WholeLife Evolution Blog

The Greatest Ten Minutes of My Life

I stood above the crib and watched my 9-month old boy as he kicked his little legs, fighting sleepy time with everything he had. That little dude melts my heart, especially when he tries my patience. In fact, I absolutely love it when he does.

Here's why: It strengthens my resolve to be a better father, and a better human.

When he refuses to sleep, or when he dumps his blueberries onto the floor, or when he poops at the worst possible moment, I can choose to react to the situation emotionally/egoically, or I can choose to act in a way that provides a good example for him. He is there watching every move I make. And he's learning life-long habits from me. It's within micro-moments such as these that character is built, mine, and his.

My wife and I made a pact before we were ever pregnant. We committed to our children that we would do everything in our power to limit the amount of emotional baggage that we might bestow upon them. We are, of course, human. We WILL make mistakes, and plenty of them. But it's our mission to focus our attention on those micro-moments, on those times when we're in a hurry to be somewhere, or when we're tired, or when we have so much more work to do before we go to bed. Taking the time to simply BE with the little guy, engaged, focused, and gracious for his existence IS my life.

When I look at him, tightly squeezing my arm toward his little chest right before he lets his eye lids fall, HE is the only thing that matters. HE is the reason I've gone through my life's trials and tribulations, and learned from them. It is attention to these exact micro-moments, or lack thereof, that make up a life.

I challenge you to pay attention to your reactions today. They will reveal a pattern, and are a direct reflection of your character.

What Triggers Fat Storage?

Eating a bag of M & M's? Probably. But that's not all. Chances are, your daily intake of complex carbohydrates, residual sugars and starches (potatoes, corn, breads, pasta, etc.), even if in small amounts, triggers the storage of those molecules as fat. And you know where that goes!

Here's how it works:

-Breakfast: Bagel (all purpose flour) smeared with some gloriously-flavored cream cheese (Corn syrup.)

-Lunch: You eat a yummy little pasta (durum semolina) salad, and a delicious little crostini (all-purpose flour) with a mint-mango relish. Then you wash that down with a refreshing lemonade (made with corn syrup and sugar.)

-Snacks: A handful of baked potato chips, or pretzels, maybe? (wheat/corn) FYI, if you're drinking a diet coke, know that you're drinking the equivalent of a hot dog-the worst stuff on earth.

-Dinner: A fresh, green salad, with croutons; or possibly a healthy burrito with tortilla (corn/wheat,) washed down with a glass of wine (high sugar content.)

That all sounds spectacular to me, not too fatty, reasonable portion sizes, an obviously-well-thought-out plan of attack for the ol' diet.

"But wait! There's more!" as they say. If we dive a little deeper into this typical day, we notice that there are complex carbs weaved throughout. The bottom line is that the body is constantly being infiltrated by, and being forced to eliminate, complex food items that are known to cause allergies and diabetic tendencies in all of us.

Here's the flow chart:

Complex Carbs > higher baseline levels of Glucose and, therefore, Insulin, in the blood > Insulin triggers FAT STORAGE and HUNGER (strange, huh? This is known as the "sugar addiction")

Not only are you now more apt to repeat the process tomorrow, you'll be gaining a little chub. Most importantly, though, this type of diet is sure to harm your gut system and your pancreas in the long term. Years of overworking your pancreas cannot be good, and might even be one of the factors in our country's increased incidence of pancreatic cancer.

When you need a little more substance in your diet, try these foods. They are low on the glycemic index, and eat well, hot or cold: quinoa, sprouted wheat breads, sweet potatoes, bulgar.

Respectfully,

Dr. Mark J. Svetcos

www.MarkSvetcos.com

www.CompulsionBook.com

www.ResponsibilityMovement.com

Try This Mantra On For Size

"For my family, I am strong of body, mind and spirit. Everything I think and do reinforces this commitment to my family."

Waking up Tired? Here's Why...

Do you awaken rested, balanced and ready to create? Or do you suffer with some form of insomnia, like most other Americans? Understanding sleep patterning is vital to living a life of true purpose. When you don't get the sleep you need, all rhythms in your life become askew.

When I was back in college, I worked a full-time third-shift job stocking shelves at a local supermarket. I seldom took fewer than 16 credit hours while achieving my Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Science & Chemistry. On top of that, I trained daily for local bodybuilding competitions. And I even had a nice social life.

But how was I able to fit all those things in? I took full advantage of my sleep patterning. Regardless of the time of day I slept, I always made sure that it was for exactly 4.5 hours - no more, no less. Within the same 24 hour period, I would add in another 1.5 hour "nap" somewhere along the way.

So what gives? Studies show that if you sleep in accordance with your natural sleep cycles, called Circadian Rhythms, you will awaken refreshed, balanced and ready for the world. It just so happens that these rhythms are exactly 1.5 hours in length. So if you're sleeping for any amount of time other than 4.5, 6.0, 7.5, or 9.0 hours, this could be the reason you're so tired! You're literally interrupting the natural pattern of human sleep.

There are many famously productive people who used these techniques to make the most of the moments in between life. If names like Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Ben Franklin, and our very own Donald Trump interest you in any way, you'll want to give this a shot. Why not add your name to this list?

There is, of course, a transition period when you decide to change your sleep patterning. Be patient, take deep breaths when managing confrontation, and get plenty of water. After a week or so, you'll be very happy that you took control of this part of your life.

Here's an article I recently read that has a little more interesting info.

http://www.utne.com/Mind-Body/The-No-Wake-Zone-Insomnia-Sleep.aspx?page=2

Keep moving Forward!

An Interesting Study on Depression, Stress & Grief

I'm absolutely positive that this won't come as much of a surprise to you: GRATITUDE INCREASES HAPPINESS IN BOTH ADULTS AND KIDS!

Jeffrey J. Froh, PsyD, assistant professor of psychology at Hofstra University and lead researcher of a new study, surveyed 1,035 students ages 14 to 19 and found that grateful students reported higher grades, more life satisfaction, better social integration and less envy and depression than their peers who were less thankful and more materialistic. Additionally, feelings of gratitude had a more powerful impact on the students' lives overall than materialism. The same holds true for adults, according to the research. Counting your blessings shifts your focus from problems, annoyances and injustice, and boosts your ability to fight off depression, stress and grief.

From Working Mother Magazine - 10 seconds to being happy, Inara Verzemnieks

I Lost A Freakin' Diamond!!!

When I gladly and happily accepted this wedding ring from my wife four years ago, it was a gleaming beauty. The three little diamonds were perfectly understated, the platinum shiny and smooth. Life had a massive up-side. We were building, creating, accumulating.

Since then, our life together has taken many unexpected turns. There have been dreams realized, and there have been dreams crushed. Although we are the happiest and most purpose-driven we've ever been, it looks nothing like we ever thought it would. The money has come and gone. The places we've spent time have changed. The people in our lives are different than they used to be. We've become kings at adaptation. Life is slower. Financially, we're not worth as much as we once were. But life is now like a huge locomotive building steam. Each purposeful step is leading in a defined direction, toward self-reliance, creativity, refined purpose, health. Life has more meaning.

As I reach my right hand over to inspect and remove my little band, I notice how weathered my hands have become. I haven't been able to feel the vitality leaving my body, but it's happened, somewhere along the line. My skin is more coarse than it once was. The small scars of labor and love are numerous now, each with its own story and emotion.

I take off my little ring and notice how she's a little tarnished, a little beaten, a little scratched. Long ago, the middle diamond fell out and I couldn't find it. It was around the same time we lost a little one, and I won't replace it. There is a deep scratch on one side from the time I punched a steel door in fear, frustration and anger. That was around the same time I lost everything I'd worked my whole life to gain, and I won't buff it out. And then, as I inspect the inside surface with my finger, I feel the abbrased surface under my fingerprint. I recall the engravings that my wife so lovingly placed within it forever, "...with love and gratitude..." I can't read the small writing anymore. But I know it's there, as I am for she and our family.

I gently rub the surface one last time and slowly put the ring back on my finger. I rub my own hand, feel the callouses, try to massage the stiffness away.

No, life doesn't look like I thought it would. And I wouldn't change it for anything. Love your people.

I was eating ice cream...when I started to cry

My wife, son and I had finished dinner. I bundled the family up on the couch amongst blankets and pillows, and put the DVD into the player. We were about to watch Wayne Dyer's film, The Shift. As the intro music started playing, I went to the kitchen to get a little ice cream to satiate my sweet tooth.

I came back out to the living room and sat on the floor, in front of the couch, as I usually do. The music played on as I took a few spoonfuls of ice cream. I turned and looked up at my beautiful little family just BEING, both of them smiling at one another, and then at me. I smiled back. No one said anything. I put down the ice cream and put my left hand on my wife's leg, and brushed my boy's hair from his eyes with my right. Time ceased to exist, and all worry, fear and uncertainty was gone. I was so quiet, on the inside. It was one of those moments when we realize that THIS is life, THIS is the thing that we search our whole lives for, THIS is what we keep at arm's length while trying to satiate the ego.

Warm, salty tears flowed from my eyes as I smiled and caressed my babies, the obvious reawakening of spirit bubbling to the surface.

I have no idea how many times that intro music played before I actually hit the play button. All I know is that I am so incredibly grateful to have people who love me in my life. I have never before understood, felt, or experienced the love I have for my baby boy, and the pure potential he represents.

As my life goes on, The Shift has been occurring within me. I've moved from achievement to purpose. And I'm here to tell you that it's everything you've been searching for. Love your people.

A Real Pain in the Butt...and Leg, and Foot

I was in a college-level hockey game, standing in front of the net, waiting for my defenseman to rifle a slapshot toward me so I could deflect it on goal. He ripped the shot, and as the puck screamed toward me, I felt a bolt of lightening run down my right leg. The puck wasn't even near me yet, but I was in massive pain. My brain didn't understand what was happening. The shot rang off the post and the play continued to the other end of the ice, but I lay there in the same spot writhing in pain. The guy who cross-checked me went to his bench for a line change and didn't think twice about what he'd done.

Eventually, the ref blew the whistle and I was given a couple minutes to collect myself and make it back to the bench. Back then, we didn't have team doctors. We had two choices, rub some dirt on it and continue, or go home and ice it. Although my back was really stiff, the pain had begun to subside. So I stayed to play some more hockey. The adrenaline helped me to score a couple goals, but in hindsight, that was probably the last thing I should have done.

Many years later, and after many years of education, I've learned exactly what happened that day. I suffered my first attack of sciatica. I thank my lucky stars that I wasn't seriously injured. X-rays have shown no disorder at all in my low back. And I consider myself very lucky because that is exactly how so many long-term injuries start - some freaky little accident in our younger years.

My case of sciatica was acute and trauma-related. But that's not how most cases present themselves. Sciatica is typically a chronic situation that happens over time. It comes and goes, can be achy, cause numbness and tingling down the back of the leg into the foot, and it may also be downright painful.

Like most other neuromuscular conditions, sciatica is caused by a combination of factors. And although the pain/numbness/tingling can be felt in the back of the leg and into the foot, the actual cause is pressure on the sciatic nerve. The most common areas of pressure are at the facet joints in the lumbar spine, and at the point where the sciatic nerve travels under the piriformis muscle.

As I've described in other aricles, pressure in the amount of the weight of a dime can alter functionality of a nerve by 65%. So it doesn't take much pressure to alter nerve impulses. When pressure is applied to the sciatic nerve, you feel it in the distribution area that's relevant to the part of the nerve that's being depressed. For example, pressure on the lateral side of the nerve may cause pain in the lateral side of the foot. Pressure on the posterior side of the sciatic nerve may cause numbness in the heel. The presentation depends on where the nerve is compressed, and how intense the pressure is.

What causes sciatica? It's most often caused by living a sedentary lifestyle, ie. sitting on your butt a lot. Sciatica might also be caused by repetitively lifting one way (carpenters, contractors, drywallers), from standing in one particular position, and/or crossing your legs. Most people, unless they've been to a chiropractor, have an unbalanced pelvis. This means that it's rotated in one direction or another, and stays that way. For the purposes of this article, we'll leave it at that.

Over time, an unbalanced pelvis causes imbalanced muscles. University studies have shown that it's literally impossible for a muscle to pull a bone out of place. Bones move and the nervous system tells the muscles to react in one way or another. That's when muscles begin to guard, stabilize and compensate. With a rotation in the pelvis, muscles tighten on one side, and move more on the other to make up for the lost motion on the tighter side. The muscles on the involved side (the sciatic side) are hypertonic, but not necessarily painful. The muscles on the unaffected side are typically much more hypersensitive, and maybe even painful, due to the excessive motion.

Let's talk more specifically about one of the stabilizing muscles in the pelvis, the piriformis. The piriformis is a strap-like muscle that goes from the greater trochanter to the outer border of the sacrum. The sciatic nerve passes directly underneath it. When sciatica presents itself, the piriformis will be really tight on the side of involvement, but not necessarily painful, as mentioned above. The piriformis on the uninvolved side, however, will usually be much looser; and it is also the side of local muscle pain. Remember that local muscle pain usually occurs on the looser side, NOT the involved side. Sciatica, however, is most often felt on the side where the piriformis is extremely tight.

If you'd like to find out more about sciatica, the piriformis, and how to alleviate this painful condition, send me a quick email. I'll send you a FREE link to a video that will explain everything you need to know about getting rid of this major pain in the butt on your own.

Keep Moving Forward!

Dr. Svetcos

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a "Weak" Diagnosis

Here's how it usually works: A patient comes in, usually wearing an immobilizing device on one or both wrists. Their presentation is typically somber. They're lethargic, tired of dealing with their Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS.) As we begin to talk about his or her history, I learn that they've either had an unsuccessful wrist surgery, or that they're slated to have surgery very soon. Their doctor told them that the carpal tunnel surgery is quick and easy, and not to worry.

It's at this point in the conversation that I can begin to see the hopelessness in their eyes. They know that PT won't do the trick, because they've been down that road before. And having CTS ultimately leads only to one place: the Operating Room. And that's the last thing anyone wants, mostly because carpal tunnel symptoms return in over 65% of all surgical cases. The crazy thing is that most doctors even acknowledge this point to their patients! But patients want to be rid of CTS so badly, that they'll try anything.

First, let's briefly talk about any diagnosis that ends in "syndrome." An syndrome is a process or "dis-ease" that is described as having any number of causes, including unknown causes. A few examples: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, rotator cuff syndrome, lateral compartment syndrome. These are what I like to call garbage pail diagnoses. They don't mean anything other than, "Sir/Madam, you have a problem in this area." And, strangely enough, you already know this. For heaven's sake, that's why you're seeing the doctor, right?!

Second, let's briefly talk about symptoms. Symptoms are any departures from normal as described by the patient. They are subjective and are not measured. Some common symptoms of CTS are pain, numbness, tingling and loss of grip strength.

In my opinion, CTS is NOT a syndrome. CTS is a collection of Symptoms that manifest in the carpal tunnel area. This is an important point, because we owe it to the patient to go deeper than just saying, "Madam, you have carpal tunnel syndrome, and this is why you have pain/numbness/tingling." The fact is, that he or she has Carpal Tunnel SYMPTOMS, and those symptoms should lead the doctor to investigate further as to the CAUSE of those symptoms, not merely to label them Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and schedule the patient for PT or surgery. We can and must do better than that.

Before we talk about ways to fix most Carpal Tunnel Symptoms, let's talk momentarily about HOW one gets them. CTS is usually caused by repetitive stress. Stressors usually come in the form of abnormal body movemet over long periods of time. Some examples are typing, using hand tools, sitting with the head tilting downward with slumping shoulders, and anything else that is abnormal, ie. things that a caveman wouldn't do all day, every day, without significant breaks.

Let's use typing as our abnormal act, since almost all of us type daily. The normal anatomical position of the hands is palms facing up. Place your hands on either side of your keyboard for a moment. Feel how that opens the chest, rolls the shoulders back, and relaxes the forearms. When you type, the flexor muscles in your forearms, as well as the muscles in your chest and neck, remain hyper-tense. After only 1.5 hours of being in this position, fibrocytes begin to "stabilize" the affected tense areas to make it stronger, so the muscles don't have to work as hard. They weave themselves around muscle fibers, and cause muscle bundles to form. The muscles become more rigid, and are unable to fully relax and contract.

What exactly CAUSES Carpal Tunnel Symptoms? Pressure applied to the axillary, median, and/or ulnar nerves. Studies have shown that in 85% of all Carpal Tunnel Syndrome cases, nerves are impinged in at least two or more areas. In my extensive experience, the two most common areas are the pronator teres and the muscles at the superior border of the clavicle, in the supraclavicular notch.

Notice that I did not mention the actual Carpal Tunnel as a typical cause of carpal tunnel symptoms. The fact is, the nerves are being compressed well above that point. But the nerves terminate near the carpal tunnel. And you will always feel the nerve where it terminates, not where it is being compressed.

If you're interested in doing a little test to see if you have compression of the axillary, median and/or ulnar nerves, send me an email. I'll send you a link to a free video showing how you can determine if this is the case, and more importantly, exactly how you can fix it on your own.

I've worked with hundreds of patients who've suffered with CTS, and came up with a common sense method to eliminating it completely. It works. And you CAN do it by yourself.

Keep Moving Forward!

Dr. Svetcos

Fix Your Own Headaches, Seriously.

If you've suffered from headaches at some point, you know how debilitating and life-altering they can be. If you haven't, consider yourself lucky. Because over 90% of Americans suffer with them at one point or another. Headaches rob people of their lives, their families of necessary support, and business owners of productive man hours. 

Think about it: how difficult would it be to read your email or the newspaper when it feels like there's a huge knife stabbing into one of your eye sockets. How difficult would it be to haul the kids to practice or make a quick trip to the store when it feels like there's an ice pick poking into your brain stem? I know what I'm talking about, because they once afflicted me. That is, until I went to Doctor School, and learned the causes of and best treatments for the most prominent types of headaches, including my own.

You may not know this, but there are many different types of headaches: allergic, nutritional, migraine, tension, drug-induced, dehydration, and visual, to name only a few. The type I'm going to discuss here is typically called the cluster (or cervicogenic) headache.

In my clinics, 75% of my patients complained of chronic headaches before treatment. And most of my patients "knew" exactly what type of headache he or she suffered from before ever entering my office. Unfortunately, most of them were horribly misinformed.

Keep in mind, I've seen my patients through over 50,000 office visits.So I know what I'm talking about. I've seen every type of headache imaginable. And it's no joke when I tell you that most headaches are caused from lack of oxygen to the cranial nerves in the brain stem. But what the heck does that mean? Read on.

Discussion:

Let's first discuss exactly what we're talking about. Headaches are exactly that - HEAD ACHES. A Head ache is only a symptom. It's NOT a diagnosis. The various types of head aches (symptoms) tell a trained professional where to look further. Unfortunately, most professionals have no idea the cause or the proer diagnosis of headaches. And the typical treatments for them border on the ridiculous. You'll understand why in a few moments.

Let's first understand that headaches can be difficult to diagnose for those that don't understand the intimate anatomy of the upper cervical spine, vertebral arteries and nervous system (CNS + PNS). And it takes a trained professional to do so. Surfing the web to self-diagnose is a horrible idea. So don't do that! Talk to someone you can trust. And now back to the way I diagnose and treat headaches.

First, we're does this dull, achy pain come from? Let's be clear. We are discussing non-acute pain. We are not discussing pain associated with injury or acute situations. Dull, achy pain comes from lack of oxygenation to the local tissue. This includes stagnant, inflamed areas, areas that don't receive enough blood flow, and areas where there is lack of motion (which increases inflammation,) etc. Think about when you wake up in the morning. You're stiff. Your body is literally inflamed from not moving all night. And it's that inflammation that puts pressure on nerves surrounding joints throughout your body. After you move around a little, the stiffness (inflammation) subsides.

The next question you might ask is, "What does this have to do with headaches?" Well, here it is: Because of macro- and microtraumas throughout your life, the joints in your neck don't move properly. And when they don't move fully through their range of motion, long-term inflammation accumulates within those joint spaces. And where there is inflammation, there are also a number of inflammatory agents that come along with it, like free radicals. The joint becomes slightly distended, and it might itch or become painful. This is caused from the lack of oxygenation within the joint space.

As if that weren't enough, there is a secondary effect to the distention of that joint space. Immediately next to each joint in the spine is a nerve. These nerves are the conduit that relays info to and from the Central Nervous System. When there is inflammation in one of the joint spaces, pressure is applied to the nerve sitting next to it. It's been determined that the weight of a dime on a nerve can alter it's funcionality by up to 60%. This aggravation can cause any number of disturbances. Some of them can be 'felt' by you. But most of them cannot, because only 5% of the nervous system is for sensation of some type. The other 95% of the nervous system is responsible for motor control, reflexes, and organ system management. And this is why a stiff neck or back is not just a stiff neck or back. Other things are being affected. You just can't feel it, at least not yet. But let's not get off the subject.

We're talking about what causes pain. When one of these effected nerves run to muscle tissue, it elevates the baseline for contraction. This means that the muscle is in a hyper-tense state at all times. There is a reason for this. Back when we were being attacked by saber-toothed tigers and whatever else, and we got some type of injury, our body would guard the injured area to keep you from using it. It would limit the motion in a joint for fear of further damage. It would tighten muscles surrounding the area. This is exactly what happens in the neck. And, over weeks, months and years, this process continues. You may not feel it for some time. But rest assured, there is dysfunction in some part of your body from the nerve interference. One of the associated symptoms of long-term muscle tension in the neck is, you guessed it, a head ache. When you're more stressed, you have more head aches. When you're dehydrated, you have more head aches.

Additionally, a counter-rotation and subsequent lack of motion specifically between C1 and C2 causes tensile force (picture pulling both ends of a rubber tube-this decreases the size of the inside of the tube=less liquid, or blood) on the vertebral arteries that feed the cranial nerves in the brain stem. When they don't have proper blood flow, they too become dysfunctional. The cranial nerves control and coordinate muscles in the neck (SCM,) the trapezius, swallowing, balance, the righting reflex, blood flow to the sphincters of the stomach and intestines, and most other activities.

This is a lot to take in, but I'm going to offer one more piece of info. This lack of blood flow to the brain stem and lack of motion in the neck affect the SCM muscles in the neck directly. And when that muscle becomes hyper-tense, it causes a distinct pain that goes around the ear and into the back of the eye on the involved side. The pain distribution looks like a big question mark on the side of the head.

These headaches carry any number of AMA-designated diagnoses. But, in my estimation and experience, they can be alleviated relatively quickly-depending on the case.

The fact is that I've helped most of my people to eliminate them completely. Some, however, we could only reduce the frequency and intensity.

If you'd like me to send you a link to a FREE video that will show you how to relieve/eliminate headaches at home, please send me an email by clicking the Flare below. Thanks for reading.

Keep Moving Forward,

Dr. Mark Svetcos

 

You Affect/Effect Everything!

When I was back in doctor school, understanding terminology was the key to the kingdom of human anatomy and physiology. Simply understanding the roots, prefixes and suffixes of words helped to determine where a nerve or blood vessel travels, the direction of flow, and its function.

One example is the difference between the words A-ffect and E-ffect. I learned that A-ffect is used to describe Afferent Nerves, those nerves that flow INTO the Central Nervous System (CNS). These are typically the sensory nerves, nerves for touch, taste, vibration, pressure, etc. The word E-ffect is used to describe Efferent Nerves, those nerves that flow OUT of the CNS. These are typically motor nerves, nerves for movement of a muscle or for a reflex.

Now it's time to apply this to the grand scope of your life. When things come into your environment, they are said to Affect you. They begin the cascade of events within your body that ultimately elicits a response. This response is your Effect on the environment.

Whether you consciously know it or not, everything is Affecting you. And, consequently, You Effect everything. This law is at the heart of Quantum Mechanics. Your thoughts become your reality. They become things. And they become exactly what you've sewn throughout your life based on the decisions you've made. Your decisions Effect a change in the world, either directly or indirectly. Every single thing you think and do Effects others. And it is within THIS MOMENT that you decide to live responsibly, or to not live responsibly.

Keep this in mind: the further you fly away from the natural law of order and balance, the more extreme the dampening Effect when you come back to baseline. Extremes cause pain. So avoid living in extremes.

Make better decisions, follow through with your committments, and act responsibly in every situation, especially in those situations where no one can see you.

Keep Moving Forward!

--Dr. Svetcos

One Easy Step to Staying Focused

I'm a big fan of using mental tools to help stay focused and intent throughout my day. A couple months ago, I found a Happy Birthday card that my father sent to me years ago. The poem is short, but has tremendous impact for me. Now I keep it next to me at my desk. And when I have a 'sluggish' moment, I read it aloud to myself. Here it is...

"I remember the day you were born. What a mystery you were...the little guy sleeping in my arms, smiling through his dreams. Those dreams have grown, and so have you. And now the whole idea that my little man has a big, beautiful life of his own fills me with hope and pride. Keep dreaming, Son. Keep believing. Keep doing. And always keep being the one and only amazing you."

I now have a new son of my own, and the power of this note has grown exponentially. It helps me to drive forward respectfully and responsibly. It inspires me to produce instead of consume. And it consistently cultivates a healthy dose of perspective.

Could I live and thrive without such tools? Of course, I could. But there's nothing wrong with using them to motivate, inspire and to keep you on purpose.

Maybe you have a physical item, a small gift, a letter, a coin, something someone has given to you that has meaning, that makes you feel GOOD. Take it out of the drawer and place it near your desk or in your pocket. Refer to it often, and then get back to work.

Keep Moving Forward!

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The Universal Covenant of Responsibility®

The Universal Covenant of Responsibility (UCoR)® is a comprehensive series of powerful declarations designed to stimulate your profound intuitive nature, healthy self-esteem, and unwavering balance within your life.

You, the observer of your life, influence everything around you. Nothing is by chance. You allow or disallow success, failure, joy, sadness, abundance and scarcity. Whether you believe or understand it or not, your thoughts, emotions and subsequent actions precisely determine your existence. The UCoR is one of the basic tools that will help you initiate the process of self-creation.

To become the truest representation of your self, it is imperative to first declare who and what you are, from the inside out. With fortitude, practice and repetition, you will have inherently decided the type of person you are. As you continue the process of reading and living the declarations, you will begin to notice a significant element of change and of adaptation. Where there was once fear, scarcity, anxiety, chaos and escapism, there will flower clarity, strength, understanding, patience, abundance and intuition. And when we couple intuition with focused intention and experience, we reinforce the continued upward evolution, creativity and synthesis of our highest self.

Read the declarations aloud at least five times each day. Post a copy next to your bathroom mirror, in your kitchen, in your bedroom and at work. Post it wherever you spend large amounts of time throughout your typical day. You may even want to print it off and laminate it for longevity. Carry a copy of the UCoR® with you everywhere you go, in your bag, briefcase or purse. Spend some of your downtime reading the declarations.

As you initially go through the UCoR®, some declarations might hit home more than others. And some may even feel a bit fake to you as you recite them. But let’s not forget that ALL are vital to living a balanced and responsible life, and that is the main idea. So stick with every one of them. As you probably know, how you do anything is how you do everything. So be conscious and FEEL every word of every declaration. Envision yourself in conversation and in situations living your declarations. Make the readings real and relevant to your life. For example, as you read the declaration, “I resonate at the frequency of abundance,” visualize your life having already achieved that abundance. Envision yourself sitting in the house of your dreams. Take in the five senses as you sit in your favorite chair. Take notice that you have no financial hardship, and that your frame of mind is such that you know your next dollar has already been earned. This step is essential. Get creative!

As you visualize, create ways to further manifest each declaration. Pay attention to your mind’s eye as it creates the holographic picture of your life. Pay attention to the new avenues of thought that creep into your visions. These are manifestations of synchrodestiny. As your thoughts and actions crystallize further, you will begin to literally resonate at the abundant and intuitive frequencies within the UCoR. 

As an increasing number of people utilize and share the UCoR, The Responsibility Movement® will gain tremendous momentum. And, so too, will the number of individuals thinking in the same manner, as in the basic principles of the UCoR®. This will add to the amplitude of each frequency. You will notice many more ‘A-Hah!’ moments, many more ‘chance’ meetings with like-minded people, and you’ll be a part of something wonderful!

(Get the UCoR & become part of The Responsibility Movement® HERE.)

Feel free to add to or condense the UCoR® declarations. The most important idea is for you to make the UCoR your own, for you to declare to the Universe who YOU are. When you begin to crystallize these thoughts, the same frequencies will be mirrored back to you. As it is often said, 'like attracts like.' You DO resonate at specific frequencies. Make sure those frequencies are based on YOUR purpose-driven choices, and are not inherited in any way. Power up!

And, as always, Keep Moving Forward!

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Why do we need The 7 Pillars of Balance?

All dysfunctional behavior and outcomes are due to imbalance. Every single disease process is caused by imbalance in any combination of systems and agents. Lack of abundance in one’s life is due to an imbalance in functional thought and action. Uncertainty, or too much certainty, in spirituality imbalances acceptance and creates a state of rigidity that pervades through all aspects of life. Imbalance in relationships manifests in codependent behavior, anxiety and expectation.

As humans, the natural state of being tends to be imbalance. And in no other place is that more evident than in America. Not only do we go to extremes in many dysfunctional ways, we’re not taught how to push the reset button. And that continues the process, and allows it to become a way of being. The only way out is to consciously focus on the fundamentals of life, starting with the creation of your very own Codes of Life. You can read more and start the process immediately by downloading the FREE Universal Covenant of Responsibility® HERE. When you provide your email, the download will follow on the next page. And you will also be the newest member of The Responsibility Movement®. Be sure to follow the instructions provided in the download. And share it with your friends and family as well. It literally takes conscious thought and action to live in a state of balance. And that’s what you will be creating.

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7 Pillars of Balance - Intro to Mindfulness

As a society, we have become addicted to emotion, been bathed in overstimulation, & accept chaos as the norm. Things are louder, brighter and bigger than at any other time in human existence. With so many external factors available to dull the senses & create noise, it's become increasingly easy to lose our way as individuals, and as a whole.

In such an environment, it's understandable to see so many incidences of brain-based dysfunction...anxiety, fear, stress, neurological disorders, depression, etc. And, of course, dis-ease within the body quickly manifests once internal stressors ignite the pathways of elimination for those overproduced stress chemicals.

But the worst part of having to manage all these external factors is that it's incredibly easy to focus only on those things that come from the outside of us, as opposed to creating our lives from the inside, & then effecting positive & responsible thoughts and actions upon the world. We tend to think mostly about things like what others are doing, the relationships of movie stars, how our friends & family view us, what we should be wearing, the car we drive, the home or apartment we live in, what's next on the menu, etc. The way we set up our day doesn't allow for the perfusion of a quiet, calm life...where all decisions are active, as opposed to reactive.

Following this thread is the typical destination for most of us, at least at some point in our lives. But it becomes a negative feedback loop, and becomes a garden for the growth of the unbalanced ego. More stuff becomes even more stuff...which can also drag along a serious lack of real purpose. This is why so many people are unhappy, and why more money (or less money) doesn't solve the need to live a life with focused intention & objectivism.

I know from my own personal experience that having millions of dollars doesn't cure anything except money problems, sort of. At one point, I built my life around the accumulation of money alone, and was fine with putting off most of the more meaningful parts of life. But as I accumulated more things & dough, I found myself needing more things & dough. I was living externally, constantly searching for The Next Big Thing. I wasn't purpose-driven. I was ego-driven. And I certainly wasn't living from inside myself, with balanced intention.

Getting back to the main point...what, then, is Mindfulness, besides being one of the 7 Pillars of Balance?

Mindfulness is basically the ability to consciously observe your world. It's your 37,000 foot view of all things relative to your environment.

Mindfulness is a state of being. It's not emotionally-based, and it's not the mind or ego. And, incidentally, YOU are NOT your mind/ego. Your mind/ego is earthly, and you are much more than that. You are an arrangement of energy, all-powerful, all-conscious, and all-aware. The REAL YOU has been defined in recent times as The Observer of your life. It's deeper, and inherently all-encompassing.

So that brings up a little question mark, doesn't it? How do you know the difference between the mind/ego and the Real You (The Observer?) Let's do a little experiment. Read through the next few lines once. And then take a moment to perform the tasks. Close your eyes, take a few nice, deep breaths and relax. Notice all the thoughts that pour into your mind's eye. Thoughts of things you need to do at home and work, the conversation you had earlier with a loved one, how you got cut off in traffic, etc. Understand that that is the mind/ego. It's seeking to organize things to better attack them next time. You understand that those thoughts do not define you; they are merely a means to an end, to become more efficient & proactive on the earthly plane. Take a few more deep breaths and relax further. Seek to clear the mind of all those thoughts. Don't beat yourself up if you can't do it immediately. This takes years of practice. When you get to a point where your mind's eye is clear, ask yourself a question, "Who or what is perceiving that your field of vision is clear?" There is a system that organizes the mind/ego, and every other part of your earthly existence. And that is the REAL YOU, The Observer. As Eckhart Tolle says, " The silent witness is always present, it never tires or sleeps, it cannot be destroyed-it is God & it is the source of all synchronicities in your life."

What does it feel like while you're in that state? Calm. Quiet. Purpose-Driven. You feel good. You feel connected to The Infinite, your God, humanity. And THAT is what it is to be mindful.

I challenge you to take 5 minutes each morning and each evening to spend clearing the mind's eye of all clutter. And follow that by envisioning how you desire your day to evolve. Live from that calm vision all day long. No matter what obstacles you face, you will manage them successfully and with focused intention. Teach your children and loved ones how to do the same. This is how we will change the world.

Keep Moving Forward!

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7 Pillars of Balance - Intro to Physical Wellness

We all desire to have a body that is both healthy and attractive, to others AND to ourselves. And as we're all aware, achieving & maintaining such a body takes commitment & work.

Unfortunately, there are so many fad diets & painful, ineffective workout plans out there that it's difficult to determine which ones are going to be best for you. And the worst thing is that most of them don't come with a purpose-driven, balanced roadmap to success.

In the Physical Wellness section of The 7 Pillars of Balance™, you will find exercises, nutritional advice, articles, tips & techniques that will help you to become more physically fit. You will learn how to take care of your body using a common sense approach. You will learn how to structure your day to keep physical & mental health at the forefront. And you will learn how to create self-esteem, self-reliance & health from the inside.

When you’re ready to tackle your physical wellness more seriously, be sure to evaluate The 28-Day Weight Release Challenge™ and The WholeLife Evolution System™.   At their core, you will find a purpose-driven frame of reference that will initiate a shift in the way your body communicates with your brain. It takes you well past good intentions, and helps you to create an environment of health within your mind first. And shortly thereafter, your body will be sure to follow.

Keep Moving Forward!

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7 Pillars of Balance - Intro to Finance

Creating abundance in one's life is not difficult. But it takes focused intention to do so. And we can all retire young and with plenty of dough. After all, money is a direct representation of your ability to create. And we ALL have that ability. When you put your time in & use your passion to create something, that energy bounds into your product, no matter if that product is an idea or is a tangible.

Here's a useful quote I learned years ago, "Where attention goes, Energy flows, & Results show." I know this to be honestly true in my own life. Wherever I put focused attention, and allow passion to flow, results always show. They don't always look the way I thought they might, but I'm never disappointed.

The fact is, most of us never really learned how to accumulate wealth. We were brought up with financial blueprints that were built on scarcity, fear and lack. And when there's never enough of anything, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. What you think about manifests. And when you consistently think of money in any other way than in abundance, it is sure to manifest in that way. For example, think to yourself, "If I could only get xxxxxxx amount of dollars in my bank account, I'll finally feel safe & happy." And then think about all the lottery winners out there who that actually happened to. Everyone knows that most of those folks lose their fortunes within a short time of accumulating them. Why? Because they don't have the tools to maintain wealth.

In his book "Think & Grow Rich," Napoleon Hill wrote that it is almost unheard of for a person to maintain any accumulated wealth until after the age of 40. And the most obvious reason is that it takes that long for each of us to work through baggage associated with our financial blueprints, and to gain the tools necessary to building a practical & powerful portfolio.

I am a perfect example of this. I was making millions as a doctor. But in my personal life, I was doing almost everything I could to subconsciously sabotage everything I'd worked for. And at one point, it worked. I lost it all because I wasn't living my purpose-driven life. And THAT is the key to creating abundance...living YOUR purpose-driven life, dropping everyone else's ideas of success & wealth, and then creating your own. The rest, as they say, is in the details.

You see, clarity is power. And it helps us in many different ways. Clarity facilitates honesty with your own personal financial situation. It helps you to release emotionality from financial decisions. And it cultivates a healthy garden of accountability. Once you choose clarity over fear & apathy, you will have overcome one of the biggest hurdles on the track to abundance.

Train yourself to become financially self-reliant. Stop listening to that little voice in the back of your head that's constantly saying "You can't do it! That's impossible! You're not smart enough!" That's a bunch of hogwash.

In my opinion, every person is responsible to natural law to maintain the ability to create wealth & abundance in his or her life. For if you're not creating, you're withholding your spark from the engine of life. You've elected, either passively or actively, to reduce your role in contributing to the grander scope of life & to humanity. This exclusionary behavior typically stems from lack of knowledge & self-worth. And, interestingly enough, those are both useless measures created by the ego. Purposefully excluding yourself from life, new people, ideas, opportunities & experiences keeps fear and scarcity alive. Let's move past that way of being.

In the Financial section of The 7 Pillars of Balance, you will find stories, articles, tips & techniques that will help you to:

                     ...become clear about your financial blueprint,

                     ...come to the conclusion that you are already abundant,

                     ...budget your money,

                     ...become a powerful money magnet,

                     ...systemize your life for maximum efficiency,

                     ...create abundance in all areas of life,

                     ...accumulate real wealth, etc.

Keep Moving Forward!

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7 Pillars of Balance - Intro to Love & Relationships

In the deepest recesses of our hearts, in the spaces we try to hide from others, we ALL desire & require love, affection & connection with other humans. Every last one of us craves a healthy union with others.

Relationships offer the greatest opportunity for self-evolution. They also offer us an infinite number of possibilities and opportunities for awareness and change. They reveal all extremes of human behavior, including projection of the ego. Relationships challenge us to become better, to balance all areas of life, to become a leader.

A healthy relationship, whether a friendship or a love interest, must be defined in terms of mutual respect. There is a balance of give and take. A healthy independence and a deep understanding of self is key to a mutually beneficial relationship. Codependency, fear & over emoting are red flags that lead to resentment and pain.

Long-lasting and successful relationships maintain unconditional love, patience and acceptance along a two-way path. There is never room for control, guilt or judgment. There are wonderful opportunities for your own evolution in each relationship you share.  

The articles, videos & podcasts in the Love & Relationships section of The 7 Pillars of Balance will help you to explore this evolution, and will provide proactive tips and techniques to help you to improve and select supportive, loving relationships in your life.

Keep Moving Forward!

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7 Pillars of Balance - Intro to Success & Leadership

What is it to be successful? That definition can vary widely depending on who you ask. The way I see it, success is having the distinct ability to utilize & maintain the connection to the Universal Intelligence. When you're in that state of being, you have a deep sense of truth and awareness. Creativity abounds and anxiety, fear & stress are dissolved. In maintaining that connection to source, piercing the veil of the unconditioned mind/ego is second nature. Any decision you make will be responsible, balanced and purpose-driven. And in that place, all things are possible. And success is inevitable. A successful person has learned to utilize both instinct & intuition, and is well-versed in the dance between the two.

Leadership, on the other hand, is the distinct ability to responsibly & efficiently guide oneself, & others, to a place of success. Leaders are able to maintain global vision while attending to details. They empower others to become self-reliant, inspire creativity & lead by example.

The articles & podcasts in the Success & Leadership section of The 7 Pillars of Balance will provide powerful tips, ideas & techniques to help you become more successful, and to become a better leader.

Keep Moving Forward!

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7 Pillars of Balance - Intro to Codes of Life

There are a more than a few disturbing trends in America. One of the most influential of them is the dissolution of the family unit. In most cultures, family is sacred. In America, we talk about how family is sacred, but we don't consistently follow through with activities that are congruent with that belief. We're skewed toward egoistic behavior, working long hours, accumulation, perception, etc.

Where there once was story time, cultivation of the art of conversation and the teaching of core values & principles, there is now an unending stream of entertainment & escapism. There is a significant element of disrespect in our society, for both the self and for everyone & everything around us. But the biggest travesties caused by this rift are the erosion of individual character, self-reliance & self-responsibility. Due to the lack of functional family interaction, we've lost the abilities to reason through emotion, and to deal with obstacles with an eye toward responsibility.

There is a serious need for a set of responsible Codes that we can all live by, that we can all agree to and manifest into the world. They cannot be based in religion, or on regional vices, dogma or ritual, but must be based on responsibility alone. And THAT is what the Codes of Life are all about...responsibility.

Examples of some Codes of Life are a Code of Conduct, a Personal Philosophy statement, your Self-care model, a Code of Honesty, a Code of Integrity, and the like. They encompass your daily mental & emotional habits, and your general way of being, and how you decide to interact with your environment. One of the most useful Codes of Life 25-Point Universal Covenant of Responsibility® (UCoR.) You can find further explanation and the FREE DOWNLOAD HERE .  (Be sure to print it off and recite it as per the instructions.)

You can see that the Codes of Life are all about your Frame of Reference, your paradigm. They are about being focused and intent in all situations in life. They are about clearing the cobwebs inserted by ego, ritual and apathy. They are about inspiration, leadership & change, and how to lead by example.

All the articles and podcasts in this section are created to provide a platform for the creation of a powerful new America through the application of simple, focused ideals. They will increase your awareness, and offer techniques and tips to ignite a movement toward family in America.

It's time for us to step up to the plate and live by example.

Keep Moving Forward!

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7 Pillars of Balance - Intro to Spirituality

Spirituality is the common thread that weaves itself throughout religion and life. It is the basis of everything. It's the vehicle by which we transcend from self to soul. where we connect to our God, soul and self. And at its most fundamental level, spirituality is the tie that binds us to The Infinite. It's where we find truth, answers, creativity & invention.

It is the goal of The Responsibility Movement, and of myself, to create an atmosphere in America that supports the proliferation of individual spirituality. It is vital to our own personal evolution that each of us follows our own spiritual path, because the lessons of one person are not necessarily the lessons of another. And let us not forget that there are many pathways along the road to spirituality.

And what does it mean to be spiritual? For some it means adhering to the principles and procedures of a particular religion. And for others, it is honoring Mother Earth, and for others still, it is honoring the god within. To some degree, all are appropriate at various times throughout life. And none are wrong, as long as they're not exclusionary or harmful in any way to anyone.

I like to think of things in terms of their most fundament parts. I ask myself the question, "What is it that all spiritually-based practices share?" When you peel away the humanistic, ego-driven, parts of all religion, the dogma, separatism, rigidity, control, guilt, financial interest, etc., you're left with a core system of personal evolution. That is our common thread. We all desire acceptance. And when we give acceptance, without judgment, we put into action a cascade of events that ultimately results in others raising themselves up to a more inspired level. By accepting, you empower others to be better. That is the nature of spirituality.

I support everyone who seeks spiritual practices that help to create and maintain the most responsible & life-enriching environment possible. Such practices embrace differentiation & inspire thought. They are never exclusionary, or require ritual indoctrination. Spirituality is as free as thought, and every being is entitled to it at every moment of life.

The articles and podcasts in the Spirituality section of this blog will include writings, thoughts and ideas to help you along your path to maintaining a daily spiritual practice.

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