Category Archives: Belief Systems
Sage Advice on Why Doing Nothing is Sometimes the Best Option
As we head into the final days of summer, many of us are rushing to do and see as much as possible. But how about taking a few days to do nothing? The original Staycation…
Here are some great reasons/tips from some of the best thinkers and medical leaders of the day:
Mark Hyman, MD
Over my life I have come in and out of practicing stillness, but whenever I return to it, it feels like home. There are a thousand ways to meditate — traditional mindfulness meditation is the simplest and most accessible, but any form can work: yoga, nature, dance, breathing, and prayer.
The point of mediation, of doing nothing, is not an end in itself but a way to calm the mind, to see the true nature of things, and reduce the impact of suffering while increasing love, kindness, wisdom, fearlessness, and sympathy.
From that stillness life becomes richer, your actions more clear, your words more direct and powerful, and your capacity to be fully engaged in life enhanced. It is not a retreat from life, but a way to go fully into it and cultivate your own power and happiness.
Daneille OfriI, MD
Every time I prescribe a medication — or order an invasive test, or refer a patient to a surgeon — it always feels like I’m placing a stone on a balance scale. Intellectually, my goal is to place the stone on the side of the scale that benefits my patient. But in my heart, I fear that it could end up on the other side, the side that harms, and the weight and permanence of the stone give me pause.
Many make the argument that deciding not to act is as momentous as deciding to act. Except that it never feels that way. My hesitation induces guilt; it makes me ask myself if I am harming my patients by not acting as fast or aggressively as some of my colleagues would.
A Journey from Darkness – How I am Doing Today
For the most part, since I last checked in, my life has changed 360 degrees. For the most part, although some of the experiences were quite traumatizing, life is good.
Many of you wrote in and asked if I got fired from my job in NYC. The answer is yes. However, I had already accepted a contract in the UK, so despite the news still stinging, it was for the best.
Improving my overall health both physically and mentally is a constant struggle. But, I have realized over the course of this journey that the benefits outweigh the negatives, especially as a woman entering her mid-thirties. Our actions to ourselves and others have far more reaching consequences than when we were foolish and young and often forgiven. (This goes double for our bodies.)
I do not have to take any medications, and the constant threat of this, keeps my diet in check. Living in a new culture is challenging, but at the same time, gives more choice that I had not thought of when I lived in America. I am often in restaurants with new foods and veggies I have never heard of. I never feel deprived. I am in control.Continue reading