You ever wonder what makes watching movies a very big part of our lives? Why do we constantly wait for the sequel of a favorite movie or even that promised summer blockbuster that is sure to pack the theaters when it does come around? There is a fundamental truth in our connection with movies. Let's digress a little on this.
Movies offer an alternate reality for us, a form of escapism where we simply immerse ourselves in, carried by the plot, into that world portrayed on the screen. A moment of respite from a harsh, often too unforgiving world , is afforded to us. If you ask anybody who goes to the movies why they continually do so they will simply say its because movies offer a sense of adventure, a brief connection to something larger than their ordinary lives, a way to dream.
Good movies are good storytelling. It really doesn't matter what your preferences are in terms of genre or even actors, for that matter. It all boils down to how long can you be taken for the ride towards a make-believe world and feel as though you were indeed a part of it, even for just a brief period in time. Some movies have a special connection to some people in that they can relate to them. Perhaps a big part of what has happened in their lives or even an experience they had are portrayed on screen.
Yes we can argue that movies offer a form of escapism, a form of entertainment, or even a form of relaxation. What we don't often realize, however, is the "Why". It all comes down to this simple premise- we always dream to be more. Think about that little statement for a minute," We always dream to be more". A good playwright can create a story so real, so exhilarating, so uplifting, or even so silly, it really doesn't matter. As long as you can relate to it, the movie is successful. You see, movies portray a reflection. They portray our inherent desires, aspirations, and even fears.
To step back and have your dreams relived in front of you and see how a struggle between two opposing forces culminate to self realization and finally, victory and self discovery of a higher, more enlightened state is perhaps the reason and only reason why we come to the movies. A reflection indeed. But what does this tell us about ourselves? We want a life that is anything but ordinary but we want to be in control. We want adventure, we want to take risks that are potentially dangerous but the rewards would be even more fulfilling. We want to be always victorious in a struggle. We want all these things but we fail to realize the one truth behind all this--your life is so much more than any movie can portray. Your dreams are so much more than any struggle.
The greatest story never told isn't that of your ideal movie. It is that of your own life. If you want to tell your life story and make it anything but ordinary then make changes in your life that will do justice to your idealism. Small changes, small increments, small acts, and an open mind goes a long way. Remember that if your life was a movie you will only get to see it played once so its up to you to make your daily living worth remembering. So, as I have done on my older posts, some guidelines.
The First thing you need to do is increase your sense of awareness. You do this by slowing your life down a bit. Listening more and being more attentive offers you a wider perspective of things rather than just simply living through them. By being more aware you get a better sense of what areas of your life needs work. Is it the way you relate to people, a connection problem, perhaps, or is it a confidence problem? Anything that may have eluded you before will be brought forth to the light for scrutiny.
The Second thing you need to do is you have to ask yourself if you are willing to commit. You need to change and this requires a commitment on your part. It is often hard to commit to life changes if we are having a harder time on Acceptance. Accept that there are some things you need to change about yourself and committing is as easy as giving in.
The Third and perhaps the most overlooked aspect towards making changes in our lives is that we often relate to change as a struggle. We think that it is better to sit and do nothing than doing something and end up getting hurt in the process. We confine ourselves into walls we wrongfully label as our comfort zones. Change is not the struggle, our fear to change is THE struggle. Our fears hold us back and cripple us to be more. How many times have you wished that you can do something about your own life and make it better for yourself and the ones you love and yet are unable to move. There you are waiting for a sign, any sign that its ok to forge ahead and at least try.
The Fourth and perhaps most important step towards lasting change is learning to overcome your fear. Fear, you see has a duality to it that you are not aware of. It can cripple us by hindering us completely or it can strengthen us and solidify our resolve. Realize one thing, and that is its ok to be afraid. Everyone is afraid. Everyone is a yella-bellied chicken at one point in their lives. See fear in a different light. Let it make you more cautious, use it as tool to make you do calculated risks in your decision making, but never let it stop you from becoming more.
The Fifth and last step is you have to learn to be happier. A lot of people will tell you that they are content with their life and that is ok. Realize, however, that contentment and happiness, although the same in some aspects are two different ballparks altogether. True happiness doesn't come with being content alone. It also comes with having Faith. Faith in a greater power than yourself, faith in what you are capable of achieving and reaching, faith in the people you love, and faith in Life.
So you see, The Greatest Story Never Told is you going through the "Five Steps to a Greater You", outlined by yours truly above. Oh, and if you want a quick recap of all that, well, here it is:
1. Increase your Awareness Level
2. Commitment and Acceptance
3. Realizing your Fears
4. Dealing with your Fears
5. Seek Happiness
So there you have it. Go and watch a good movie, sit back and relax, get a bucket of popcorn (hold the butter, of course), then go out and think about what I just said. Once again, thanks for dropping by. Will see you again on m next post. JowelMD signing off but not signing out.
Friday, May 8, 2015
Monday, May 4, 2015
The 10 Things you need to know about your Health and Health Care.
As we age our bodies succumb to many types of illnesses and ailments, most of which, believe it or not, goes hand in hand with getting old. If you really take a step back and look at the bigger picture, the reason why Healthcare is always rising in cost is because of two reasons; the world's population density is increasing exponentially every year and more and more people succumb to lifestyle diseases. If you ever go to a rain forest and happen to come along an indigenous tribe living there you will realize that most of these people rarely or ever saw a syringe at all. The simple reason of they being secluded from the rest of the world insured that they are with better health despite their crude and often inhabitable living conditions, at least to western standards.
But what am I saying here? Well, in a nutshell, we live in a society where we have lost harmony with mother Earth, with nature. We have forgotten how it felt like to catch and grow our own meals eliminating the need for processed and artificially flavored foods. Furthermore, these people have no notion what exercise is because the daily toils necessary for them to undertake for survival are much more rigorous than any exercise regiment you can formulate. This, perhaps, is the basic premise for the Paleo Diet, as you would imagine, when we regress back to a paleolithic hunter-gatherer mode of self sustenance.
So what are your options, you ask. Before we consider solutions or alternatives let us digress further on some basic facts and principles. As mentioned earlier, as we age we are more prone to more ailments and diseases. Some diseases develop over time, especially lifestyle diseases, and some diseases we inherit genetically or are more predisposed to acquiring due to our genetic makeup. With that it is important then to realize that over time our immune system isn't as adept to dealing with ailments such as infections simply because our cells age and succumb to cell death and free radical damage. Cellular turnover rate also decreases as we age simply because our metabolism slows down and the necessary building blocks are becoming fewer and farther in between.
The Ten things you need to know about your health NOW are the following
1. Smoking and drinking alcohol makes you age faster. Not only does smoking predisposes to Lung Cancer and increases the risk of other co-morbid conditions like Heart Disease and Colon Cancer but causes free radical damage to the body's cells.
2. Juicing can extend your life if done regularly, at least 3-4 times a week, by about 5-7 years. Juicing unlocks the metabolic powerhouses contained in organic food. I highly suggest taking the time to juice more often and read the literature about the benefits of juicing.
3. Avoid processed foods. It used to be the slogan was," Read the label" before you buy anything from the grocery store. Your slogan should be," If it has a label, don't buy it." You see, the processed foods we eat are far from being healthy. Yes, they have nutritive value but along with the nutrition they provide are chemicals and preservatives you would rather do without.
4. Exercise more often. Do not think of exercise as something you would have to make time for. It's all a matter of perspective. Many brisk stints of activity over the period of a day is far more beneficial than, say, scheduling a trip to the gym 3-4 times a week. It is about regularity and more importantly about maintaining it.
5. Sleep more. The more you sleep the more chance you give your body to rejuvenate your cells and release hormones for cellular growth and turnover.
6. Body Cleanse once in a while. Do a fasting stage in the days you expect the least activity. This allows your body to rid itself of those unwanted toxins and improves immunity.
7. Expect that as you age you will find that your doctor will discover something down the road and next thing you know you have prescriptions to pick up at your local pharmacy every month. Don't be afraid to ask your doctor about your Disease. Remember, the more you know about your ailment the better prepared you are and you will have an adept understanding in terms of symptomatology and disease progression. This is especially important for lifestyle diseases such as Heart Disease, Hypertension, Diabetes, and Hypercholesterolemia.
8. Don't be afraid to seek new alternatives of treatment. Alternative Medicine is no longer "alternative" but an important and often overlooked treatment modality. Read about new trends in Holistic and Alternative Medicine. I'll give you an example- years ago, it was discovered that Bittermelons (Ampalaya) can cure Diabetes.
9. Seek a calmer and truer path in life. Avoid things that will stress you and cause you anxiety and grief. Always seek the path of least resistance and always keep an open mind, a loving heart, and do the things that give you the most enjoyment. I keep telling my patients that the one key Medicine that almost everyone overlooks is HAPPINESS. Being calmer, more relaxed, joyous, and stress free makes your body more alkali therefore lessening free radical damage and, in turn, adding some more years to your life.
10. Lastly, do not over supplement. Don't get caught up with the latest fad out there. When weight loss is concerned do not buy the latest "Lose 30 pounds in 30 days" wonder pill because IT DOES NOT WORK. Forcing your body to lose that much weight over that period of time is not only dangerous but will cause you to gain back 2 pounds for every pound you lost. Lose weight naturally. It takes a lot of Self-control, Dedication, Hard Work, and most importantly, Time.
I would like to apologize from my long absence from my blog. I always considered writing for whoever may read this a privilege. It was always my goal to share and be informative and lend a helping hand in matters of life, love, and prosperity. I have had this blog for several years now and I would like to keep it active again. I love to write because It helps me relax. I know I really don't have a following but if you are reading this, thank you for taking the time. My other posts are just as helpful, if not more so. I will do my best to write again soon. JowelMD signing off but not signing out. Take Care. God Bless.
But what am I saying here? Well, in a nutshell, we live in a society where we have lost harmony with mother Earth, with nature. We have forgotten how it felt like to catch and grow our own meals eliminating the need for processed and artificially flavored foods. Furthermore, these people have no notion what exercise is because the daily toils necessary for them to undertake for survival are much more rigorous than any exercise regiment you can formulate. This, perhaps, is the basic premise for the Paleo Diet, as you would imagine, when we regress back to a paleolithic hunter-gatherer mode of self sustenance.
So what are your options, you ask. Before we consider solutions or alternatives let us digress further on some basic facts and principles. As mentioned earlier, as we age we are more prone to more ailments and diseases. Some diseases develop over time, especially lifestyle diseases, and some diseases we inherit genetically or are more predisposed to acquiring due to our genetic makeup. With that it is important then to realize that over time our immune system isn't as adept to dealing with ailments such as infections simply because our cells age and succumb to cell death and free radical damage. Cellular turnover rate also decreases as we age simply because our metabolism slows down and the necessary building blocks are becoming fewer and farther in between.
The Ten things you need to know about your health NOW are the following
1. Smoking and drinking alcohol makes you age faster. Not only does smoking predisposes to Lung Cancer and increases the risk of other co-morbid conditions like Heart Disease and Colon Cancer but causes free radical damage to the body's cells.
2. Juicing can extend your life if done regularly, at least 3-4 times a week, by about 5-7 years. Juicing unlocks the metabolic powerhouses contained in organic food. I highly suggest taking the time to juice more often and read the literature about the benefits of juicing.
3. Avoid processed foods. It used to be the slogan was," Read the label" before you buy anything from the grocery store. Your slogan should be," If it has a label, don't buy it." You see, the processed foods we eat are far from being healthy. Yes, they have nutritive value but along with the nutrition they provide are chemicals and preservatives you would rather do without.
4. Exercise more often. Do not think of exercise as something you would have to make time for. It's all a matter of perspective. Many brisk stints of activity over the period of a day is far more beneficial than, say, scheduling a trip to the gym 3-4 times a week. It is about regularity and more importantly about maintaining it.
5. Sleep more. The more you sleep the more chance you give your body to rejuvenate your cells and release hormones for cellular growth and turnover.
6. Body Cleanse once in a while. Do a fasting stage in the days you expect the least activity. This allows your body to rid itself of those unwanted toxins and improves immunity.
7. Expect that as you age you will find that your doctor will discover something down the road and next thing you know you have prescriptions to pick up at your local pharmacy every month. Don't be afraid to ask your doctor about your Disease. Remember, the more you know about your ailment the better prepared you are and you will have an adept understanding in terms of symptomatology and disease progression. This is especially important for lifestyle diseases such as Heart Disease, Hypertension, Diabetes, and Hypercholesterolemia.
8. Don't be afraid to seek new alternatives of treatment. Alternative Medicine is no longer "alternative" but an important and often overlooked treatment modality. Read about new trends in Holistic and Alternative Medicine. I'll give you an example- years ago, it was discovered that Bittermelons (Ampalaya) can cure Diabetes.
9. Seek a calmer and truer path in life. Avoid things that will stress you and cause you anxiety and grief. Always seek the path of least resistance and always keep an open mind, a loving heart, and do the things that give you the most enjoyment. I keep telling my patients that the one key Medicine that almost everyone overlooks is HAPPINESS. Being calmer, more relaxed, joyous, and stress free makes your body more alkali therefore lessening free radical damage and, in turn, adding some more years to your life.
10. Lastly, do not over supplement. Don't get caught up with the latest fad out there. When weight loss is concerned do not buy the latest "Lose 30 pounds in 30 days" wonder pill because IT DOES NOT WORK. Forcing your body to lose that much weight over that period of time is not only dangerous but will cause you to gain back 2 pounds for every pound you lost. Lose weight naturally. It takes a lot of Self-control, Dedication, Hard Work, and most importantly, Time.
I would like to apologize from my long absence from my blog. I always considered writing for whoever may read this a privilege. It was always my goal to share and be informative and lend a helping hand in matters of life, love, and prosperity. I have had this blog for several years now and I would like to keep it active again. I love to write because It helps me relax. I know I really don't have a following but if you are reading this, thank you for taking the time. My other posts are just as helpful, if not more so. I will do my best to write again soon. JowelMD signing off but not signing out. Take Care. God Bless.
Saturday, May 2, 2015
The Pacquiao- Mayweather fight; why even bother.
In the world of sports, there are perhaps only few which cause so much excitement and hype and the world of boxing certainly tops that list. If you go beyond the monetary gains, both for the fighters and gambling fans alike, if you distill it down to its purest form, it really all boils down to the David and Goliath thing.
Of course it wouldn't be so exciting if both were antagonists. One must always be the underdog. However, who is trailing behind and aiming for a glorious win isn't always clear cut. Often times it's a matter of perspective and almost always people differ in that arena as well. A fight between two opposing forces must always represent something in order to be worthwhile in its purpose. In the classical sense, its almost always good versus evil, light versus dark, the oppressor against the oppressed, and the greater the odds of winning the better it gets.
Well, let's think about this for a minute. We are willing to spend money to watch a prime event in television which is talked about the world over and over the period of many years culminating finally to that "fight" night under the scrutiny of the whole world to see and enjoy. How is that different from the gladiator matches of roman lore? It's much more similar than you think.
The truth, plain and simple, is that we enjoy struggles. We crave for it. Only when we face enormous adversary do we truly feel alive. Only when we take sides to a cause do we really feel fulfilled. So, with the fight in question, we have to ask ourselves if Mayweather the defender can withstand the endless barrage of Pacquiao the aggressor. Will intense concentration win over sheer speed and heart? So many questions, and so many possible answers, still.
Like everything in life, however...we will just have to wait and see. For my money, I want someone who represents more than the world of boxing, to win the fight. I want the ambassador to all cultures to win, the silent man who is not about the hype, the money, the material things, or even the fame that comes with multiple wins. I want Pacquiao to win. That is why I bother.
Of course it wouldn't be so exciting if both were antagonists. One must always be the underdog. However, who is trailing behind and aiming for a glorious win isn't always clear cut. Often times it's a matter of perspective and almost always people differ in that arena as well. A fight between two opposing forces must always represent something in order to be worthwhile in its purpose. In the classical sense, its almost always good versus evil, light versus dark, the oppressor against the oppressed, and the greater the odds of winning the better it gets.
Well, let's think about this for a minute. We are willing to spend money to watch a prime event in television which is talked about the world over and over the period of many years culminating finally to that "fight" night under the scrutiny of the whole world to see and enjoy. How is that different from the gladiator matches of roman lore? It's much more similar than you think.
The truth, plain and simple, is that we enjoy struggles. We crave for it. Only when we face enormous adversary do we truly feel alive. Only when we take sides to a cause do we really feel fulfilled. So, with the fight in question, we have to ask ourselves if Mayweather the defender can withstand the endless barrage of Pacquiao the aggressor. Will intense concentration win over sheer speed and heart? So many questions, and so many possible answers, still.
Like everything in life, however...we will just have to wait and see. For my money, I want someone who represents more than the world of boxing, to win the fight. I want the ambassador to all cultures to win, the silent man who is not about the hype, the money, the material things, or even the fame that comes with multiple wins. I want Pacquiao to win. That is why I bother.
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