From Breakdown To Breakthrough

9 out of 10 americans have overdue parking fines....5 our of ten americans owe some taxes.....2 in 10 americans don't have a job....I don't support J6P, but I don't think it's his problem. It's the cronies in Washington handing out huge sums of money to the rich...and making us pay for it during the next 60 years.
Great gift to leave our grandkids.... I really think it's time to pull all of the jobs we have offshored (10 million)
back to America.

When you mentioned the universal meditation sounds - a vowel sound followed by "m" or "n" are relaxing, it made me wonder about Barack Obama's nickname of "the one". He has the bearing of one who breathes well - which is way harder than it sounds - and manages his stress well. I've noticed a phenomenon with other people who share this trait ... it has a one-two effect on others: it relaxes them (calms their anxieties) and then invigorates them (the anxieties are no longer dragging them down). There are plenty of theories about the nickname, but perhaps people who have been positively influenced by him instinctively chose a word that reflects on his bearing, and their ensuing sense of calm.

I think we all react to the physical manifestation of calm or anxiety in other people, whether we realize it or not. So, hey maybe that's another good reason to practice these de-stressing tips ... it can help those around relax more too.

Preventative tip: live well within your means, people. You don't need that big screen or that extra bedroom.

Religion offers an excellent perspective for me - one which emphasizes the bigger picture of the world and helps me put into perspective the smallness of the physical world where we now live. For a religious person, an example of a catastrophic occurance would be learning that God no longer loves us. The present economic situation, even when extended to worldwide proportions, does not compare. We are still God's creation and he loves us.

I agree with the person commenting that the subject of this article should be required in schools. If it not the current problems we are facing it is something else. The fact is there are countless personal and collective struggles we go through in our lifetime and in spite of the long years we spend in schools and colleges they leave us ill-prepared to handle these inevitable occurrences.

Following the suggestions described by Dr. Ornish in this article may leave us better prepared not only to handle our own emotional turmoils but also to build the inner strength needed to help others.

Making a positive contribution to the lives of people around us and the larger society especially in facing some of the biggest challenges requires not only good intention but also requires that an individual possess the inner strength needed to first face unpleasant truths without despairing.

Dr. Ornish has outlined in this article the first steps towards developing the potential to help first ourselves and then others and ultimately to lead more meaningful lives. And these words in addition to being timely are also timeless!

These subjects of this article should be required in schools so that when inevitable events occur, so many people do not fall between an emotional wall and a spiritual hard place.

I agree. A great piece full of positive, specific, and "do-able" advice. A lot of it may be simple common sense, but count me as among those who need a reminder that we each have some control over our own lives, feelings and responses. I felt a lot better just reading it!

I read this column not expecting to find anything very helpful amid our current meltdown, but I couldn't stop reading it until I got to the end. How refreshing to finally read advice that's actually constructive, even hopeful. Thank you!