Across the Stage

In a few hours, I will walk across the stage and gather my Master of Arts degree from Tai Sophia Institute. I started the program, now titled Transformative Leadership and Social Change, in January of 2008. Many things have changed, all for the better, since those first days. Could I catalogue them? Probably. Should I? Perhaps.

At a small gathering yesterday afternoon to celebrate and acknowledge my fellow classmates, I was asked if I was glad I attended. The answer is an unequivocable yes. Then I was asked why and what I had learned. While I have lots of answers, I didn't have "an answer" which surprised me. Maybe in the abundance of answers, I couldn't find only one. Or, I hadn't prepared my elevator speech just yet.

I've spent some time today reflecting on the last three years. I want to remember to appreciate and be grateful for what I've learned. And, I want to get clear on what educational pursuit is next. I am a life-long learner so it is only a matter of time before I enjoy the smell of another new text book.

For today, here is what I'm grateful for having learned:

• Sometimes, your biggest complaint is your best teacher. Whether that "complaint" comes in the form of a body ache, a person who is "difficult" to deal with or news you didn't want to hear, no matter.
• The hardest learning we will ever do is to learn about ourselves. It is also the most rewarding.
• It is not so much the what you are in this life; it is the how.
• Doing something, at least one thing, you are completely terrified of is a very important lesson in how to grow (mine was singing in public).
• Often, the best way to be a leader is to ask another question.
• The pathway to a fulfilling and happy life simply comes from the courage to stand up and own it.

Sure, there were many "academic" pursuits in the program as well... history, philsophy, science to name a few. Many of those were the gateway to expanded thinking, seeing things in a way previously considered impossible and learning to greet something new with wonder instead of suspicion.

You may have noticed the above list isn't "one" answer and maybe there shouldn't be an elevator speech for something such as this. And, maybe there can be so it is something we can all remember. I'll boil it down to this...

Inside each of us is a passion. Pursue it relentlessly and, when you find yours, help others to do the same.

Congratulations to the 2011 class of Tai Sophia Institute.

Saturday's Adventure

I spent the day at Tai Sophia Institute for their Live Nourished Conference. We were fortunate enough to have some of the thought leaders in nutrition spend the day sharing their philosophy about food and health. A few powerful quotes from the day:

• Kathie Swift who wrote My Foundation Diet said "You should never eat food that will out-live you." 
• Paul Pitchford, author of Healing with Whole Foods shared, "When you're ready to change your diet, it is easy."
• Sally Fallon Morell from the Weston A. Price foundation shared a quote from Dr. Price, "Life in its fullness is Mother Nature obeyed."
• Charles Eisenstein author The Ascent of Humanity of said, "My body is not my enemy and I cannot rely on an external authority to tell me what to eat." 
• Annemarie Colbin, Founder of the Natural Gourmet Institute, reminded us, "If you change your diet, everything changes."

Food plays a huge role in our health and wellness. Some would say the biggest role. I'll share more teachings and wisdom from these fabulous speakers over the coming days.  The most exciting news...  Tai Sophia Institute is taking the learning and wisdom from today and will create a new graduate degree program in Holistic Nutrition. Stay tuned!

Who Cares?

A blog in the NYTimes today describes the results of a study on acupuncture in treating pain. The study divided the participants into three groups:

• Those that received real acupuncture (traditional Chinese methodology)
• Those that received "fake" acupuncture (needles inserted but not in the right places)
• Those that receive traditional pain management techniques

Both the real and fake acupuncture resulted in reduced reported pain at nearly twice the level of those who received traditional pain management techniques. And, more importantly the real acupuncture patients reported a reduced the need for pain medications. 

The most interesting, though minor, mention was the attitude of the practitioner and it is impacted patient pain reduction. If the practitioner told the patient they had experience and success in reducing pain through the treatment, those patients reported less pain.

As we explore all the kinds of ways we can feel better, how much does it matter if the solution actually, really works? And what does "really, actually" work mean anyway? If you feel better, perhaps that should be the definition of "cure." If acupuncture, either real or fake, makes us feel better isn't that a better alternative to a life of taking medications? To find an acupuncturist trained in traditional Chinese methods, visit Tai Sophia and search for a practitioner in your area. 

The bottom line is there is no one way that works for everyone. Your mission is to explore different ways of living, even things you've never ever thought of doing. Who knows how good life could be if you only gave it a chance? 

Word Power

Last weekend's Wall Street Journal included an interesting article on how language impacts the way we think about things. Cognitive research has shown the words used in distinct cultures influences they way the people in those cultures see the world. In our increasingly global economy, this could have significant impact. If you've have spent anytime visiting other cultures or talking with someone with a different native language perhaps you, too, have examples of "lost in translation."

A friend, colleague and teacher recently published a book called "Medicine Words" and in it discusses the power of the words we use with others and with ourselves. One positive side effect of reading this book is a habit of speaking less. When you start to recognize the power of words, you can become more available to listen to others. This is a good thing.

How often do two different perspectives, a scientific one and one grounded in healing, agree on something? And, how does the power of language apply to a journey toward wellness?  

A large part of your journey to wellness is your ability to believe in yourself. Another part is the willingness to listen to the part of your body that inherently knows what is best for you. Too often we allow other messages to get in the way of us taking care of ourselves. There are millions of those messages out there. If you'd like some samples, turn on the television and listen to the commercials. We also receive messages from the people around us. Remember the article about the size of the people you spend time with is a large determinant of your size? 

Your body knows it feels best when it exercises, eats wholesome, natural foods and does good things in the world each day. If your ears are receiving conflicting messages, either from advertising or the people around you, perhaps you could listen to something else. You could even go a step further when you are around people that send negative messages (conjure up the classic mother-in-law figure who asks if you've gained weight recently). Ignore them or politely and respectfully ask them to stop. 

Our wellness is determined by what we consume. Food and words. Choose wisely. 

Do you hear your body?

Your body is wise. This is a rather simple idea and one too many of us ignore. The concept is your body knows what it needs and when it needs it. I've heard the idea from several of my teachers and it is a good practice to remember. What does it mean, exactly?

We all know when we are sick. You wake up in the morning and your first thought is "Ugh. I don't feel well." Maybe a sore throat, muscle aches and headache. All too often, too many of us ignore these signs from our body. We press on and do whatever important task is on our list. Often times, rest is the best medicine for most of what ails us. And, water (a headache is an early warning sign for dehydration). If your body doesn't feel well we know we should get some rest and drink some water.

Do we? Sadly, not. During the last several decades, we've been trained not to listen to our own bodies and worse yet, we've learned to mask the messages we receive from our bodies with medications. Knee hurts, take some ibuprofen. Headache, take some ibuprofen. The list goes on and on.

Sure, when we aren't feeling well, all we really want is to feel better. And yes, often the fastest way to feel better is to take some pills. The long term consequences of this pattern can lead to a bigger problem. Sometimes small little pains are our bodies simply telling us to slow down and take a break. If we keep ignoring the signs or masking them through chemicals, our body will continue to send us signals until one of them finally puts us down for the count. Most of us, at one time or another, have been so sick we cannot move and have no choice but to stay in bed. Why would we torture our bodies so much and leave them with little choice than to escalate the problem until we have to listen?

My advice? Take a few moments and listen to your body. Go ahead, do it right now. I'll wait here...

Very good! Now what did your body say? Need some more sleep tonight? Maybe a little stretching to loosen tight muscles? Are you thirsty? Maybe calling an old friend to catch up is just what the body wants.

Each and every sensation your body sends your way is a message. I think it is time we cherish the one and only body we have to take us through this life. Why wouldn't you listen? After all, the body only has so many ways to say ouch.

Gratitude to my teachers. To read more about them, see the links below:

Bob Duggan, Tai Sophia Institute

Joshua Rosenthal, Institute for Integrative Nutrition

Dr. Mark Hyman, The Ultra Wellness Center. Dr. Hyman is credited for "the body only has so many ways to say ouch."

Display your Wares

I spent some time today at the Herbal Medicine show at Tai Sophia Institute (the 'Tute, as affectionately called by students). By way of background, the 'Tute is the oldest school of acupuncture in the nation and the only school where you can earn a Master of Science in Herbal Medicine. The Herbal Medicine Show gives the 2nd year students an opportunity to display their creativity and products resulting from their two years of study. And... wow.

The creativity and passion in the room was palpable. The variety of products and wares was amazing. Herbal teas, cookies, lotions, snacks, breads, dips, oils... the list goes on and on. There were at least 50 marketable businesses/products in the room of twelve students and their presentations. All done using the gifts of nature in ways that honor the earth and heal the body and mind.

If you are seeking a new possibility for your life, come and visit the 'Tute. I promise you'll be welcomed as if you are finally arriving home. And, if you decide to become a student, an entire new world of wellness will unfurl in front of you. Taking some leaps makes all of the rest of the steps so very clear.