Don: Mind/Body questions

[Guest guest]

OK, you will all just not believe this, but I succumbed to an informercial

one night a few years back, and much to my surprise, the greatest mind/body

improvement I have ever experienced came from Tony Robbins, his Personal Power

II

series of videos/workbooks.

What you will learn if you study mind/body anywhere, is that any habit,

whether physical or mental, takes place over an established neuropathway between

the brain, the central nervous system, and the body's hormonal/chemical makeup.

As we repeat habits, these neural pathways are strengthened. This is not

unlike a muscle that is exercised over and over, and continually grows in size

and capacity. Anyway, to alter the mind/body relationship, you must get off

your established neural pathways, and make new ones.

The Tony Robbins stuff is based on a lot of research he has done over the

years, and I found it to be very effective. You will do a lot of exercises in

analyzing beliefs and mental habits that you practice, and whether or not these

serve you in reaching your life goals/living according to your values. There

are practical exercises in busting out of those patterns you identify as

unproductive, and in establishing new habits. He does talk about diet and

exercise, as being essential to implementing the Personal Power program.

I had been on ER for about six months when I did the Tony Robbins. I would

say the ER is the first building block. The wrong foods I had been eating

(carbs) did contribute to a tendency to be manic depressive, to have swings

between high mental energy and lethargy, to respond immediately in a destructive

emotional way to unwelcome stimuli. So, before I could take advantage of a

practical program to clarify my life goals, practice a lifestyle and attitude

that

kept my mind/body closely in tune, I had to lay the foundation of good

physical health, proper chemical balance, and Dr. D's recommendations for

dealing

with stress through intense physical exercise.

I laughed off the Tony Robbins informercials for a long time. He comes off

as just so over the top. But something he said caught my ear, and I gave him a

chance. On his commercial, he said something about being over 40, and not

settling. Not accepting that what you are at 40 is what you are, and that it is

ok to want more, and to make that a goal you actively strive for.

There are many other places to study mind/body in a more philosophical or

theoretical manner. You might want to look into the practice of Buddhism,

and/or

Transcendental Meditation, and/or Yoga.

I would also refer you to an excellent book, The Wellness Rx, by Dr.

A. Taub. His philosophy, as best I can remember it, is " Health is determined

primarily by personal responsibility, self-value, and reverance for life. " The

theory of Wellness is very much a mind/body subject. Wellness refers to the

attitudes, goals, and dedication, and how you manage your mind and body on a

daily basis. Referring back to those neural pathways, the more you practice

this, the more your new habits become second nature. At first I had to write

down daily reminders and affirmations, but now, 4 years later, they are very

much

second nature. Those who know me have noticed the remarkable change in the

way I appear to them. I now seem to be very confident and serene, and truly

that is how I usually feel, even under some quite severe duress (severe duress

is

basically my life story!).

I don't know if any of this is right for you. I can only tell you that it

made all the difference for me, between having a good quality of life, and not

having any reason to live.

Best wishes in finding your way.....