Greetings to all and new members,
Good feedback from last month blog – patient said comments on failure had helped her solve a big problem. Read recently that fancy brain imaging studies had demonstrated that dogs understand a lot of human vocabulary. I think most dog lovers knew that anyway. A couple of recent office experiences created these comments on one of my favorite subjects, the pitfalls of cause-effect linear[scientific method] medicine. Medicine has made great strides using the scientific method. They are proud of that and should be. I also sense that there is a built in arrogance that allows them to minimize the effects of the mind on the body. Also, because of the complexities of the mind, it is very difficult to apply scientific principles. I believe that most physicians know that the mind plays a big part in disease, but practicing medicine is hard enough without having to add psychology[and lots of time]. So we get meds for anxiety, stress, etc. [25% of all prescriptions for anxiety, stress, depression, etc.] . A diagnosis is generally a label [ a generalization] and it is hammered into the patient, particularly if it is chronic. So through repetition and self-reflection, the label is deeply ingrained as a negative emotion with resulting anxiety responses. They have now become beliefs, very strong ones too. I find that pain, insomnia and various GI problems particularly fall into that category. My best efforts to deframe and reframe these beliefs fall short because of solid and effective indoctrination by the medical community. I feel that there is no belief that can't be modified for improvement, and I do my best to change these negative meanings, but sometimes the medical indoctrination is too great. That complaint out of the way, I will move on to more reality. Fear is a feeling, not a fact. Your life is yours alone. Others will try to persuade you, but they can't decide for you. They may walk with you, but not in your shoes. So make sure the path you decide to walk aligns with your own intuition and desires. The quality of your life is a function of the quality of your meanings. The mind wants comfort. It's afraid of discomfort, pressure and change. The mind is used to its comfort zone, and anytime we try to stretch that zone too far, for too long, the mind tries desperately to get back to ground zero at any cost... including sacrificing our long-term health, happiness and success. The basic nature of the mind is to dwell in the past or to worry about the future. Our uneasiness about what's to come is actually our strategy to prepare for the future – our mind's ingenious way of ensuring that we're equipped to survive. Our mind is constantly toggling between these two opposing tendencies. We fear the inevitable end brought by the "who-knows-when" tomorrow. Tomorrow is risky, frightening, and in some way, represents one step closer to the end – from something to nothing. The result of such preoccupation often is helplessness, depression and fear. Because the present is given to us, our mind perceives it as something not worth dwelling in – it's not worth thinking about the present because it's simply guaranteed. Thoughts for the day: You can't change yesterday, but you can ruin today by worrying about tomorrow. When you spend your time worrying and over-thinking everything, you're simply using your imagination to create things you don't want. Successful people monitor, suppress or ignore their negative self-talk, focus more on the positive and avoid "should/must have" and "what if "statements. Detach yourself from the habit of taking things personally. – If you take everything personally, you'll remain offended for the rest of your life. What other people do is often because of them, not you. Don't obsess about hitting home runs every second. Just get on base, daily. Finally, repetition is needed for all successes [and failures]. Do your self-hypnosis and have a simple morning routine! For the moment, IBP Evening Class on The Daniel Plan – 40 Days to a Healthier Life
We are hosting a seminar on Thursdays at 6:30 pm for 6 weeks from September 22nd to October 27th at our office. The cost is $40 per person & will be lead by Jane Springer, a Tallahassee-based life & wellness coach. Please call the office to RSVP - Pre-paying IS an option if you are willing to give a credit card # over the phone. You WILL receive a receipt. For more information on the Daniel Plan, please refer to the recent newsletter. |
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