Surrender

At year end I’m always caught up in a stream of emotions ranging from sadness to excitement. It’s as though I become aware of emotions that are always there but which reach a peak with the changing of the calendar year. Many years ago excitement was the main emotion. Changes typically included new additions to the family, new jobs and new homes. The turmoil was one of abundance like the exuberance of springtime. Now in midlife the family additions continue but through the next generation. My parent’s generation thins out and the winters feel colder. This year my father died which emphasised this passing of time and the inevitability of change. Also many years ago an uncle passed away at a young age from an aggressive cancer. I always thought him a giant of a man and looked up to him for everything he did. He’d been a teacher and a dedicated learner. He approached everything with curiosity and excitement so that his every day was an adventure in which he could share his broader understanding. Close to the end I visited him in hospital and was deeply shocked at how this disease had wracked his body. He was now very weak but, seeing my distress, he took my hand and told me “It’s all part of life”. This was the hardest lesson he ever gave me. He was a teacher to the end. Up to that point my earth had been flat. I was only aware of my personal horizons and the challenges of daily life. With my uncle’s death that changed. I was now awakened to life’s boundaries, to the slow and inevitable act of ageing and the importance of living each day to the full. To a young man that meant doing more, maximising achievements and growing materially. Action and acquisition was the order of the day, but it wouldn’t last. Later, the changes in my own life brought similarly profound shifts of perspective. Increasingly I can appreciate that we are human beings rather than human doings and that life’s treasures are constantly there to be enjoyed. We just need to take the time to tune in. It’s not that if I could turn back the clock I would do things differently. Equipped as I was with my childhood beliefs and expectations I would surely be as impulsive again in every aspect of living. As I see my own children manifest their dreams I feel only love and joy for them. In time they will have their own learning opportunities and their world will turn as did mine. For now we rejoice with them in their experiences. In their new skins they are storing new wines. Everything is as it should be. Today my interests are in optimising health so that each day can be appreciated fully. This is a mid-life perspective of course, and not dissimilar to the young man’s acquisition drive. In the end though, health is no more durable than wealth. All must be surrendered. The world is unlikely to stop spinning anytime soon. Dawn and dusk will continue as before. Our real challenge is to see beyond the personal and to live out our lives in service to the bigger picture. We must endeavour to weave our own lines while simultaneously appreciating the overall tapestry. Surrender is acceptance, not defeat.

The Humanity Lattice

In this last year I’ve become critically aware of the oneness of mankind. Although we’re all of the same species, the constant efforts of one interest group to overcome another, wherever it happens, only emphasises division. I believe there is a need for a simple sign, to be adopted by all peoples of the world, to celebrate their belonging and to contribute to a shift in global consciousness. I call this idea ‘The Humanity Lattice’. There are many fabulous examples of Flash Mob crowd choreography which excite massive swathes of people in public places. They are highly entertaining but must be somewhat intimidating for bystanders caught up in the proceedings. The Humanity Lattice may initially feel awkward but, because it’s so simple, it will require no choreography whatever and will be immediately accessible to everyone. Indeed, its very creation is intended be a sign of inclusion. Because it is also a truly international concept my intention is that only two rules apply – 1. That it is open to everyone regardless of colour, creed, age, sex, nationality or any other discriminatory, descriptive or distinguishing factor. 2. That every time it is created the aim should be to make it bigger than the last time. In a very short time the Humanity Lattice could become as universal as the handshake. So what is it? Each person stands with right leg extended forward and the left leg stretched out behind. Extend both arms out from the side so that the body adopts a + shape. The lattice grows as others join arms to the side and touch with feet at front and back - Because there are always outstretched arms and legs there are always points for attachment and the pattern is infinitely open. The Humanity Lattice could start in classrooms, in community groups, in public concourses everywhere, in every park and open space, in stadia across the planet – Twickenham, Croke Park, Shea Stadium, Tiananmen Square, Red Square, The White House colonnade. In fact everywhere that two or more people meet and greet. The symbol can be created and held for three seconds before every major event, meeting or game - anywhere! Let the Humanity Lattice enter the Guinness Book Of Records as the largest man made connection ever made. Let us start 2015 with a wave around the globe uniting every person on the planet in a feeling of shared destiny and oneness. With a new consciousness of our connection we can start to address the really urgent threats to our survival. ©Paul Curran, 4th October 2013

Back to School

Last week I enrolled for yet another course of study, which generated mixed feelings. On the one hand I felt excitement at the thought of pursuing an interest and passion. On the other I feared that I’d over committed myself both in time requirements and financially. Although these appear very genuine concerns, passion won. I know that one day I’ll look back on this decision with satisfaction. By any manner of evaluation I’m a ‘mature student’. Long ago I first entered university as a spotty faced, long haired youth. Back then I did not recognise the experience for the privilege that it is. I saw it more as a rite of passage and an opportunity to taste many forbidden fruits. It’s sometimes said that if you remember Woodstock you weren’t there and likewise most of my memories of Manchester in the 1970s were enthusiastically erased even as they formed. Fortunately my attitudes have changed over the years, though I recognise that my behaviour back then was very ‘normal’ for the insecure youth that I was. Many mistakes were made. There are many events whose recollection discomfort me and though the emotional mind would undo them, rationally they collectively formed the person I am today. Fortunately the clock only advances. Today, as a coach, I am interested in the learning that experiences bring. Today I can rationally accept the primacy of emotion in our evaluation of events. Back then such thoughts would never have entered my head. David Kolb had not yet introduced his theory of adult learning and I oscillated happily, or not so happily, between action and emotion. More than once impetuosity led me into danger. Only the excitement of the moment mattered. There was collateral damage of course but because it was mostly emotional and unseen, to me it didn’t exist. Indeed, as an engineering student, I lived under the illusion that only the strictly rational mattered. Science reigned supreme. Although I would have denied the contribution of emotion to my life, with hindsight it was driving everything. Ego (but more realistically Id) reigned supreme! Fortunately life directions change, but unfortunately the changes are mostly painful at the time. It seems impossible for us to learn life’s hardest lessons without personal involvement. We will continue to bolt the gates after the horses have gone. Thankfully however we eventually accept the need for gates and we do close them. It would be sad indeed if they were left open because we didn’t recognise them or no longer cared. So I’m happy now that the alcohol, chemicals and latex are now distant memories. It’s a shame however that despite the lack of distractions, it’s harder than ever to concentrate. The laughter and excitement of a school playground brings a smile to the face of every parent and even moreso to grandparents. As I embark on my latest studies my feelings are truly intergenerational. I can see myself from multiple vantage points. Several gates are firmly closed, I am safe, I am joyful, I am curious and excited. And though I’m now closer to falling over a zimmerframe than a skipping rope there’s a big smile on my face and I’m happy to be alive. Quiet now please, the bell has sounded!

Restoration

My recent Journey Into Health event emphasised the need to treat health in a holistic manner addressing Mind, Body and Soul. In this way we can live joyous lives appropriate to our age and fill each day with wonder and fascination at the magnificence of creation. I called for a shift in perception such that we would break away from the cultural norm of our Sick / Not Sick existence in which we are stalked by illness that finally overwhelms us, to one of living optimally well every day. As a simple framework for health I liken it to a stable three legged stool. To be optimally healthy we need to Stop Getting Sick, Remove Accumulated Toxins that keep us sick and then to Use Best Building Materials to restore the health we deserve. It’s often useful to think of the Journey Into Health as a restoration project on a dilapidated house. The first requirement is to seal the roof, fix the windows and clear the drains to stop any further damage from the elements. Secondly any damaged floors, walls and ceilings need to be removed to prevent the spread of rot. Finally the house is ready for the craftsmen to move in and work their magic. As owner of the property there has to be a driving force to make you undertake the work and to commit the necessary resources to the task. You also have to engage your imagination to visualise the end result. However similar the exterior of our house appears to those around it, it is in the decoration and furnishings that our unique character is displayed. Do we keep our curtains drawn and the TV on? Or do our curtains and windows open regularly to let in sunlight and fresh air? When they do, do we set about cleaning our house of the accumulated trash of daily life? Until we let the light in we’re generally unaware of how the dust has built up. It’s often necessary for us to see our house as others do for us to get the work done. Isn’t it strange how we’ll often dash around tidying things up before a friend’s visit? Why wouldn’t we choose to keep house properly for ourselves? It is the contents of our living quarters which reflect what’s important to us in this temporal existence. We may all have somewhere to prepare our meals, a washroom and bed but these functional items seldom bring the same smile to our faces as the family photographs, the treasured musical instrument or a favourite book. So I invite you to indulge yourself in some personal restoration ‘Because you’re worth it’. What would you want your home to look like when your best friends visit? How do you want to look and feel each day in your life? What puts the sparkle in your eyes and the friendly smile on your face? Does your physical diet reflect a strong respect for your body? Does your mental dietary intake stimulate your best self and your best interests? Do you marvel at the Glory of God (of your understanding) in the people you meet, in the joy of music, in the abundance of nature and in the stillness of your soul? Before undertaking your restoration, seek the counsel of your ultimate architect to ensure that the design uses everything that you are and displays your talents to best advantage so that you naturally give your best performance in your home, your community and on the larger stage of creation.

Ich Bin Ein Nephron

JFK’s famous speech in Berlin brought reassurance to the population resisting the Soviet threat of the time. He was making it clear that the US intended to oppose any attempt to overrun the city or starve it into submission. Berlin was a front line hotspot during the Cold War and fortunately an open conflict was avoided. The symbolism of the era is as important today. A major power identified with a relatively small community to appreciate its contribution and guarantee its safety. A similar protection is afforded whenever we take the trouble to nurture every cell of the body and protect their right to life. There is physical assistance from appropriate nutrition to parallel the US airlift, and there is an unambiguous message from a conscious mind instructing the subconscious to protect cells and organs from attack and promote healing.

For years I’ve had a ‘Big Picture’ view of the world and tended to subsume the identity of the individual toward the common good. I used to say things like “I’m first a European and then an Irishman”. Or “I’m first a businessman, then an engineer”. While such an approach has merit, it is also dangerous if it requires individuals to go along with an idea against their will.  In such a situation there is an opportunity for dissatisfaction, even enmity, to foment. Sadly this is generally the outcome of our system of polarised politics when an election majority is taken as an excuse to trample the interests of those holding an opposing view. Nations suffer when the contributions of its citizens are denied. Similarly families can suffer if one partner is domineering – even unwittingly. At the level of the individual the same philosophy holds true when the mind is divided against itself or the body’s tissues are subjected to a barrage of toxins masquerading as ‘food’.

Yesterday I was delighted to watch a recording of Satish Kumar’s address at the TEDx Exeter event in which he promoted a call for a 21^st century revolution – ‘Soil, Soul and Society’. Kumar speaks passionately about a truth I have come to appreciate. All of humanity, and the earth in which we live, are one. When we exploit natural resources without consideration of the sustainability of such practice then we are effectively poisoning our planet. When one society attempts to suppress or deny another we foment anger, discontent and risk conflict. If within our individual bodies we tolerate chronic stress or ingest unnatural foods we ravage our health and usher in disease. We are overdue for a change of perspective and as the scales on my eyes fall away I recognise that it’s been here all along.

On discovering that I had a high blood pressure problem I chose to adopt a natural approach to bring it under control. Instead of medicating symptoms I chose to address the cause and my journey to health has been very rewarding. Today I try to look out for the health of every cell in my body appreciating that each has a unique role to play. As a nephron I cannot be a braincell nor part of a mitral valve but my contribution to the health of the body is vital. Similarly every individual on our planet has a unique role to play as part of the oneness of humanity. There cannot be a truly healthy body where one organ claims supremacy over another or grows at another’s expense.

“Ich bin ein Nephron” is my call to recognise the unique role that each individual plays and to take a personal stand for sustainability, -  soil, soul and society.

No Quick Fix

For about a year now I have been living a ‘Leptin Lifestyle’ according to the recommendations made by Clinical Nutritionist, Byron Richards. Prior to that I was already eating the right things and had almost restricted myself to eating the right quantities but I was still eating ‘on demand’ with a snack bowl of nuts and dark chocolate close at hand. At first Richards’ rule of ‘No Snacking’ filed me with dread, but although the first few weeks were difficult, thereafter all cravings disappeared just as he said they would. In a small way I have proven to myself that well established patterns can be broken and I feel encouraged to continue the journey.

Long before reading Richards’ book ‘Mastering Leptin’ I was basically on the right path and seeking answers. I was mentally in a good place for experimentation. Over these past few weeks my mind has been focussed on a holistic approach to optimising health in Mind, Body and Spirit. Now I can almost glibly discuss the importance of Richards’ work and easily forget the many months I spent stumbling in the darkness for direction. So even when the will is strong there are times when we simply cannot move forward because we don’t know what to do. This is a perfect scenario for frustration and abandoning the effort. Fortunately I stayed the course and found the way through. I’m reminded of the Chinese proverb ‘When the student is ready, the teacher will appear’.

In our modern society we have become accustomed to instant gratification. We live in a fast track world where we have come to expect instant solutions. Personal computers have revolutionised communications and keep us constantly in touch with ‘friends’ through social media. To a sixteen year old, six months is a long time. Adolescents and young adults often have no concept of patience or restraint. To them, living in the moment is more likely to mean binge drinking, substance abuse and experimental sex rather than peaceful self awareness and mindful relaxation. Clearly the student is not ready for a teacher.

While a certain waywardness has always been a part of growing up, the stakes seem much higher in the 21^st century. With increasing frequency by the time the student is ready she needs a chaplain rather than a teacher. I guess my underlying feeling in writing this piece is one of frustration. When you’ve ‘found the answer’ you want to share it and since everyone can apply some aspect of it, ‘all should listen’. Until 2009 I was blissfully unaware of the dangers of my habits. I had it all worked out and someone like my current self would have sounded eccentric, even irritating. What I need to learn is acceptance that the only person I can change is myself. My role is to model healthy living and to be ever present to anyone seeking guidance.

The Leptin Lifestyle promises a recovery to health for those able to stay the course. When I was ready for it I found it, though even then the transition was far from quick. Why then does it feel so urgent that I convert the world and his wife? There is no quick fix to change one’s lifestyle. Neither is there a quick fix for my missionary zeal. However, I trust that in time I will achieve true serenity and be content with my role as a silent lighthouse.

The Atherosclerotic Mind

It is said that the process of atherosclerosis begins in early life, at a rate dependent on lifestyle and sadly we have too many examples of chronic illness afflicting people scarcely out of adolescence. The atherosclerotic process is one of arterial repair following micro abrasion of the endothelium, the lining of the arteries. To prevent arterial scar tissue breaking off and floating down to the arterioles where it can cause blockage, the endothelium grows over any scar tissue so that the artery gradually narrows in a process called stenosis. When coronary arteries constrict, blood flow is inhibited and the individual can experience angina, heart pain, especially in response to exercise when greater blood flow is required.

It is said that the ‘The Mind is like a parachute; it works best when it is open’. This jibe can be levelled at just about anyone since we are all encultured through our upbringing and experiences. Indeed it’s very hard to remain open minded since we actually depend on stereotyping and patterned behaviour as a means of providing mental short cuts to help us cope with life. For most of the time such patterned thinking is harmless and, at a societal level, it is much prized by marketers wanting to target groups with particular interests. It seems to me that stenosis of the mind occurs in a similar way to the atherosclerotic process. A sensitive individual, perhaps one with low self esteem, may struggle to deal with chronic irritations such as cyber bullying, academic difficulties or limited financial means etc. The easiest defence to employ may be to ‘run with the crowd’, denigrate academic achievement or continue retail therapy with another credit card. By ingesting poor spiritual nutrition they are engaging in behaviour which limits their perspective, if not their prospects, and which will inevitably lead to crises later on.

A diet of mental hurts over a prolonged period can cause us to build up ‘emotional calluses’ that can damage our ability to create healthy relationships, limit our potential and can even fuel prejudice. We may withdraw to the company of similarly blinkered folk to soothe our wounds with like-minded ‘stinking thinking’. We may also feed our minds on a strife filled diet of TV soap operas or imagine living our life as the vengeful crusader in a host of violent movies. Not infrequently we’ll prepare for the event by opening a can of beer or a bottle of wine and sit with a TV dinner on our lap. Inevitably over time our outlook becomes narrowed and our attitudes hardened. For too many of us this is the life we have chosen. We become sponges for the social engineering programme of the moment.

Achieving true health in mind and body requires broad spectrum healing and cannot be limited to purely diet and exercise. Just as the subconscious will undertake physical repairs when fed the right nutrients, the soul will respond to a wide range of ‘spiritual anti-oxidants’ that rejuvenate us and work in concert with our physical reconstruction. Prayer, meditation, gratitude and service nurture the soul. Playing music, reading challenging texts or learning a language stimulate the mind. Playing sports and physical exercise like dancing will strengthen co-ordination and co-operation. Any and all of these activities enrich us as individuals and in our ability to serve each other, our communities and the wider world. Instead of accepting the status quo of the lowest common denominator leading to chronic illness, premature ageing and death, let us instead choose a life rich in love, learning and healing. Are you ready to undertake the journey to responsible living and true health?

The Wellness Spectrum

All of us will have been caught out at some point without an umbrella or have found ourselves at our holiday destination with inappropriate clothing. In our hurried preparation we have overlooked something important or have had false expectations about the weather. Such situations often require unscheduled shopping on location resulting in additional expense and lost time. I often think that our approach to health is similarly haphazard.

To me, wellbeing requires a balance of health in mind, body and spirit. We need to nourish ourselves across all aspects of our lives in order to be well and bring a sense of purpose into everything we do. Good nutrition is foundational for our physical health and from there we can seek to satisfy our higher needs. However, a focus on purely physical health is insufficient as it will inevitably fail with advancing years and it is wise to accept this fact and mentally prepare for change. A balanced health approach will require that we achieve an optimum blend across our physical, mental and emotional needs appropriate for each stage of our lives. Becoming caught up in the corporate life with its heavy demands on our mental capacities often leads to stress related illnesses and even cardiovascular disease. Here failing to nurture the whole often results in an unscheduled hospital stop, significant expense and a lot of lost time.

Our current medical paradigm is based on a Sick / Not Sick choice of opposites that ‘gives us permission’ to follow abusive lifestyles until we’re clearly very sick indeed. At that point we turn to the Slash, Poison or Burn ‘Allopathic Remedies’ to manage the situation rather than cure it. If instead we considered ourselves positioned on a multi-dimensional wellness spectrum we could live so healthily that the Sick / Not Sick paradigm would become irrelevant. No one will encourage us to change perspective; doing so threatens the status quo. But when we accept personal responsibility for our wellness we will naturally address the interrelated dimensions of mind, body and spirit so that we achieve an optimum balance. We are open to new experiences of health. We challenge conventional dogma. We expect more of ourselves and are prepared to work for it.

When we do the results are often staggering. Thousands have walked the path before us. TED and YouTube are filled with the most inspiring examples and I will list some of my favourites here –

• Martin Boorman, disabled paratrooper walks again http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX9FSZJu448&feature=youtu.be
• Nick Vujicic, quadriplegic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gc4HGQHgeFE
• Steve and Mary Newport, Treating Alzheimers’ and Dementia with Coconut Oil http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iScs0uzQZFk
• Terry Wahls, recovering from MS through the transformative power of vegetables http://blog.ted.com/2012/08/09/10-talks-on-the-transformative-power-of-vegetables

We deserve better than the Sick / Not Sick paradigm. Let’s seek out proper nutrition for mind, body and soul that will give us the wellness that is our God-given right.

Mind, Body and Soul

Achieving optimum health requires a holistic approach that includes cognitive, physical and emotional components of our personality. As human beings we are complex blends of all three and will not attain full health by addressing them individually. Indeed, by separating the components we may delude ourselves into a ‘Sick, Not Sick’ mindset whose focus is on symptom relief rather than wellness. Separation also negates the contribution that our mental state makes to our health and denies the role of our spirit in bringing joy and sense of purpose to our living.

Last week I succumbed to a nasty stomach bug which tore through our household. After the nausea and diarrhoea had subsided I was left with a headache, chesty cough and sore throat. My appetite disappeared and I found it difficult to do anything. As I have often found before, when I feel low physically I’m not able to think clearly either. Some who think my health interests to be ‘unhealthy’ were quick to point out that my habits did not protect me from the bug - as if this somehow justifies their own damaging lifestyle. In recent years I’ve generally been delighted to enjoy robust good health and avoid many of the ailments ‘doing the rounds’. I’ve never thought myself invincible however, and none of us are.

Today my elderly mother lies in a local hospital wracked with illness and failing health. Despite her confusion and weakness, her inner peace is evident and her soul content. She is prepared for her inevitable departure and is surrendered to God, having lived a long and loving life. For her there is no unfinished business, no preoccupation with world affairs nor the pressures of daily living. She has serenity, calm and confidence that her soul will return to God as she hands on the baton to her children to continue the run.

These events illustrate for me how our concept of Optimum Health must change through life, As parents to the very young we want our offspring to have the best start in life and, if at all possible, will provide them with the best nutrition as we understand it. Infants and young children delight us with simple smiles and unconditional love. Their minds and bodies are growing at an astonishing rate and their souls are bright. With a total dependency on her primary carers, the child’s healthy growth is largely determined by the maturity and life perspective of her parents. In the teenage and young adult years physical development is rapid and the mind is keen but the soul’s purpose is often  hidden from view as the individual finds her way in the world. It is typically in middle age, and often in response to a life-changing event, that the soul re-emerges and finds expression.

We naturally lament the loss of life but it is important to remember that at every age the person is whole, even though it is only at the point of their death that their life journey is complete. Mind and body have provided the coach in which the soul has travelled through life. Just as a good life coach will be a catalyst for growth, the spiritual growth of the individual will be facilitated when mind and body, in good relationship, coach the soul. Most people will make their journey through life without a formal coach but at some point all of us find our soul deeply touched by someone in our lives and our learning is profound. At such times it is the quality of the relationship which determines the success of the engagement. So whether it is with a professional coach, or through the companionship of one’s own body, let us consciously strive to listen attentively to it and achieve the most wholesome learning relationship between mind and body, so that whether they inevitably fail, or prematurely stumble, the baton is passed as the journey is completed and the soul released.

Product Management

One of the roles I had during my corporate life was that of a Product Marketing Manager. In this role I was responsible for a range of products ‘from cradle to grave’. It was my task to plan every aspect of the product’s existence from the original definition of form and functionality through to sales forecasting, pricing, service and repair and even market withdrawal. Always the hope was to anticipate the need of the market and to match the product such that it would enjoy ready market acceptance and achieve maximum profits. My business plans would forecast the costs of development, the cost of sales, sales volumes and so the net profit of the venture over its lifetime. Our CEO expected us to be God to our products, to know everything about them and the market into which they were to be introduced, to bestow their personality and the seductive appeal of their form. We were product champions.

After several years away from the corporate business environment I reflect on the experience with mixed emotions. The work was wide ranging, engaging, very demanding and hugely enjoyable. At the top of my game I felt empowered, driven, fiercely competitive and highly protective. I was able to convey my dreams and wishes to the teams of professionals that would implement the design and bring it to market. In every case our joint creation matched or exceeded my original concept. Along the way however I became so focused on the company’s product creation that I neglected my own. I saw little of my young family, when I did I was impatient and demanding so that, after several years, my wife eventually threw in the towel. Our divorce was the most painful experience of my life.

My current work as a Health Coach is a lot more rewarding and I know that everything that has gone before has prepared me for the task in hand. I see my new role as a catalyst, helping clients to shift perspective and to achieve the health outcomes that they desire. Like me, many of them have become derailed by life events. It is my pleasure, challenge and privilege to get them back on track and to walk their journey with them. Of necessity the work is holistic rather than medical. No tablet can mend a broken heart. No drink can restore healthy self esteem. So often it is these deeper issues which need healing before an individual can set about picking up the pieces. Perhaps that’s where the ultimate product manager can help.

In the beginning there was God. There was perfection of creation. There still is, though it has become more difficult to see. We bring our imaginings into being but allow them to be directed by others.  Our minds are filled with dreams of someone else’s making. Our workplaces are often unnecessarily stressful. We live in fear of dismissal, reduced hours, ‘downsizing’, loss of income and inability to service mortgages or debts that we took out in better times. To ensure our survival we’re driven to become more competitive. In that place it’s difficult for anyone to ‘think big thoughts’.

Today’s Product Manager role is for everyone. Every individual has the right to bring themselves to fruition, to define their own lives, to live in freedom. I’ve come to understand that the closer we keep to the evolutionary blueprint the healthier we become. With proper nutrition for both mind and body we have all we need to grow healthy. I can now convey my dreams and wishes for good health to a highly professional subconscious knowing that my body has the necessary raw materials to achieve all of which I’m capable. The market opportunity is immense. There’s never been a greater need for healthy living and the only profits sought are that, when our product is withdrawn from the market, we leave it better than we found it. How will you manage your finest product?

Happy Easter

In the Christian tradition Easter is the most important feast of the year. We celebrate resurrection, the victory of life over death. We speak of transformation through love, forgiveness and healing, human frailty redeemed by God and that same redemption offered to all mankind. To a strictly secular society it may sound a little bonkers, a tad too fundamentalist, subversive and perhaps even dangerous. Dangerous to whom?

During the season of Lent that precedes Easter, Christians are invited to examine their lifestyles and consider how they do not serve their highest purpose. We are encouraged to make changes for the better and to acknowledge the human condition in our failures. Here in Ireland, St Patrick’s Day (March 17^th) falls during Lent and it often provides a rest day from fasting or other promises of observance. Over the years St Patrick’s Day has provided ample evidence of the human condition. What other purpose might it serve?

Since suffering a serious illness in 2008 I have become fascinated by health and nutrition. The more I have explored alternative medicine the more disenchanted I have become with the cultural norms of our society. I routinely question the perceived wisdom around foodstuffs and their marketing. I have even revised my views on established medical practice and look for the beneficiaries behind new initiatives.  In a very real way my life has been resurrected and transformed. I am healed of illness despite my human frailty and am aware of and seeking to live in alignment with my highest purpose. Yes, I recognise that my ’foodist’ views appear fundamentalist, challenging to others, including close relatives, and subversive to the status quo. If allowed to spread, ideas such as these might indeed prove dangerous to the profits of sugar refiners, processed food manufacturers and pharmaceutical interests.

In my childhood Lent was all about giving up something, usually sweets. It was a tall order and lapses were frequent. Perhaps it’s natural to rebel against ‘Thou shalt Not’ injunctions. As Wayne Dyer tells us – ‘The war on drugs is being lost; because it’s a war’.  Those who stand For something are strengthened whereas those who battle Against are weakened. It is said that Patrick came to Ireland as a slave but that he so loved the place that later, as a free man, he chose to return and preach the Gospel. He is better known for making converts to Christianity than for conducting a war against slavery. Maybe in the future the Lenten season will be considered a time for renewing life-giving practice within which St Patrick’s Day will mark a celebration of progress rather than become an opportunity to rebel against injunction and display our lowest common denominator.

After decades of strife there is great healing underway in this country and a new awareness of potential and purpose. I see beyond the current economic difficulties to a time when wealth is truly recognised as Health in Mind and Body. At that time we will rejoice in the abundance that is ours. We will celebrate the strength in our diversity. We will co operate and jointly create once again a Land of Saints and Scholars. Were he then to observe our progress, Patrick would recognise his work, God’s work, continued, his wishes fulfilled.

What discoveries have you made about your Highest Self this Lent? What new practice will you take forward to improve your life in the coming year?

Sugarholism

The work of Dr Robert Lustig, a consultant Paediatrician in California, has heightened awareness on the dangers of sugar to the human body. Lustig explains why the massive increase in sugar consumption is responsible for the explosion in obesity and chronic ill-health affecting the Western world over the last four decades. He draws attention to the range of illnesses afflicting the overweight and identifies them as exactly the same illnesses that alcoholics suffer from – heart disease, fatty liver, diabetes, cancer, hypertension and dementia. With such a strong correlation might it also be appropriate to address sugar addiction in a similar way with a twelve step programme?

Overeaters Anonymous formed in 1960 and is now present in 75 countries. It helps tens of thousands of sufferers break their habits of compulsive food consumption. OA has adopted the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions format to help normalise the eating patterns of its members. Like the AA however, the evidence suggests that millions more are not yet in recovery and are still in the grip of habits which can lead to misery and untimely death. While those with compulsive eating or drinking dispositions are largely aware of them, whether or not they are in recovery, the likelihood is that 70% of us have an unhealthy relationship with sugar and would not accept it as dangerous.

Now I can readily distinguish between compulsive disorders and culturally acceptable practice in relation to sugar. Neither are healthy, but whereas a compulsion and addiction can rapidly ruin lives, John Yudkin, Robert Lustig and others have pointed to a 20 year pathology gestation period for ‘normal’ sugar consumption. Sadly this leads to disinterest or a dismissive attitude - “It’s tomorrow’s problem, have another slice”. I am not in favour of prohibition but I certainly do believe that we should have a ban on TV advertising of sugar based products and that we should extend such a ban to ‘Low Fat’ products and any foodstuffs containing artificial sweeteners. How can it be culturally acceptable to promote the sale of dangerous products? It’s said of diabetics that ‘they dig their grave with their teeth’ and for many that’s true enough. Is suicide not suicide just because the bullet takes 20 years to hit its target?

Leaving aside what some readers may consider confrontational or judgemental statements, there is ample evidence that sugar causes a weakening of the immune system. It is also known to provide a benign environment for the growth of fungal infections and cancer. Sugar consumption results in the formation of Advanced Glycation End-products (AGEs), amyloid tangles and causes neural degeneration and depression. Quite simply, it interferes with our ability to think. My belief is that when people can personalise and accept such information then they will change their attitudes towards sugar and the market will collapse. I do of course recognise that this is unlikely to happen any day soon. Through my work as a health coach I have encountered exclusively positive outcomes with everyone who has rejected sugar ‘and all its empty promises’.

Slavery in the 21^st century is alive and well but instead of forced exile to labour in the sugar plantations of the West Indies, today’s slavery is self inflicted through addiction. To free myself from its tyranny, and to journey toward optimal health in mind and body, I call on the God of my understanding to keep me free from refined sugar one day at a time.

Volcano

Some years ago a series of seismic rumblings on a Pacific island signalled that their long dormant volcano was reawakening. Over the weeks and months that followed scientists confirmed that the rate of activity was increasing and gave reason for concern. To protect the island’s inhabitants the situation would be monitored closely.

A missionary priest had tended his flock on the island for many years. In his sermon each week he spoke of the infinite power and goodness of God. He told the congregation of the need to place all their trust in God and that he would never let them down. God, who made heaven and earth, and who knew if one small bird should fall to earth, would protect his people from all harm. He told them that the growing tremors from the volcano were sent by God as a sign of his power and that through these signs God would reveal himself and save them all.

The US Navy were carefully monitoring the situation in the Pacific and, following a significant increase in activity decided that all naval staff on the island’s base should relocate temporarily to Hawaii. Within a week only a skeleton staff remained and many volcanologists had moved in to make more detailed measurements of the developing situation. After reviewing their first week’s data the scientists determined that the volcano was quite unstable and that a general evacuation was advisable. The government issued an alert, providing transport and temporary accommodation to hundreds of islanders who heeded the warning and left hurriedly.

In the church next Sunday the priest preached trust in God to the handful of parishioners remaining. After the service many of them told him of their plans to leave and implored him to join them. “The scientists have warned us that we should leave. There may be only days before the whole thing blows up”. “Not at all” replied the priest, “I’m staying here; God will save me from any catastrophe”.

Over the following days the island’s evacuation was completed. Satellite imaging and remote sensing equipment, placed all over the island, provided the scientists unprecedented detail in their observations, and told them with increasing certainty, that the forthcoming eruption would be enormous. The public safety review body was relieved to hear that all islanders had been evacuated and were being cared for generously on neighbouring islands. On hearing that the island’s priest had chosen to stay the governor ordered that a frigate be rushed to the island and that he be taken off immediately.  Within hours a landing crew arrived by helicopter and told the priest that the volcano was now certain to explode and that he must leave without delay. “I’m going nowhere. I trust in God to save me from all peril”. The exasperated crew reported the situation and returned to their ship 40 miles away. Three hours later the island disappeared in a cataclysmic explosion which was heard several hundred miles away.

On arrival at Heaven’s gates, St Peter told the priest that God wanted to speak to him in person and showed him into the courtroom. When God entered the priest fell on his knees in worship and covered his eyes from the blinding light. “Master, I fought the good fight. I lived by your commandments and none of your sheep were lost, but I trusted in you to save me and I don’t understand why you didn’t.”  “Yes, by rights you ought to have been on earth another 30 years, but I did everything I could. I sent the scientists, the parishioners and even a naval frigate, but you wouldn’t listen to any of them”.

A Final Vigil

I was recently and unexpectedly admitted to the male medical ward of my local hospital late at night. I was conscious and aware of what was going on for me but completely indisposed. It felt as though I had been cast in the role of observer on an institution on which we deeply depend.

Across the ward the screens were drawn around a bed where a family sat at the side of their terminally ill father. There were occasional low murmurings but mostly silence as they awaited the inevitable.  I heard them share detail of his recent suffering and of the loss of their mother less than two weeks previously. This was a clear case of a broken hearted man, of late years, surrendering to death with dignity and courage. His passing, a few hours later, was a peaceful one and the family sat on in reverence to take their leave of him.

In close support, the medics had tended to the father over the previous week and switched from the role of preserving life to releasing it, as circumstances demanded. In the final hours hospital staff withdrew so that the family could gather to ease his passing. I have long believed that life’s important decisions are made with the heart rather than the head. In that hospital ward I felt this was institutionally formalised. The finest of high tech healthcare gave way to the loving support of immediate family at the time of this most important of transitions. Only some hours later did the hospital staff remove the body in preparation for their next arrival on the ward.

The hospital staff’s behaviour was exemplary in their care and compassion for a family thrust into change. In my case they acted professionally and speedily to protect me from disaster and a ‘life-changing event’. So, on the one hand they facilitated change and on the other they stopped it. Once again I’m reminded of the NHS’s strength in the treatment of acute illness and I’m very grateful for it. It’s only in their review of my situation that I hesitate to commend them.

Over the last four years I have brought about great improvements in my health through attention to nutrition and exercise. My learning has dispelled the previously unchallenged notion that the doctor is always right and that there is a pill for every ill. Today my attitudes toward healthcare are more In keeping with the coaching premise that the client explores the available options and retains responsibility for the outcomes. The doctors attending to me were able to provide the necessary assistance but were unable to assimilate information that conflicted with their drug centred paradigm of healthcare. Proactive nutritional intervention is not on their radar, nor were they curious as to how my situation might be addressed with a blend of natural and conventional approaches.

Perhaps I’m a little harsh. After all, I was admitted through the emergency room and their role is to deal quickly with whatever presents. In ER there is no time for procrastination or experimentation. Still, I remain hopeful that our treasured NHS, so skilled in judgement of when to bring change to others, will recognise the need to change itself and encourage participation from complementary medicine traditions with a view to true disease prevention. It is only through adaptation that the NHS can postpone a final vigil of its own.

Beginnings

At the beginning of the year we have a unique opportunity to review where we are and where we want to be. This is the stuff of New Year Resolutions – those musts and should that exert their influence over our behaviour during January and sometimes even February. Gymnasia across the land are very busy in the early weeks of the year but soon quieten down once annual subscriptions are paid and good intentions are stated. TV advertisements switch suddenly from the Christmas bombardment of perfume fragrances and party treats to low fat meals and diet plans. Christmas and New Year are seen as prime marketing opportunities rather than occasions for peaceful reflection and new beginnings.

So why do our initiatives so often fail? Is it that we seek to conform to other people’s expectations of us? Is it that we lack the confidence to see it through? Could it be that we are so deeply invested in our habits that change feels like losing our personality? Do we identify with our weakness? In such circumstances change, even for the better, is often blocked because we cannot face the ending of our dysfunction.

Nature shows us how to make good beginnings. There appears to be one universal rule for life forms on our planet - ‘Start small’. As spring arrives we will see shoots of growth from tiny seeds planted months before. Our greenhouses will provide optimum growing conditions for these developing plants until the early frosts have passed and they are strong enough to be planted out on their own. So too with the lifestyle changes that we know can improve our health. We need to start small and protect our progress.

On learning of a chronic blood pressure problem and discussing it with my doctor, she was very pleased for me to take the path of lifestyle management rather than pharmaceutical intervention but she cautioned against expecting rapid change. My medical records showed the problem had been some 14 years in the making so she felt it would be unrealistic to expect resolution in six months. She was right. In April 2009 it peaked at 174/110. In November 2012 it was measured at my local hospital at 117/77. As I look back over the last three years I recognise several misdirected efforts. No one thing proved the decisive issue but my entire relationship to food has changed, one small step at a time.

Recovering alcoholics stay dry one day at a time. Each day they make a new beginning. All of us can benefit from this approach. Certainly we can look forward to and even prepare for our future life, but consciously living each day well allows us to live in reality rather than fantasy.

So, in order to change your life, choose one small thing you can commit to each and every day that will help you toward becoming the person you want to be. Reflect regularly on your progress. Adapt and develop from what you learn, but never turn back. Seek out the support of others who have walked your path and in turn support those coming behind you. Our healthy days will become healthy years, with healthy relationships, healthy communities and ultimately we will build a healthy planet.

Claim your health one day at a time and enjoy the journey. Happy New Year!