Daily Inspirational Podcast

Has there ever been such a generation gap as the one we’re experiencing today? Let’s face it; not all old people are crusty and boring just as not all young people are snowflakes and entitled. The vibrancy, the energy and the potential of the youth is intoxicating.  Unfortunately, some older people have forgotten this and need the youth to remind them of what they’ve lost sight of. The youth seeks the answers (wisdom) that older people seem to have created through a lifetime of experience. Having an open dialogue of communication between the generations could only serve to bring a greater sense of community which seemingly leads to a life worth living.

The modern-day medical paradigm regarding depression is that you have a problem producing serotonin in your brain. That is to say that you have a chemical imbalance that will respond to medications that help increase the amount of serotonin in your brain. This will alleviate your depression and make you feel normal again. This of course is the dogma, but is it accurate? The answer is, maybe but not for the reasons you think. It is now well understood by brain researchers that depression is heavily linked to loneliness. Loneliness is a lethal disease that will kill you faster than alcoholism, cigarette smoking or obesity. You’re in control of your choices but you have to know the truth.

Life can have us running in a number of directions at once.  This can overwhelm the brain and increase the production of stress hormones that, over time, can damage your health.  Often, it’s difficult to detect that you’re in a tailspin because it has become so “normal” to you.  When there’s time off, like the holidays, and you allow yourself to rest, it’s amazing how the body responds.  Sleep improves, mood softens, the body heals and connections deepen.  It’s a reminder that perhaps you can sometimes overdo it and you MUST take time to restore balance and repair before you break.  There’s nothing wrong with working hard to achieve things you want in life but to what end?  Embrace the journey as strongly, if not more than, the destination. 

Sex is a natural part of humanity and is incredibly good for you.  There are plenty of social reasons why sex is frowned upon but as a doctor I can assure you that sex has WAY MORE upside than downside.  Physically sex lowers blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart attack and dilates your blood vessels.  It reduces the risk of prostate cancer, strengthens a woman’s pelvic floor reducing incontinence while driving estrogen levels to a new level.  This is so good for you.  Sex reboots your immune system and overall makes you a physically healthier person.

Emotionally, sex improves sleep while increasing connection between 2 people.  It’s calming and positively affects mood.  It reduces most of the negative effects of stress while increasing the deepness of the relationship.  Don’t fret if you’re not in a relationship; a good solo mission will do just fine.  SEX is wonderful for all things human as long it’s exercised with respect and responsibility.  Is it time to Shag?  It’s up to you.

Christmas is a magical time for many but for some it is a painful reminder of love ones lost.  When you suffer the loss of a loved one, the magic of Christmas might seem more like an emotional burden.  Perhaps rather than feeling pain year after year, ask yourself what that person you loved and lost would think of your perspective.  If you once shared Christmas with them, then continue to share it even in there physical absence.  You get to CHOOSE  how you want to feel.  Perhaps you celebrate their life and continue the traditions of love and giving to others who also might be suffering.   This is what they would’ve wanted.  Christmas didn’t steal your loved one.  Their journey ended when it was supposed to.  Yes sometimes that means at Christmas.  Think about getting back in the game and feeling the love of Christmas and your loved one.  Then take a deep breath, know that you’ll be OK, and help someone else in need.  Merry Christmas.

Acute stress gets your body ready to save your life.  In modern times, stress is chronic (24/7) as a consequence of our complex lifestyles.  This stress produces stress chemicals that make us sick at the cellular level.  If your cells are sick, YOU ARE SICK.

Pain can have many different causes but none-the-less it’s a very unpleasant sensation.  Unlike pain from a physical injury, emotional pain cannot be measured by a doctor. It’s very personal.  Pain from loss, betrayal, or even loneliness can cripple you and hold you down, if you let it.  Consider seeking counsel and connect with others who can help bear the burden while you feel weak. Stay connected to people who can help nurture your emotional pain with love and compassion.  This is why we’re all here to begin with; to care for each other.  It won’t be long your pain will transform into experience and allow you an opportunity in the future to be someones else’s rock; paying it forward.

The power of the brain is limitless.   It’s actually a collection of billions of cells called neurons that communicate with each other, which represents every thought you’ve had and will ever have in the future.  The more times you stimulate one of these brain circuits, the stronger and more efficient it gets.  The opposite is also true.  If you reduce the stimulation to the circuit, the connections prune back and become less efficient. In some cases, they are completely erased!  If you re-live the painful events of your life as negative thoughts, you will emotionally resonate this in your health while others will feel your negative emotional state making them weary of investing time and money in you.  If for every time you feel a negative thought you quickly shift your mindset to something positive, you can re-wire your brain circuits for happiness, joy and an overall sense of peace.  Then you have tapped into your personal power and this is where the magic happens. 

Did you know that its’ your story that defines you?  It’s the story that you tell yourself and others about how you got to this place that controls your feelings and behaviors.  When you believe your story, you will focus all of your energy on it either consciously or unconsciously.  You’ll become the living manifestation of perhaps victimization or triumph.  It’s your call because you’re in control.  If you learn to improve the story, you manifest feelings of hope and possibility.  If you keep talking about the darkness of your past experiences, you will unfortunately be a prisoner in your own mind manifesting feeling of failure and despair.  So what’s your story? 

The Marijuana plant remains a controversial topic. Today’s Podcast features Big John, a marijuana cultivator and overall enthusiast. John covers the misconceptions regarding pot in an effort to promote societal awareness of the truth and possible benefits of the chemicals derived from this age-old plant.