For me, it will be the talk by commentators, athletes, and coaches regarding the importance of gaining a ‘mental edge’ which is often the difference between victory and heartbreaking disappointment.

I think gaining a ‘mental edge’ includes a greater awareness of the mind-body connection, or how thoughts can impact our health and performance. This awareness might start with a prayerful or meditative practice of emphasizing hopeful, calm, confident thoughts while also avoiding fearful, anxious ones. For years, researchers have been attributing better health outcomes to this practice.

Many also believe it includes a spiritual dimension, something I found to be true when I was in high school. At 17, I had been taking a karate class and my instructor invited me to compete in a regional tournament. I remember being worried that I would lose quickly and be embarrassed by my performance. Competing in sports was new to me and my expectations were so low that I didn’t even tell my family about the event.

However, I had been learning about myself from a spiritual perspective and this helped me to alter my self-image into something more than an undersized, novice participant. As I began to acknowledge my spiritual nature, I felt my confidence increase, my worries lessen, and my expectations improve. I reasoned that this was an opportunity to demonstrate what I had learned about my spiritual nature and my relationship with the Divine.

I gained more confidence from the biblical story of David and Goliath and the book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. I realized that being self-conscious was not helping me or representative of my spiritual self. I began to conclude that my worries were ridiculous, especially when I considered the challenges faced by my relatives who had served in actual combat!

As my anxiety gave way, I became more grateful for the invitation and this further motivated me to compete.

When the day arrived for the competition, I found that quiet moments of reflection were incorporated into the matches. When a match was tied, and the next point decided the outcome, participants were directed to their respective corners to face away from each other and kneel in silent contemplation. I used these moments to calm my thoughts and listen for divine guidance.

As the day went on I found my name progressing on the scoreboard. In my final match, despite being kicked completely off the mat, I proved that my mental preparation gave me the advantage. My teammates celebrated when I won the tournament gold medal for my division.

Shortly afterwards, I left for college and my karate training ended. Yet, what I learned about being mentally prepared has stayed with me, especially the need to make it a daily practice. It’s like the maintenance of my pruning shears: when I don’t keep them regularly sharpened, they become less effective.

Experienced athletes have always understood the mental aspect of competition and the importance of overcoming fear and anxiety. Consider U.S. swimmer Dana Vollmer. Despite being diagnosed with a cardiac disorder, she pushed all fear out of her thought and kept swimming (her mother kept a defibrillator always close at hand). Today, there is no trace of the physical problem and she’s coming home with an Olympic gold medal.

I think we all have our ‘Olympic’ moments or opportunities. Whether we’re competing in the Olympics, a once-in-a-lifetime karate tournament, or on our own journey to better health, nurturing the right mental attitude about ourselves is always a good idea.

Nik Walenda - June 15, 2012

Beyond the entertainment value, what I appreciated from the event can be summed up in Wallenda’s own words, [when it comes to fear] “I have to really monitor how much of that I take into my own mind.”

Being mindful of the thoughts we take in isn’t new, but it’s encouraging to hear this view expressed to millions of viewers.  It was natural then for Wallenda to insist on a quiet time before the crossing to collect his thoughts. And not surprising that he could be heard calmly praying aloud and thanking God as he made his way across.

This feat was considered so dangerous that ABC insisted that he be tethered to the tightrope in case he fell. No one had ever before crossed the Niagara Falls Gorge at its widest gap. Wallenda’s mental discipline did not allow fear to control him as he confidently put one foot in front of the other and completed the task in 25 minutes. It was inspiring to watch!

Afterwards, he cautioned ABC viewers on the fear that is sometimes promoted in the media. He said, “It [tightrope-walking] is dangerous, but the more you feed that stuff into your mind, the scarier it gets…playing up how dangerous [it is], it becomes debilitating to me.”

His comments made me think of the health fears that bombard us during television commercials. Researchers have found that anxiety, fears and negative expectancies have indeed proven to be debilitating and unhealthy.

Although not mentioned in the broadcast, Charles Blondin (1824-1897) has long been known as the first daredevil to walk on a tightrope across the Niagara Falls Gorge, although he was never allowed to cross above the falls as Wallenda did.

Blondin was so fearless he once crossed the tightrope on stilts and another time walked to the midspan, cooked and ate an omelet!  His feats seem inexplicable.  A contemporary of Blondin’s, Mary Baker Eddy, author of Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures, explained his abilities in this way:

Charles Blondin

“Had Blondin believed it impossible to walk the rope over Niagara’s abyss of waters, he could never have done it. His belief that he could do it gave his thought-forces, called muscles, their flexibility and power which the unscientific might attribute to a lubricating oil. His fear must have disappeared before his power of putting resolve into action could appear.”

For me, watching my thoughts has always been an important part of caring for my health. I’ve never set foot on a tightrope, but I have overcome fear, including that associated with a painful paralytic condition. When I managed to let go of the fear and found a sense of spiritual peace, I was soon free of the problem. I remember calming my thought with the Bible passage, “God hath not given man the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and of a sound mind.”

Expressing calm, hope, confidence, fearlessness and an expectancy of good were common to Blondin and Wallenda. These qualities of thought are also being acknowledged by many in the health care community as beneficial for fostering good health. On a tightrope or dealing with our own health care, when we begin to master fear and cultivate our thoughts in a helpful direction, it is encouraging to see what’s possible.

This post first appeared on Blogcritics.org

Yet on a recent visit to my local toy store, my reminiscing received a disturbing jolt.

Turning a corner, I found myself confronted with colorful representations of various disease microbes like “Cholera,” “Anthrax,”  and “The Pox”!  Each were huggable-looking stuffed toys with big playful eyes.  They were also tagged with a “Fact” description noting the prevalence and frequency of each ailment.

All I could think was, why? Don’t we hear enough of health problems on television commercials?  Now dreaded diseases are being represented as attractive, lovable toys for children to adore!

What would you think if your little one unwrapped a birthday gift only to exclaim, “I’ve got polio!”  A 2007 Newsweek article addressing the toys noted, “This combination of gag gift and educational toy can be an awkward marketing fit. Toy stores steer clear of STDs, and [the manufacturer] aims bugs like HIV at health-care professionals… “

Are these really the type of “educational” toys to give small children?  I can think of so many more important things to teach children than about cholera or the black death.  And the toy store I visited didn’t get the message about steering “clear of STD’s.”  The stuffed “Herpes” toy was front and center.

I asked the women at the register about the colorful stuffed microbes and she told me they were popular with doctors and nurses.  OK, fair enough, but why are they being marketed in a children’s toy store?

For instance, each tag includes a child safety precaution that notes, “Remove plastic hangtags and ribbons before giving to a child under three years of age.” Does this mean there is an educational motive to get children over three years old to read which stuffed disease microbe they are snuggling up with for the night?  Sounds like some scary science fiction novel, doesn’t it?

It reminds me of the Stockholm Syndrome.  Patty Hearst was said to suffer from this malady during her captivity.  She became so mesmerized by her long-time captors that she grew to embrace them. These toys make me wonder, has our society become so saturated with health fears and concerns that we also feel helpless and are now suffering from the same syndrome that would embrace the inevitability of diseases?

Surrounding children with reminders of disease and potential health problems goes against scientific studies that indicate how important thought is to maintaining good health. Nocebo studies and the science of epigenetics are discovering the importance of our mental environment and the thoughts we embrace.

For me, I would rather surround a 3-year-old with stuffed toys that are tagged: loved, cherished, nurtured, healthy and safe.

Even the Bible notes, “whatsoever things are of good report; … think on these things.”

I’m grateful I grew up with a trusted teddy bear and a calm assurance and understanding that good health was normal and should be expected.

This article first appeared on Blogcritics.  

Large writes how he is striving to adapt to changing nutrition recommendations and doing “whatever it takes to stay healthy.” For instance, Large is considering a weekly plan of meatless Mondays, fish Fridays, tofu Tuesdays, and maybe water-only Wednesdays.

Water-only Wednesdays?

I thought, water-only what? He must be joking, but it’s hard to tell. Before anyone considers a diet that includes regular fasting, perhaps they should consider what the Bible says on nutrition and spiritual, health-promotive thoughts – but more on that in a minute.

Reading the online comments to the Large article, I found that I’m not the only one viewing nutritional reports in the media with a grain of salt. Have you noticed how the reports are often contradictory? Experts have noticed this also, including science writer Gary Taubes, author of Good Calories – Bad Calories, who has questioned the validity of many widely accepted ideas regarding carbs, calories, and what is considered healthy eating.

Another critic of nutritional studies is respected meta-researcher Dr. John Ioannidis, of the Stanford School of Medicine. Ioannidis has spent his career uncovering bias and wrong conclusions in medical research. His findings have shown that studies often sharply conflict with one another and are prone to numerous errors. When asked by The Atlantic ”How should we choose among these dueling, high profile nutritional findings?” Ioannidis suggests a simple approach: ignore them all.

That’s right, he suggests we ignore all the nutritional studies.

It leaves me wondering where we should turn when it comes to finding healthful eating guides. It may not be everyone’s first place to look, but I’ve noticed that relevant perspectives regarding today’s discussions on eating and health can be found in the Bible. Here are a few:

1. Questioning nutritional guides is nothing new. A healthy skepticism regarding nutritional recommendations goes back to the biblical time of Daniel. Over 2,500 years ago, Daniel held to his religious beliefs and proved that he and his friends could refrain from the recommended diet and yet be healthier and better nourished.

2. What you eat is not what is most important. Jesus Christ stated that we should not worry about what we eat. He even advised his followers to eat whatever was served to them. And since he devoted so much time to healing others, I don’t think he was uncaring about their health. Some may think this view to be an irresponsible approach today, but not the French. When it comes to what they eat, the French appear to have followed Jesus’ suggestion. A recent article from WebMD.com explores French eating habits that are less concerned about what to eat than having reasonably sized portions.

3.  More important: What thoughts are you consuming? Jesus also emphasized that it wasn’t what went in someone’s mouth that mattered, but what came out of it. I think this means that what we say represents the thoughts we’ve consumed, ruminated on, and then repeated out loud. With all the mental junk food available today, I believe Jesus was cautioning us regarding our mental diet.

4.  Think grateful thoughts. The Bible notes that our mental diet should include grateful thoughts and seeing the good in life. John Kralik’s A Simple Act of Gratitude: How Learning to Say Thank You Changed My Life highlights the restorative benefits of this way of thinking.

Regardless of what the next nutritional report recommends and before beginning water-only Wednesdays, consider taking a cue from the Bible and focus on spiritual, health-promotive thoughts. These are a form of healthcare we can all afford.

In the April 2012 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine, Author Anne Lamott provides an interesting insight into something that she missed as a child – an atmosphere of love. She writes, “The food and life my parents created would have been delicious and nourishing, if it were not for one tiny problem – they were so unhappy together.” Lamott continues,

“I found the spiritual food for which I longed as a child in the families of my two best friends. One was Catholic, and lived up the block. The Catholics said grace before serving up aggressively modest fare–English muffin pizzas, tuna noodle casserole, fish sticks. The parents seemed to enjoy each other’s company: What a concept. Sometimes they yelled at each other and then later hugged and kissed in the kitchen–oh my God. It had never crossed my mind that peace could be found in full expression–in yelling, and weepy embraces.

I also loved to eat–and be–with a Christian Science family, who did not yell but read the Bible and Mrs. Eddy together. We prayed, eyes closed, breathing deeply. In the silence you could feel and hear your own breath in your nostrils, and that could be both relaxing and scary, like having a car wash in your head. Of course, I did not mention this to my parents–they would have been horrified. For me it was heaven, even though we frequently ate snacks for dinner–popcorn, store-bought pie. This food was so delicious because of the love in that house, the love that had at its core a sweet, strong marriage. They did not yell or kiss as much as the Catholics, but I felt enveloped by the friendly confidence of their faith, and I was sad each time I was remanded to the spiritual anorexia over at my house.”
While my own Christian Science family didn’t eat snacks for dinner when I was growing up, I love the sense of warmth and joy Lamott describes in these two accounts. I also appreciate the emphasis they place on a strong marriage to ensure a loving home life. Studies indicate that living in an atmosphere of love is not only a quality of life issue, but also one that impacts health.

For instance, consider a study by British nutritionist Elsie Widdowson published in The Lancet in 1951. Orphans in two different homes were given the same war rations, yet one group gained considerably more weight than the other. Vogelnest, the home with the healthier children, was run by a loving matron. The other home was run by “a cold and erratic matron…who frequently terrorized and humiliated the children.” Halfway through the study, the loving matron left the Vogelnest orphanage and the other home’s matron took over. Despite receiving extra war rations, the weight of the once thriving children fell sharply.

World-renowned physician Dean Ornish, M.D., writes, “I am not aware of any other factor in medicine that has a greater impact on our survival than the healing power of love and intimacy. Not diet, not smoking, not exercise, not stress, not genetics, not drugs, not surgery.”

In an era of constantly changing dietary recommendations, it’s reassuring to know that some basic truths never change. When it comes to children, letting them know they are deeply loved and cherished are some of the most healthful nutriments parents can provide.

“Bugs,” the two year old boy said as he pointed to an irritated patch of skin on his face. Mary Leitao looked closer, and although she found no visible insects, she was startled to find colored fibers sprouting from her son’s skin. It was a summer evening in 2001 that would change the lives of the Leitao family for years to come.

A medical researcher turned stay-at home mom, Leitao had never seen anything like it and neither had her husband, Edward, an internist at South Allegheny Internal Medicine.  Mary Leitao took her son to be examined by numerous doctors, but none provided a satisfactory explanation. Many suggested that it was a form of psychosis called “delusional infestation” or the conviction of being infected with parasites. Believing instead that she had discovered a new disease, Leitao named the condition Morgellons and in 2004 established a non-profit organization called the Morgellons Research Foundation (MRF).

Through the efforts of the MRF, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) conducted a three-year government study to research Morgellons. The results, released last week, indicated that there was no diseased organisms or parasites present in the 115 case-patients. The protruding fibers were found to be mostly skin fragments or clothing fibers stuck to the skin.  According to the report, the physical ailments were manifestations of “delusional infestation.”

What is hygge?  Well, it has nothing to do with Black Friday or Christmas bargain shopping. It’s not even about gifts, except perhaps the gift of sharing someone’s company.

Danish flag

There is no adequate English translation, and most non-Danes, like myself, have trouble even pronouncing the word!  It is most often translated as cozy or coziness, but it is much more than that. Some say the best way to understand hygge is to look at the definition of its opposite, “uhyggeligt”, which is defined as anything from cheerless and uncomfortable to sinister and alarming.

I once had the good fortune to live in Denmark and study at the university, and I have returned to visit many times since. The Danish family I lived with best explained hygge to me by exclaiming in the moment, “Bill, this is hyggelig (hygge-like)!”  The first time this occurred was at a candlelit dinner at their home on a dark autumn evening. The meal was delicious and the conversation between the four of us warm and engaging.  I began to see that hygge was subtle and somewhat individual, but it was social nirvana to Danes.

Hygge is a sense of peaceful well being and contentment expressed in a state of comfort and warmth often (but not always) in the company of loved ones.  A loving and agreeable person can be described as “hyggelig” and a memorable time with friends might be “hyggeligt”.  Experiencing hygge is common at Danish summer or holiday houses in the country or near the sea, but it can happen anywhere.

At its essence, hygge is a state of thought–one that turns us from the fast pace and complexity of modern society to slow down and celebrate the joy and simplicity of life.

According to a recent report on stress, the Danish pursuit of hygge and peaceful contentment may also be a healthy one.

Denmark had not been my first choice as a place to study abroad.  The Danish language is difficult, the landscape unremarkable and the weather is often cold and gray.  My preference had been to study in Italy. Yet, my year studying in Copenhagen was one of the best of my life and it changed me forever.  I found it no surprise that Forbes.com reported the Danish people as the happiest on earth.  The love and pursuit of hygge may be a significant reason.

From my experience, hygge has always had a spiritual quality to it–one that glimpses the divine goodness embracing each of us. To me, it’s somewhat like the biblical passage, ”Godliness with contentment is great gain.”

Danes may call it hygge, but we’re all capable of seeing the good in our lives and experiencing the same intimate peace and warmth. This year, enjoy a warm fire or some holiday candles and have a very “hyggelig” holiday season!

This article first appeared on Blogcritics.com

A recent article in the Portland(Maine) Press Herald, “Reflections: You can improve your health by expressing gratitude, study says,”

“‘Gratitude helps people improve their health,’ according to this month’s Harvard Mental Health Letter, published by the Harvard Medical School. The publication cites a landmark study, which showed that those who expressed gratitude had fewer health complaints.”

Physicians at universities throughout the country are uncovering the health benefits of having a grateful outlook on life. Seattlepi.com recently published an insightful blog post titled, “The Key to Wellness? It’s Gratitude, One Doctor Says.”  The article notes, “cultivating a spirit of gratitude is the foundational secret to health.”

In my experience, I’ve also found it’s never too late to be thankful.

Years ago, I had become good friends with an employer but we parted on unfortunate terms.  Ten or more years later, I realized much of the blame was my own and I felt troubled by this admission.  I looked up my past employer and sent him a card expressing my regret and gratitude for the job I had once enjoyed with him. I soon received a response suggesting that we get together. It was a meeting I’ll never forget.  We reminisced and laughed about the good times and parted with our relationship fully restored.

I think one of the most inspiring accounts of giving thanks is John Kralik’s book, “365 Thank Yous.”  At a low point in his life, Kralik began sending a thank you card every day for an entire year.  After he had sent his first cards, his life began to turn around.  As he began to take note of all that he had to be thankful for, more came his way.  His financial situation improved, he lost 40 pounds, gained true friends and a sense of inner peace.

I was reminded of his book by a card I received just a few days ago. On his final day with my office, my assistant handed me a thank you card expressing his gratitude for the four years of working together.  The graciousness of the card was a heartfelt reminder of how giving thanks can raise events to a higher, more meaningful level–a healthful perspective of celebrating the good in life.

This article first appeared on Blogcritics.org

Wim Hof

I’m sure many who have seen him on YouTube ask, how does he do it?  Others may be asking why.

For me, Hof’s ability to break through conventional human limitations brings up a host of questions.  Is the body more than a self-acting, material mechanism?  Is there a way that one’s thoughts can bring about health without physical intervention?  Can anyone do this?

Hof’s feats have been studied at the Feinstein Institute in New York, the Thermo Physiological Institute in Oulu, Finland and Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre in the Netherlands.

At the TED conference held last year in Amsterdam, Wim Hof was a featured guest.  Professor Maria Hopman of the Nijmegen Medical Centre explained how she had studied Hof’s abilities and provided three possible explanations:

1. He’s conditioned his body to accept extremely cold conditions.

2. He’s genetically advantaged.

3. His thoughts allow him to control his body.

Recently, Hof agreed to participate in tests that ultimately called into question that his feats may be due only to physical conditioning. Scientists at the University Medical Centre in Nijmegen conducted various tests on Hof for a year, culminating in what they described as the most difficult test on March 31, 2011. That day, they tested Hof’s mental ability to influence his immune system. Professor of experimental intensive care medicine Dr. Peter Pickkers and his team injected Hof with Endotoxin to see if his thoughts would be able to effectively combat the bacteria.  The injection was expected to cause Hof to experience flu-like symptoms.

They were astonished when he failed to get sick.

ScienceDaily.com reported the experiment in its April 22, 2011 article, “Research On ‘Iceman’ Wim Hof Suggests It May Be Possible to Influence Autonomic Nervous System and Immune Response.”

The investigators concluded that Hof was remarkable, but that the experiment could not serve as scientific evidence until the same results could be obtained with larger groups demonstrating the same results.

Jin Songhao and Chen Kecai would likely disagree that Hof’s abilities are unique to him and the result of a genetic advantage.  Earlier this year, both men surpassed Hof’s previous ice bath record of 115 minutes.  Songhao now holds the world record at an even two hours.

Hof doesn’t consider himself to be an anomaly. In fact, he gives workshops teaching others his meditation practice and believes everyone is capable of what he has demonstrated.

At the TED conference previously mentioned, moderator Jon Rosenfeld asked Hof what motivated him. He responded, “My mission is to show that everybody, by their mind, can reach more depth within themselves, and that we all have healing power, an inner doctor. Go back to that inner power and heal yourself.”  Hof also noted that he believed that one’s thoughts can prevent disease.

I don’t know too much about Hof’s method of meditation, but I appreciate what he has accomplished.  I also agree with him that we are all capable of promoting better health through improving our mentality.  In fact, according to an astonishing report last summer, nearly half of all American adults are also concluding that praying about their health is worthwhile.

Becoming the Iceman

In my own experience, I’ve found that keeping my thoughts aligned with what I know about God has brought an end to chronic migraine headaches, physical injuries and other forms of illness.  These positive outcomes didn’t come about through positive thinking or mentally attempting to will a change of health conditions. Instead, they were the result of lifting my consciousness to recognize and express more of my spiritual identity.

Hof’s book titled, Becoming the Iceman is now available online.

Article was first published on Blogcritics.org.