Well, a new year has started and I feel a rush of new enthusiasm. This morning i was directed to a blog and the words of an MS patient from New Zealand.
Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis - Multiple Sclerosis, Ms Cure, Early Symptom Multiple Sclerosis
This blog/website written by a doctor (George Jelinek) is strong, clear, and, in my opinion, right on the mark. It basically proposes that MS can be successfully managed with a healthy lifestyle. He proposes the Swank diet (low fat, no saturated fat, high in fruits and vegetables, high in fish), regular exercise, daily meditation, vitamin D, regular sun. Basic. Not fancy. Very "doable". He clearly reviews how this has helped him and helped MS patients in the past (Dr. Swank's research). He has written a book (Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis) of his experience and his recommendations and is truly an inspiration.
For me, these are old lessons learned yet again. I learned of the amazing benefits of a truly healthy lifestyle back in the 90's when I was fortunate enough to work as Medical Director for the Dean Ornish Program for Reversing Heart Disease. I live the recommended lifestyle and preach its value for all people whether they have heart disease, MS, diabetes, cancer, or are trying to prevent any of these. The piece that I let myself slide on is meditation. While I have intermittently meditated through the years, I am not consistent. Not surprisingly, my biggest weakness is a racing mind (I realize I am not alone). I don't sleep well and know full well that the reason is the "monkey mind" that I have not harnessed. So, for me, it is "physician heal thyself"; back to the cushion and getting control of my mind.
The lesson goes deeper for me. I have been working with these lifestyle approaches to healing my entire career in medicine. I am a true believer. However, I have struggled to find my place in medicine and the world. I have toyed with the idea of writing a book. I have worked at every medical opportunity that San Diego has offered to an internist with my eclectic skills. I am deeply grateful for the wide range of experiences I have had but I feel so strongly in my heart that there is a better way: a way that honors all that we know and all that we truly believe and goes ahead in spite of the financial fears.
I am now in a different place. I am on my own, free to proceed as I see fit. Now again, I realize that my soul burns for the chance to help my fellow travelers in this world to get well. I realize that getting well myself is the first order of business. The next is adding my piece to the healing puzzle. The missing link is the role of belief and our capacity to change our beliefs("how do you stop believing what you believe" and learn to believe something that is better for you). This critical element unlocks our capacity to change, to transform, to heal. Most of us know what the right thing is to do, but we drift from this correct path because our unconscious beliefs lead us astray. The monkey mind (which belongs to the unconscious) allows us to drift back to old, bad habits (explains the incredibly high rate of failed New Year's resolutions). The key is bringing the unconscious to consciousness and then getting strong in our new found consciousness.
Meditation is definitely part of this but it must be combined with a belief-changing mechanism. My good friend Robbie Goldstein has developed this process. He is getting clear himself on this very challenging opportunity. He is writing a book on this exact topic and I am fortunate enough to get to learn from him. This is the missing link. I read all over about the changing consciousness but the "how-to" is missing. It won't be missing much longer. Stay tuned for the details.
I truly believe that this year will bring the start of a true revolution in health care. Not a revolution in just insurance coverage but an evolution in the way we view healing and disseminate the knowledge. The time is near and we are ready.
Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis - Multiple Sclerosis, Ms Cure, Early Symptom Multiple Sclerosis
This blog/website written by a doctor (George Jelinek) is strong, clear, and, in my opinion, right on the mark. It basically proposes that MS can be successfully managed with a healthy lifestyle. He proposes the Swank diet (low fat, no saturated fat, high in fruits and vegetables, high in fish), regular exercise, daily meditation, vitamin D, regular sun. Basic. Not fancy. Very "doable". He clearly reviews how this has helped him and helped MS patients in the past (Dr. Swank's research). He has written a book (Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis) of his experience and his recommendations and is truly an inspiration.
For me, these are old lessons learned yet again. I learned of the amazing benefits of a truly healthy lifestyle back in the 90's when I was fortunate enough to work as Medical Director for the Dean Ornish Program for Reversing Heart Disease. I live the recommended lifestyle and preach its value for all people whether they have heart disease, MS, diabetes, cancer, or are trying to prevent any of these. The piece that I let myself slide on is meditation. While I have intermittently meditated through the years, I am not consistent. Not surprisingly, my biggest weakness is a racing mind (I realize I am not alone). I don't sleep well and know full well that the reason is the "monkey mind" that I have not harnessed. So, for me, it is "physician heal thyself"; back to the cushion and getting control of my mind.
The lesson goes deeper for me. I have been working with these lifestyle approaches to healing my entire career in medicine. I am a true believer. However, I have struggled to find my place in medicine and the world. I have toyed with the idea of writing a book. I have worked at every medical opportunity that San Diego has offered to an internist with my eclectic skills. I am deeply grateful for the wide range of experiences I have had but I feel so strongly in my heart that there is a better way: a way that honors all that we know and all that we truly believe and goes ahead in spite of the financial fears.
I am now in a different place. I am on my own, free to proceed as I see fit. Now again, I realize that my soul burns for the chance to help my fellow travelers in this world to get well. I realize that getting well myself is the first order of business. The next is adding my piece to the healing puzzle. The missing link is the role of belief and our capacity to change our beliefs("how do you stop believing what you believe" and learn to believe something that is better for you). This critical element unlocks our capacity to change, to transform, to heal. Most of us know what the right thing is to do, but we drift from this correct path because our unconscious beliefs lead us astray. The monkey mind (which belongs to the unconscious) allows us to drift back to old, bad habits (explains the incredibly high rate of failed New Year's resolutions). The key is bringing the unconscious to consciousness and then getting strong in our new found consciousness.
Meditation is definitely part of this but it must be combined with a belief-changing mechanism. My good friend Robbie Goldstein has developed this process. He is getting clear himself on this very challenging opportunity. He is writing a book on this exact topic and I am fortunate enough to get to learn from him. This is the missing link. I read all over about the changing consciousness but the "how-to" is missing. It won't be missing much longer. Stay tuned for the details.
I truly believe that this year will bring the start of a true revolution in health care. Not a revolution in just insurance coverage but an evolution in the way we view healing and disseminate the knowledge. The time is near and we are ready.
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(Dr Suresh Vatsyayann 1995)