Category Archives: General

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Daily Gratitude

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Daily Gratitude: You hear people say “just be happy” and you want to smack them. You know what, though, they are right. We can choose to be happy or unhappy. It’s how we judge things that contributes to that choice. If things look horrible (what is that determination based on? Usually it’s based on our past experience), we are much more likely to be unhappy….and to blame it on those “horrible” things. Someone else may come along and based on their past experience they may think that something is lovely and therefore they now feel happy – because of those lovely things. How can we change? First of all by recognizing that our judgments are, indeed, based on our past experiences and also recognizing that sometimes our recollections are biased. Secondly we can choose NOT to put much stock in the past, telling our brain that even though it may have felt unsafe in the past, you have changed, things have changed and you’re no longer as helpless as you may have been when “that lying” happened. This is not easy and it has to be practiced but you can feel safe again. Then we can ask ourselves whether we want to be happy or unhappy. That question may shock you for a minute because you’re so used to that choice being made for you (by your brain) but once you realize that it’s you that makes the choice, the more power you feel. If you tell yourself “I can choose to be happy right now!” and then add “I am completely safe”, the freedom you feel (especially the first time) will he overwhelming. Once again I recommend you start with something simple. Print out the questions and hang them around the house so you cd. Look st them frequently each day and see how your life and your happiness level change.

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Daily Gratitude

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Daily Gratitude: This quote is exactly why I am so “into” IFS and neuroplastic theory (mind body medicine). The tools we need to “fix” ourselves are within our reach. We can make changes in our minds – our thoughts and attitudes. Those changes will affect our health and can change it – for good or for bad (if we live with negativity and stress).

We can’t just go to a doctor and expect them to know all about you and be able to give you a magic pill. People complain that that’s all doctors do. But you know what? That’s what patients demand. Sure when they’re feeling ok they’re all about natural methods and why don’t doctors teach all that. But as soon as they start to feel bad, they don’t want it to take a long time to heal. They want it NOW and natural methods don’t work that way. They take time. So now they don’t want to spend that time. I’ve experienced this as a doctor and it’s extremely frustrating. Patients demand results and they demand them in their time line.

I think we all (doctors included) need to incorporate all modalities. We are complex systems and need multiple ways to heal or to prevent illness.

And it all starts within. Your mind is much more powerful than you realize and it’s your responsibility to keep it in shape and continue to go to the gym – the mental gym.

Take this opportunity to start forming those mental muscles. Keep track of your thoughts, monitor them. Watch for progress or even regression. People are so obsessed with weighing themselves and say that they are monitoring their weight. What are you doing to monitor your mental weight?

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Daily Hotline Message

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Message #313

Emmet Fox wrote this in one of his books called Stake Your Claim:
“To trust in God with one part of your mind and harbor fear in the other part, is to be a house divided against itself.”

This is probably one of the most important statements that will help you understand what’s going on in your life. Or better yet, what’s NOT going on in your life.

Have you ever wondered why some people who have talent just seem to go nowhere?

I think it’s because they are living in that house divided. It’s hard to move forward when one side of you (or part if you use IFS language) says you’re no good, don’t bother and another side tries to encourage you to keep going. It’s the internal push pull effect which is often compounded by those self-fulfilling prophecies.

It’s interesting that IFS wasn’t a “thing” when Emmet was writing but much of his work mirrors it. What this quote is describing is at least two parts in people – one (and usually more) that is fearful and another group of parts that believe in themselves inner wisdom and the power of the universe. When they are at odds with each other, it’s what we call polarization. The interesting thing is that both parts (or sets of parts) want the same thing. They want to protect you. It’s just that depending on when they appeared in your life, they developed different protective mechanisms.

Here’s what I recommend:
-Hopefully you’re starting on an inventory or review of this past year (and you can include significant things that have happened at other points in your life. Turning points is a good way to look at them.
List things that have both pushed you onward and upward as well as the things that have held you back.

-After doing this fairly quick list, take more time and delve into why the successful things happened and your interpretations of why the others didn’t happen

-You can create an enthusiasm scale to see how you felt doing each one of the items on your list

-You can also create a fear scale. Maybe some fears weren’t that obvious at the time but now that you’re separated from the emotional response maybe you can see some. In my experience this is the major reason people don’t get what they want or worse yet they’ve stopped to early.
Remember how much I harp on outlining. Use this review to see if that might be what you’ve done

-Can you identify any trends or things you can change? Maybe make 2026 the year you move even further outside your comfort zone

Can also make 2026 a diamond year?