tapped him on the shoulder, smiled and whispered, “get your stuff together. I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning at 7:00 am. We’re going fishing.”

Our down-trodden patient was speechless – so was our team of health professionals. The answer was a gift of friendship, and a lesson for all of us. It was also precisely what BOTH gentlemen and our staff needed.

So perhaps it’s time to learn from this example and to develop a healing perspective for this holiday season. Let’s begin by asking ourselves how we can best serve those in need.

A meaningful starting point is no longer failing to respond to that look of despondency and frustration that’s so prevalent these days. It clearly signals distress and potentially more.

Take a few extra minutes to be a friend to someone in need. Offer a listening ear and discover common ground. Realize a life-line may be only one phone call away.

If you know someone who’s been laid off, consider spending time with them or inviting their family to dinner or an evening get-together. Supportive words and a meal nourish far more than you might expect. Encouragement is a time-tested healing elixir.

If you’re aware of an opportunity for even part-time employment, share that information with a person in need. If there’s anything to be done around your house, consider hiring someone who can benefit from the extra funds.

And instead of filling that long Christmas list with items soon to be forgotten, why not send a card indicating a charitable contribution to an organization you trust?

Finally reflect on the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, “The only way to have a friend is to be one.” These are the times that can bring out the best in us. Tis the season to share joy, Thanksgiving and friendship with those in need – Mind Over Matter!

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