For as long as I can remember I have always encountered a new year with optimism and hope. Even when Y2K or the Mayan 2012 (remember them?) loomed on the horizon and then passed, I continued to believe that any obstacle we faced in a new year could be overcome by either going over, around, or through the problems in front of us. Now at the beginning of 2024, we are faced with new and interesting challenges. But again, it is not my nature to resort to believing that optimism and hope are suddenly impossible. As I, and others far wiser than me have said, “Pain may be inevitable, but suffering is always optional.” With that in mind, I’ve spent the last few days of this year coming up with what I believe are ten ways to embrace more happiness and hope in the coming 365. [Read more…]
Placebos Prove That The Secret To Good Health Just Might Be Our Own Mind
One of the few magazines I read regularly is Prevention. As the years go by I’m finding news about staying healthy is becoming more and more relevant. Anyone else feel the same? During the last two issues, I’ve noticed a couple of articles pointing out how a missed diagnosis is often a problem, and that getting second opinions for serious issues is always a good idea. Bottom line? Medical care should be a partnership—not a passive surrender to outside authority. And if that’s true, then recognizing the power of placebos, the mind/body connection, and our own body’s inherent healing abilities is crucial. If we want to stay healthy and happy for as long as possible, it’s SMART to remember that our mind just might be a key medicine available to us all. [Read more…]