Rolling with the Punches Life Hands Out

Even without a punch or two, living life can be a stressful experience.  Of course, every day brings blessings but every day also brings challenges. Over time meeting these challenges exerts wear and tear on our physiology.

 

The physiology, or the mind-body-spirit, is one seamless energetic system and whatever affects one aspect of this system affects the totality.  Sometimes we forget this principle.  We tend to separate our physical health from our mental and emotional health and to lose awareness of the underlying wholeness sustaining our system.  We forget that a physical illness can be the result of an emotional event or that mental disturbances can be indicative of a lifestyle that has damaged our physical body.  We forget that our physiology is an ecological system.

 

We wish to maintain our overall health and well being while rolling with the punches life hands out.  This is a challenge but it is a challenge that Ayurveda can help us to meet.

 

In Healing Depression the Mind-Body Way Sandra and I explain the principles of Ayurveda in depth.  We explain how this ancient science works, why it works, and we offer questionnaires enabling you to know your constitutional type.  Once you understand your type you will be able, through the information in Healing Depression the Mind-Body Way, to find specific ways to help keep your physiology balanced.  According to Ayurveda, balance is equated with health and its by-product—-happiness.

 

Ayurveda is often referred to as an instruction manual telling us how to live our life.  But it is more than that.  Ayurveda is all about awakening the incredible “physician within” to actualize our potential to heal. More specifically, the physician within can be conceptualized as the natural intelligence inherent in all of us.  This natural intelligence can heal a cut on our finger, bring balance to our brain chemistry, and even heal a broken heart.  When we know how to activate our innate natural intelligence we are able to maintain strength and get through life’s challenges with our health intact.

 

Oftentimes we struggle to maintain a positive belief system in the face of obstacles and challenges.  This is understandable and denotes good character, but if our physiology has become imbalanced due to stressful experiences then these mental efforts only create additional stress.  It is as if we are attempting to put a pretty face over a cesspool.  We will yield a higher benefit if we focus on using the tenets of Ayurveda to balance the physiology.  Once balanced, positive thoughts are natural and we do not have to struggle to maintain them.

 

Ayurveda is ancient yet ultramodern.  It is ancient when measured by chronological time, because the gems of wisdom it offers are timeless.  It is ultramodern, ahead of its time, because its fundamental concepts are currently being explored and expounded upon by those at the cutting edge of modern science and technology, quantum physicists and molecular biologists, among others.  We expect that in the future, as modern wisdom catches up with this ancient science, Ayurveda will become a household word.  We urge you to read about Ayurveda now.  We think that as you read our book you will often realize that we are telling you what you already know, can validate through your experience, and intuitively sense to be correct.  The beauty of this system of health, this thing called Ayurveda, is this:  it works!

 

As always, Sandra and I wish you perfect health and happiness!

 

 

 

 

East Meets West—-in Medical Schools

Most of the top medical schools in the U.S. now have programs in Integrated Medicine. These programs focus primarily on how Lifestyle influences health.  The goal is for the student to have access to the knowledge of eastern medical systems (prevention) as well as western (curing disease).  There are many reasons this knowledge is important but following are a few facts to consider:

• Integrated Medicine is primarily concerned with prevention and western medicine concerned with curing disease.  Both aspects of medical theory are exceedingly important.
• 80% of all disease is directly caused by Lifestyle factors.
• Nutrition influences the expression of genes.
• 50% of Americans suffer from a chronic disease:  these statistics are constantly rising as the population ages.
• There are 250,000 deaths annually because of the deleterious side-effects of pharmaceuticals
• Costs are spiraling out of control.  Health care cost 2.4 trillion in 2009. We need to prevent illness!
• The incidence of depression is rising and current research shows the anti-depressants work (in most cases) no better than the placebos.
• 40% of the world’s population uses alternative therapies and Americans spent 27 billion out-of-pocket dollars last year on alternative therapies.
• Eight states have laws giving well-trained alternative practitioners the license to practice.

Until recently the major lack in western medicine was a focus on prevention.  The western definition of health has traditionally been the absence of disease.  Presently our population is becoming re-educated and we are learning that health exists on a continuum.  In other words, through prevention we can maximize our physical health and in so doing increase mental, emotional and spiritual well-being.

The word Ayur is a Sanskrit word meaning “health” and the word Veda is also Sanskrit.  It means “knowledge.”  We say “everything that works is Ayurvedic!”  This ancient practice of medicine teaches us how to live our lives vibrantly by creating good health every step of the way.  It is the world’s oldest form of natural medicine. It is the tree of knowledge from which many popularized therapeutic interventions have grown.

Ayurveda defines health as a state of complete physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being.  Health is not merely the absence of disease and infirmity.  This ancient science offers the epitome of a holistic approach to living life with zing.  We can think of Ayurveda as Mother Nature’s spokesperson, giving instructions on how to weave threads (our daily actions) into a vibrant tapestry (our physiology).  Ayurvedic precepts form the basis for Integrated Medicine.

We are rapidly approaching a major change in how medicine is practiced in our country.  Hospitals and doctors have begun and will continue to employ consultants who are well-trained in prevention.

Prevention is never one-size fits all.  Each of us is unique and the specifics on how we prevent illness from knocking at our door must be personalized.  Patients will have the privilege of receiving individual assessments and recommendations which are unique to them.

In our book Healing Depression the Mind-Body Way Sandra and I write about how to achieve and maintain wellness.  Our book is replete with questionnaires to help you to determine your particular imbalances and suggestions for Lifestyle changes which might be helpful to you.  We think you would enjoy reading our book even if depression is not an issue you struggle with.  Depression is but one symptom showing that health is not optimal.  Perhaps you have a different symptom.  You can still profit from reading Healing Depression.  This book is about achieving perfect health.  Can’t we all do a little bit better in that area?

Our health is in our own hands.  This is an exciting and empowering concept.  The top medical schools now recognize the influence of Lifestyle on health and are training their students to be aware.  Prevention is where it is at!  We hope you pick up a copy of Healing Depression the Mind-Body Way as it will help you to enhance your education about prevention, health and happiness.

 

Meditation: Transcending Darkness

                         My husband, Bud, and I learned the TM technique in 1984.  We first heard of TM in the 60’s.  A great deal of scientific research was done on the TM technique in the 60’s and 70’s.  Frequently we would notice a news article about the remarkable scientific findings related to the practice of this technique.  We would comment to each other that the research was interesting and didn’t this TM stuff sound great.  We hoped it was helping a lot of people!  We had no interest in learning ourselves until 1984.

In the winter of 1984 a respected friend told us of his experiences with TM.  Our friend encouraged us to learn.  We listened to him, thought his comments were interesting, and promptly forgot the conversation.  Several weeks after this conversation, our friend who lived in LA at the time, called.  He said a conference on TM was going to be held at the Renaissance Center in Detroit. He urged us to attend.  Since our friend was planning to be in town attending the conference we decided to go as well.

I think our experience of hearing about TM, not doing anything about it, hearing of TM again, and forgetting what we heard is typical. Most of us need to hear of something new a few times or even several times before we embrace it.  It is also human nature to embrace a new idea when we hear it from someone we know and admire rather than from a stranger. I think, too, that the media bombards us with information about a myriad of things we should or can do to improve our well being.  After a time we begin to discount information.

My husband and I did attend that conference with our friend, and I remember the experience well.  I remember the room where the conference was held, and I remember specific conversations I had with people there.  I believe I remember my thoughts and feelings, experienced that long-ago evening, because I sensed we were learning about something that would dramatically alter the success of our lives.  It was an extremely important event for us.

At the conference we were impressed by the presentation of a voluminous amount of research on the TM technique.  It seemed that there was no reason to turn our backs on the opportunity to learn.  Our only concerns regarded the time commitment of 20 minutes twice a day, but we gleaned from the speakers the information that we would not be giving up time.  We would be gaining time.  The researchers told us that the practice of the TM technique would help us to be more energetic, to think more clearly, perhaps to sleep less, and to be able to accomplish more not less.  Over the years we have learned that this is true.

Immediately after we learned TM, we realized that this technique was extraordinarily powerful.  We realized immediate effects and we clearly sensed that the benefits would be cumulative.  We realized this but neither of us thought much about it.  We simply meditated.  Meditation became a regular part of our lives.  A few months after we began meditating, Bud and I noticed changes in each other.  When we commented on these changes we both realized that we did feel quite different from how we had felt in the past.

The experience of ourselves is what we know. How we feel, how we experience ourselves is our reality.  When the experience of self changes, and changes significantly and permanently, it changes by degrees.  Because we are changing from within, we do not have full realization of the change until it is so profound that it is noticeable to others.

In our book Healing Depression the Mind-Body Way Sandra and I discuss several ways that the TM technique is helps us to change.  Transcendental Meditation has the following proven benefits.

1.  Dissolving Deep-Seated Stress
2. Providing Deep Rest
3. Alleviating Anxiety
4. Expanding Awareness
5. Increasing the Internal Locus of Control
6. Enhancing Physiological Adaptability
7. Enhancing Psychological Adaptability
8. Purification of the Mind
9. Integration and Personal Growth

Each of these benefits translates into a holistic change in the mind-body.  For instance, when we expand our awareness we acquire a wide-angle lens with which to view life.  Expanding awareness opens the “shutter” in the mind’s eye.  When we have a panoramic view of an event, our understanding is enhanced.  This deeper viewpoint gives us more flexibility in the face of change, allowing the stress of life’s transitions to roll off our backs more easily.  When stresses roll off of us more easily then we are not inclined to be reactive to others.  Our relationships improve and we don’t integrate stress into our physiology.  Our health also improves.  These are profound changes.

The TM technique has been shown to increase physical, emotional, and psychological resiliency.  What can be better than increased resiliency?  To be able to roll with life’s punches and spring back to action without integrating stress into the physiology is a great gift.

I hope you are not going to be like Bud and me and have to hear about TM over and over before you decide to take the plunge.  Positive research on this technique is still being reported in scientific journals and the technique is available for all interested parties.  Google TM.Org to learn more and locate a teacher in your neck of the woods.

Our family is delighted to welcome a new meditator into our fold this week.  Blessings to Ivy, age 13.  She recently decided to learn TM.  The TM technique will provide a natural basis for Ivy’s formation of her adult identity.  It will give her increased energy, self-confidence and a general feeling of well-being.  She’ll be able to recognize how people can be identical at their core and yet uniquely different in their personalities. This recognition will help her to have positive relationships throughout her high school experience and beyond.  We believe that practice of the TM technique will help Ivy sail through adolescence unencumbered by the stresses many teen agers experience.  She’ll be able to access her internal wisdom, rid herself of stress, and reach her full potential! Bud and I are filled with joy for her!  We hope all of you decide to learn TM too!

As always, Sandra and I send our best wishes for health and happiness,

Nancy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image courtesy of http://meditationatlanta.blogspot.com/2009/05/what-is-transcendental-meditation.html

Being Good Enough!

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is a book of approximately 1,000 pages.  The “nickname” for this hefty book is DSM.  It’s a pretty scary book.

One thousand pages—-my goodness, that’s a lot of pages devoted to what can be wrong with a person!  This vast book includes a wide variety of “disorders” ranging from something as seemingly benign as Caffeine Intoxication Disorder to various types of psychosis.

For many professionals in the fields of psychology and psychiatry the DSM is a bible. Certainly, the DSM is the Holy Grail of insurance companies.  Treatment will not be covered unless a patient has a solid diagnosis from the DSM.  Other professionals, me included, think the DSM is a rather interesting, bizarre and potentially dangerous book.

Why do I find this book to be dangerous?  In part, I find it so because individuals who are under stress will often present with fairly serious symptoms.  Oftentimes these symptoms can be fairly quickly resolved.  On the other hand, a serious diagnosis can stick with a stressed patient.  It can be dangerous if the diagnosis becomes an aspect of identity. And, I think that the DSM is basically shallow and doesn’t reflect a deep knowledge of the individual.  Mental and Emotional problems cannot be diagnosed in the same way as physical problems.

I agree with Carl Whitaker, a well-known psychiatrist and a founder of the family therapy movement. Whitaker was a wise man who promoted creativity and spontaneity for both the therapist and the client.  In regards to the DSM he said that he thought there was truly only one issue for any human being.

How about closing your eyes right now and guessing what that one issue which we all share is?

(Drum roll, please!)  The issue shared by all of humankind is simply this:  No one feels and believes that he or she is good enough.  Wow!  If the psychiatric community believed this then the DSM could be reduced to one line. On the other hand, I suppose we could make a case for believing that many of the disorders in the DSM develop out of the belief that “I am just not good enough?” After all, can’t the “not good enough” belief potentially trigger anxiety, depression and anger?

So many events happen in our lives which disturb our confidence.  And if “things” didn’t happen which trigger the “not good enough” feeling it is characteristic of humankind to note shortcomings and not give attention to strengths. We tend to take our strengths for granted.

To continually evolve, to become all we can be is indicative of leading a good life.  We all desire to reach our full potential.  I suppose feeling “not good enough” can help along these lines.  This feeling can give way to self-assessments which can help us to overcome faults and to embark on a self-improvement quest.  In this way, the “not good enough” feeling, like all feelings, can be a helpful guide. If feeling not good enough is part and parcel of human nature then let us encourage ourselves to accept this aspect of ourselves.  Use the feeling as a guide for gentle self-improvement, but never as a way to beat ourselves up.

And, let us all be cautious that the “not good enough” feeling is not slowly but insidiously  leading us to a mental or emotional diagnosis which could block the realization of our potential, and block our health and our happiness.  In truth, we are all good enough! Feelings are guides  but they are not indicative of reality.

Have a great week & thanks for reading,

Nancy

http://www.depressionproofyourlife.com/

How Can You Effectively Fight an Illness?

When a friend of mine became ill recently she pointed to boxing gloves and she laughingly said, “I am going to put these gloves on and fight this sickness.  I know if I fight hard enough I will get better.”

The boxing gloves were a metaphor for her belief that a strong fight would diminish her sickness. Our culture fosters this perspective.  If we “fight” hard enough we will overcome the obstacle of illness.

What exactly does “fighting an illness” mean?  I think that many people equate fighting with denial.  Others equate it with positive thinking and still others with a belief system, the core of which is exemplified by the following statement, “I am a strong person and I will not allow this sickness to take me down.”  The sick person often develops a way of being which encompasses both denial and determination.

Research does show that positive attitude is helpful for recovery from disease.  But, is “fighting” necessarily indicative of positive attitude?  I don’t think it always is.  The feeling that “I need to fight” is a natural feeling.  It is how we fight that is important!

When severe illness attacks the body, the mind and emotions are equally affected.  Fear, loneliness and anger flow though the physiology. Sick people often experience guilt as well.  It is a normal reaction to believe that it must be your fault if you have become sick.  I remember hearing an older woman say, “I must have done something bad.”  When I asked why she felt that way, she responded, “Because I feel so bad.”  Our emotions do not always make rational sense. It is important that these emotions not be denied, but that they become acknowledged.

The repression of denial, anger, guilt and loneliness increases the strength of these emotions.  The enormous effort that goes into repressing the feelings drains much needed strength from the physiology, strength that could otherwise be used for healing.

How can we develop a positive attitude in the face of severe illness?  Let’s begin by redefining the word “fight.”   All too often “fighting” implies denial and working against something.  The fact is that if illness is assaulting the body we need to be strong and positive and the first step in that direction is to acknowledge the feelings which accompany the illness. If we acknowledge our emotions we will become stronger.  If we focus only on the belief that we must fight we will weaken our physiology.

For instance, allowing fear to wash over oneself is an effective step in dismissing this emotion.  Fighting against this feeling, on the other hand, would give it strength.

Acceptance of the feelings associated with being sick is the first step toward building a positive attitude.   Whereas a mentality fostering a fight weakens the mind-body, an accepting approach strengthens the entire physiology.  Acceptance of the feelings associated with the illness harbors a gentle strength.  This gentle strength fosters healing at all levels.  It also allows rest to be deeper and deep rest is a valuable treatment for any and all illnesses.

Sandra and I hope that none of you should experience a severe illness in your lifetime.  We wish you perfect health and happiness.  We hope that our book Healing Depression the Mind-Body Way helps you to achieve happiness and health.  At the same time, we hope that should you become ill you will gently accept the feelings which accompany knowledge of your illness.  We hope you remember that fighting against something in our lives only makes that “something” stronger and that acknowledgment of the feelings associated with illness will make you stronger.  Acceptance of the full depth and breathe of experience makes us stronger—-boxing gloves weaken the mind and the body.

Thanks for reading,