Are You The Best Director You Can Be?
I am sure you will agree with me when I say that assumption can be a dangerous thing. In fact it can be a really, really
dangerous thing because, by definition, it is the belief that something is true without having any proof that this is the
case. In other words assumptions are made either because no proof or facts are available or they do not exist. And without
proof, well, anything can be said to be true even if it is not!
Why do I say this? Well, I am specifically thinking about the assumption, since the discovery of the helical structure of
human DNA by scientists Watson and Crick, that our DNA or genes control our lives. Where did this assumption come from? From Sir Watson himself! In fact he stated this to be a dogma or doctrine, the “Central Dogma” as he put it, in a speech he made in 1953. Why was this an assumption? Because neither he, nor anybody else, ever proved - nor provided any scientific evidence - that it is true! They provided no facts to back up their claims.
Now Watson’s false assumption or belief has not only been misleading but has also had a major negative impact on the lives of millions, if not billions of people across the globe. Ever since Watson published his “Central Dogma of Molecular Biology” a large proportion of human beings have become programmed with the belief that their DNA or the genes they inherit from their parents, determines everything about their lives, from the illnesses they get to their personality characteristics and “everything in between”. In fact the “primacy of DNA” has ruled supreme for many decades now, with genes being praised or blamed for much of the experiences of humankind, from academic and athletic achievement to the hopelessness associated with diseases such as certain cancers for example. Even medical doctors hold the false belief that genes control virtually everything about our lives. This is not surprising given the fact that medical schools have been programming future doctors with this belief for many years now.
So what is the truth then? The truth is your genes do not determine your fate in life, or who you become. Your environment does. A person is not a “born loser”, a “born leader” or a “natural-born killer”. At best genes only contribute to our characteristics but do not determine them. Certainly genes do determine certain physical characteristics such as height, eye color and skin color. However other aspects of our lives such as our personality characteristics or psychological makeup, the length of time we will live and our propensity to get sick or remain healthy and well for example are largely determined or controlled not by the genes themselves but by factors or signals outside of them. These signals originate from the environment outside of the genes (or more accurately outside of the cells which contain them) and the phenomenon whereby genes are controlled or directed by factors external to themselves is known as “Epigenetics”. “Epi” means above.
Now these environmental signals that direct the selection and expression of our genes are categorized into internal and external. Internal environmental signals that turn genes on or off are those that arise from within the individual and include their own thoughts, beliefs, biochemistry (hormones, neurotransmitters etc), emotions, intentions, spirituality and electromagnetic energy flow for example. External environmental signals on the other hand include the society in which the individual lives and works, the food they eat, the toxins or pollutants they are exposed to, the habits they engage in and the parenting skills of those entrusted to their care and upbringing amongst others. These environmental signals may impact on our genes second-by-second, minute-by-minute, hour-by-hour, day in and day out. For example, persistent negative thoughts in the form of worrying contually activate those genes which produce the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline. Continual flooding of the body with these stress hormones is extremely destructive to it, and ultimately results in both emotional and physical illness. And the harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke cause damage to certain genes resulting in the formation of damaged cells which grow uncontrollably to form cancerous growths. And cancer of course often kills people.
So what can you do to epigentically control your genes to work for you rather than against you, to provide you with the healthiest body and mind possible, to help you achieve your goals efficiently and effectively and to enhance your performance significantly? In other words what do you need to do to be the best director of your genes, the best director of your life, you can possibly be? Here are some of the things that you should do:
1. Eat correctly – only good, nutritious food
2. Drink lots of water – 8 or more glasses per day
3. Eliminate stress from your life
4. Don’t smoke anything or use illegal substances
5. Minimize, but preferably eliminate, your negative thoughts
6. Identify your destructive beliefs – then eliminate them
7. Meditate, meditate, meditate regularly – preferably every day
8. Get your electromagnetic energy to flow freely
9. Become physically and mentally fit - engage in regular physical and mental exercise
10. Free yourself from negative emotions
11. Have a positive attitude
12. Visualize
Of course some of these, such as eating correctly or not smoking, are things your doctor will advise you to do. But chances are your doctor has never prescribed a new set of positive beliefs for you, or advised you to visualize often or to become a more conscious and spiritual person. Now there are some physicians who already do practice epigenetic medicine. But this discipline is, unfortunately, not widely practiced.....yet. Given the undoubted benefits delivered by epigenetic medicine it is not long, I think, before it becomes as commonplace as conventional, allopathic medicine. So don’t be surprised the next time you visit your doctor he or she prescribes an energy routine or advises you to perform EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) regularly on yourself or to meditate. Adhering to his or her advice will go a long way in helping you become the best director of your genes you could possibly be.
So, here’s to a future of successful control of your genes in the best direction possible for you.
And, as always, wishing you a life of Health, Wellness and Great Performance!
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Why Online Health & Wellness Coaching?
Why Online Health & Wellness Coaching?
Private Healthcare In South Africa Is Unaffordable For Most People -
Even For Many Who Belong To A Medical Aid!
The cost of healthcare has been spiralling out of control for a number of years now and many people and companies are no longer able to afford private healthcare. This is the often the case even for those who are members of a medical aid!
The total health spend in South Africa is about R125 billion per annum with R66 billion of this being spent in the private sector and rest in the public sector. In the USA, a country with a much larger population of course, the cost to business and individuals is equally high. In 2005 for example, the total health spend was $1, 99 trillion or an estimated $6,697 for each US citizen. From a global perspective, in 2004 the total amount spent on health was a whopping US$ 4.1 trillion.
From a cost breakdown perspective in the USA in 2005 individual out-of-pocket expenses was $249 billion for such cost-sharing measures as co-payments and larger deductibles while 70% of medical costs were spent on lifestyle-related chronic diseases. The use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs costs over $1 billion per annum while job stress cost the US $200 -300 billion annually. And interestingly, the problem of "Presenteeism" where employees are at work but unproductive due to stress or other illness cost companies $150 billion per year.
On the other hand, in South Africa absenteeism, where employees are not at work and thus also unproductive, costs the economy about R12 billion annually. Presenteeism is of course also a problem in South Africa, with ill and stressed out workers performing sub-optimally and costing their companies a fortune in terms of time and financial resources.
Given the high cost of healthcare it thus makes sense for companies and individuals to do whatever is necessary to reduce their risk of developing, or to decrease the incidence of, chronic health problems, specifically by focusing on changing the behaviours which cause such chronic problems.
It is also not surprising then that, given these soaring healthcare costs, there has been an ongoing battle between the funders of healthcare (medical aids), the providers of health care (doctors, dentists etc) and patients (members of medical aids) for some time now.
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The Implications of Revolutionary Brain Research Discoveries For Health, Wellness and Performance
Today's revolutionary advances in neuroscience will rival the discoveries of Copernicus, Galileo and Darwin.
Paul Churchland
There's a revolution going on. The current era in neuroscience is comparable to the time when Louis Pasteur first discovered that germs cause disease. - Candice Pert
In the past decade or two brain scientists have made a number of truly amazing and far-reaching discoveries about the workings of the human brain and mind. Many of these discoveries have turned long-held beliefs about them on their head so to speak, revealing characteristics which were not known about previously and uncovering abilities which were once not thought possible. And, significantly, the implications of these findings with respect to individual and corporate health, wellness and performance are equally profound and far-reaching.
What has made many of these remarkable findings possible? Not surprisingly, it has been the equally remarkable advances in brain imaging technology which have enabled scientists to view the structure and function of our brain in ways only dreamed of before - or perhaps seen only in sci-fi movies or read about in such books. Modern brain imaging techniques such as CAT (computerized axial tomography) and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans now provide extremely detailed information about normal and abnormal brain structures and have made the diagnosis of conditions such as strokes and brain tumors relatively easy compared to the previous era. But even more amazing advances in brain imaging technology has also made it possible to see the brain in action i.e. to analyze the functioning of the brain "as these functions are taking place" or in "real time" as it were.
Brain processes such as thinking, generation of emotions, facilitation of action or movement and making of decisions for example can now actually be seen as they happen thanks to functional imaging machines such as the fMRI (functional MRI), PET (positron emission tomography) and SPECT (single positron emission computed tomography) scanners. In fact brain imaging technologies and the discoveries emanating therefrom have already greatly enhanced (and will no doubt continue to enhance) our understanding of the human brain and mind. It is therefore not surprising to see the term "revolutionary" frequently used by neuroscientists and others familiar with the field of brain science when talking about these advances and their implications. Certainly this new comprehension of the human brain and mind is already having a significant impact, in many instances, on how people think about themselves and others and how they interact with each other.
For example we now live in a world where assessments of our very thinking and behavioral characteristics are commonplace and even compulsory in many instances, where neurotechnology is an inherent part of marketing and advertising campaigns assisting marketers to target their markets more effectively and so forth. But perhaps a more promising and positive consequence that this greatly renewed understanding of the human brain and mind will have (and indeed has already started to have) is that of the maximization of our potential as human beings, including a significant enhancement in our health, wellness and performance levels. These revolutionary brain research findings can empower us all significantly - but only if we understand them fully and use them correctly.
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