Go to the beach. Any beach; even a large public lakefront where animals and humans frolic. I find the surf and waves of a coastal beach very soothing, and it makes me feel good to see so many other humans there.
I have stayed ahead of the curve, ahead of the freeze, gave awy over 40,000 doses of 5000 IU vitamin D3 in 2020 to coworkers and patients, treated COVID with antivirals before, during and after it "becams controversial", openly accepted firing for "vaccine refusal" and Family Medicine Board decertification for "advising patients against COVID-19 immunization", and blogged through it all, building a house for a year after getting fired, to complete a dream of mine.
Pray for guidance. Follow it early.
Keep watching the horizon. This will continue for the rest of your life.
(Grow vegetables, if possible.)
You are an immortal soul. This is like a video game from that perspective.
That book, "The Road Less Traveled" by Dr. M. Scott Peck IS a book of wisdom. As he said: "The road less traveled is a journey dedicated to the pursuit of the truth in all things." He also said: "At the root of all mental illness IS the denial of the truth" I add "and that can be self-denial or denial by others."
Peck's evaluation of the human condition is timeless. His wisdom was and still is a bumper in my life. By that criteria, I have three mentally ill siblings.
I don't consider myself mentally ill. Slightly nuts at times when I'm momentarily overwhelmed by our dystopian society but overall quite sound of mind.
Could you elaborate on the "or denial by others"? I'm interpreting it as others denying truth makes those in their proximity mentally ill by affiliation.
I am responding to your request to "elaborate on the "Denial of truth by others".
I first say that "Mental illness" IS a human construct. A labeling. Like being called "anti-vax" or "Anti-science". It is a "stigmata" that can provoke mental challenges - something is wrong with me PER OTHERS. Mental illness is also relative - "In the eyes of the observer". Put me In Hitler Germany 1940 and I would be the mentally ill person. And I would go crazy trying to deny/hide my truths and survive in those times.
Maybe General Michael Flynn summarized it best around 2021 in an interview by Alex Jones - allegedly a "conspiracy theorist" which itself was a "denial of truth". "Don't listen to Alex Jones he's a conspiracy theorist."
Flynn said "What people need to understand is that what we are talking about is not conspiracy theory - there IS a conspiracy (a denial of truth - "COVID is a serious contagion - vaccines will save you"). We are in a real war, for now using unconventional warfare tactics, where the battles are for the narratives and what people BELIEVE and thus what they do (e.g., VOTE, purchase, tell others..)" Battles for the truth between evil liars and Patriot truth tellers.
Flynn was not talking hypothetically or metaphorically about a "war". On Dec 7, 2020, POTUS DJT posted an Executive Order at Whitehouse.gov (I had been following his E.O.'s). DJT said that he had been shown the evidence of how the 2016 election was attempted to be stolen and the evidence of how the 2020 election was stolen. He declared that America was "under attack by enemies both foreign and domestic" and instructed the military to perform it's duties to protect the Nation based on the Constitution and subsequent related laws." I read this EO several times.
One might ask "Why wasn't this E.O. widely revealed by every Conservative and Patriot medium. Isn't that a "denial of the truth" by Patriots. It kind've is. Why - is beyond me.
My reality/truth is I saw and heard General Flynn and separately two other ex-military personnel later affirm what Flynn said. At war in battles for truth.
So, for me, "the denial of the truth by others" IS the center of this "real war" for the truth. And people, including me, can get confused and lost in this conflagration of information, truths and lies. And people can get so confused, lost, concerned that it could lead to stress, despair and potentially mental illness - whatever that is. I could see people becoming despondent and giving up. I know of such people who are more comfortable in denial and avoidance. Go play golf, etc. Their own avoidance of the truth. A valid survival mechanism.
Whether that leads to "mental illness" or not is a question because mental illness is a human construct. Would any sane person today accept a diagnosis, say, by a Dr. Fauci of a mental illness. Not me. NOR by the American Psychiatrist Association's "Approved Psychiatrists". It speaks loudly that 80% of America is on psychotropic drugs, per Dr. Breggin.
That's a lot of "mental illness" OR is it just denial of truth?
I recall "scientific experiments" decades ago where a person was given a slight electric shock if they answered a question incorrectly or lied. The "experimenters" intentionally cornered them and shocked them into NOT telling the truth - to avoid being shocked again. Of course the only mentally ill person in those studies were the experimenters themselves. In denial of the truth of empathy and compassion IF they had any.
And in this psychotropic drug-laced world - drugs Designed and DOCUMENTED to reduce empathy and increase grandiosity and narcissism - there is then very little actual truth.
Get out in nature every day. If you live in a city, find a park where you can be around trees and maybe water. Look up at the sky instead of the screen on your phone.
Here's a quote from Thich Nhat Hanh that I find helpful:
If you listen too much to the suffering, the anger of other people, you will be affected. You will be in touch only with suffering, and you won't have the opportunity to be in touch with other, positive elements. This will destroy your balance. Therefore, in your daily life, you have to practice so that you can be in touch with elements that do not constantly express suffering: the sky, the birds, the trees, the flowers, children - whatever is refreshing, healing and nourishing in us and around us.
In the morning I view the 8:00 a.m. (EST) Mass on EWTN. After, I reread and meditate upon the Mass Epistle and Gospel of the day. I precede the readings by reciting two biblical quotes: “May the words of my mouth and mediations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my rock and redeemer” (Psalm 19:14), and, “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10).
A wise spiritual director suggested I first read the two daily Mass passages out loud slowly, underlining words or phrases that leaped out - and make notations of thoughts in the margins. Then he stated that as I went over the passages I needed to stay with them until I had a takeaway, a memento. He was right. Sometimes it takes longer, but there are always takeaways that settle the heart, fire the mind, increase faith, and give one resolve. God, the creator, redeemer and sanctifier made us in His image and likeness. We are the crown of creation. St Augustine wrote, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in Thee.”
“May the words of my mouth and mediations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my rock and redeemer” (Psalm 19:14), and, “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10). This is the one for the morning mirror!
Yes, a mirror would be good. I "orient" to the East and annoint (moisturize) my neck from my mouth to my heart and the across, ultimately making two full crosses while praying those blessed word. Remembering God, Father & creature, Son, Redeemer & judge, Holy Ghost, Giver of Life & Sanctifier.
When you are in bed, before falling to sleep, each and every night:
1. Name 3 things you are grateful for that day (easy and very open ended).
2. Name 1 thing you did to make someone else's life better (this one can be surprisingly difficult).
3. This one isn't for everyone. But, if you believe that when you sleep you have access to other powers/forces, use that connection to solve a problem or question or situation you are struggling with. It takes some getting used to, because you can't be overly specific or overly general. The next morning when you wake, write down your immediate thoughts first thing. Often you'll need to approach the same question more than once, from different angles.
Orthodox Christianity is a therapeutic system that for centuries has consistently produced healed human beings, triumphant over the powers of darkness. I'm happy to share more, or just look up lives of Orthodox Christian saints.
Breathe deeply and intentionally ("Breathing Into Life" by Bija Bennett is a great, short book about this). Ground ourselves either by making sure we let our bare feet touch the bare ground daily or using grounding products (Earthing.com has some amazing products). Letting the sun shine on you without sunscreen or sunglasses (Jacob Lieberman, O.D., Ph.D. has some fascinating books that talks about these topics, how healing your vision helps heal your psyche, and also talks about color therapy). And, prayer has really helped me to come to know that God hasn't forsaken us and He's always watching over us, even in the most trying of times.
Wonderful, Celia– I will do my best to make the Zoom!
What settles my heart and grounds me?
My morning practices, about an hour and a half, include polyvagal exercises, a healing water ceremony, pre yoga and yoga movements, gratitude throughout, self-massage, breathwork, active meditation, psycho-spiritual reading (now from Louise Hay's "Trust Life" and Richard Schwartz's "No Bad Parts").
Then ( when the weather is not icy cold) I walk barefoot across the dewy grass, heartily sending love to all the critters and thanking them for respecting our garden, thanking the devas for their help in communicating this, and picking my morning tea (dandelion, cilantro, echinacea, red clover, sweet annie, chamomile flower, tulsi, lemon balm, lavender, oregano, mugwort, sweet mint, rosemary, mallow blossom, sage leaf, thyme flower, motherwort, achillea and goldenrod leaf. This all changes with the seasons, of course.
Back inside, I add half a lemon, fresh grated ginger and turmeric root, green tea, maca, a touch of cannabis, local honey, and india black tea. I think that's it for the tea. I drink it and then eat the herbs left in the cup (about half the cup!)
On a sunny warm day, I'll immerse my body in the cold Stoney Kill Creek– a mini Wim Hof!
What I hear is stopping, focusing on a small task, enjoying the process and being rewarded by a hot beverage being sipped whilst just being for a moment.
I've spent the greater portion of my life financially strapped, to the point where a buck or two extra per day on average could, and did, make a real difference ($1.50 X 365 = almost $550, enough for two weeks rent). So, over the years, I somehow learned how to resuscitate my paleolithic chromosomes thereby allowing me to develop a knack for efficacious scavenging. I'm in better shape financially these days, to the point where I don't really need to scavenge, but it's now ingrained behavior, like it or not. The title TV character known as Monk referred to his severe OCD as both a blessing and a curse, but I regard my frequent long walks as tantamount to treasure hunts. My haul today was quite modest, a mere 29 cents in change, but yesterday was quite different. I was passing by a house as I headed downtown and noticed a bike leaning against its front wall. Here in Carson City, it's not uncommon to see kids' scooters and bikes in front yards unattended, but this was a more expensive adult bike, in pretty much brand new condition. And then, with no deficiency of amazement, I spotted an attached sign declaring this property free for the taking.
On the flip side, meaning for the betterment of the collective, during these walkabouts I often remove screws and nails I notice on motorways, as well as more conspicuous hazards like large rocks. Sometimes, too, keys or IDs are found, here and there, which I turn in to the nearest establishment.
This pedestrian pastime of mine is one of the activities I rely upon to stay both alert and resourceful.
one of the other dividends which I was tempted to get into at some length: close encounters with fauna ranging from grasshoppers and assiduous pollinator-insects to basking lizards to California quail, bluejays, robins, cottontail rabbits, neighborhood cats. a couple of years ago, one morning when I was cutting through the campus of UNLV, an owl swooped down from its perch and smacked my shoulder with its talon. huge wow.
My garden, the birds, the sounds of nature, essential oils, natural foods, breathing consciously, good sleep, inspirational sounds/music, water, bodies of water, preferably salty and with sand under the feet, warmth, warm weather, a nice cuppa homemade anything, a soul exchange, reflexology, light, real light, colours, above all become a walking prayer, walk in faith, Grüß Gott.
Grounding. You've got to discharge excess electrical energy. Gardening. Meditation is key here. God is within all of us. Meditation restores calm to the nervous system, puts you in rest and digest mode and takes you out of fight or flight. Belly breathing. If you are chest breathing, you are in fight or flight. Watch how a baby breathes while sleeping. The belly is going up and down. We all used to breathe like that. When you breathe that way, the adrenals cannot fire, so you cannot release cortisol and the hormones of stress. And from the wisdom of my husband, "unplug from that shit" 99% of the world had a pretty good day yesterday. Blessings!
Cuddle with a kitty.
I so agree. I just got a new kitten. Such a comfort!
Go to the beach. Any beach; even a large public lakefront where animals and humans frolic. I find the surf and waves of a coastal beach very soothing, and it makes me feel good to see so many other humans there.
I have stayed ahead of the curve, ahead of the freeze, gave awy over 40,000 doses of 5000 IU vitamin D3 in 2020 to coworkers and patients, treated COVID with antivirals before, during and after it "becams controversial", openly accepted firing for "vaccine refusal" and Family Medicine Board decertification for "advising patients against COVID-19 immunization", and blogged through it all, building a house for a year after getting fired, to complete a dream of mine.
Pray for guidance. Follow it early.
Keep watching the horizon. This will continue for the rest of your life.
(Grow vegetables, if possible.)
You are an immortal soul. This is like a video game from that perspective.
drjohnsblog.substack.com
Bless you for what you did, you are one of the “hero’s. 👏
Thank You.
"Of he to whom much is given,much will be required."
It's far from over.
We seek to bring Divine Will into our world through our actions and intentions.
John ! Beautiful you and your road less traveled.
That book, "The Road Less Traveled" by Dr. M. Scott Peck IS a book of wisdom. As he said: "The road less traveled is a journey dedicated to the pursuit of the truth in all things." He also said: "At the root of all mental illness IS the denial of the truth" I add "and that can be self-denial or denial by others."
Peck's evaluation of the human condition is timeless. His wisdom was and still is a bumper in my life. By that criteria, I have three mentally ill siblings.
I don't consider myself mentally ill. Slightly nuts at times when I'm momentarily overwhelmed by our dystopian society but overall quite sound of mind.
Could you elaborate on the "or denial by others"? I'm interpreting it as others denying truth makes those in their proximity mentally ill by affiliation.
I am responding to your request to "elaborate on the "Denial of truth by others".
I first say that "Mental illness" IS a human construct. A labeling. Like being called "anti-vax" or "Anti-science". It is a "stigmata" that can provoke mental challenges - something is wrong with me PER OTHERS. Mental illness is also relative - "In the eyes of the observer". Put me In Hitler Germany 1940 and I would be the mentally ill person. And I would go crazy trying to deny/hide my truths and survive in those times.
Maybe General Michael Flynn summarized it best around 2021 in an interview by Alex Jones - allegedly a "conspiracy theorist" which itself was a "denial of truth". "Don't listen to Alex Jones he's a conspiracy theorist."
Flynn said "What people need to understand is that what we are talking about is not conspiracy theory - there IS a conspiracy (a denial of truth - "COVID is a serious contagion - vaccines will save you"). We are in a real war, for now using unconventional warfare tactics, where the battles are for the narratives and what people BELIEVE and thus what they do (e.g., VOTE, purchase, tell others..)" Battles for the truth between evil liars and Patriot truth tellers.
Flynn was not talking hypothetically or metaphorically about a "war". On Dec 7, 2020, POTUS DJT posted an Executive Order at Whitehouse.gov (I had been following his E.O.'s). DJT said that he had been shown the evidence of how the 2016 election was attempted to be stolen and the evidence of how the 2020 election was stolen. He declared that America was "under attack by enemies both foreign and domestic" and instructed the military to perform it's duties to protect the Nation based on the Constitution and subsequent related laws." I read this EO several times.
One might ask "Why wasn't this E.O. widely revealed by every Conservative and Patriot medium. Isn't that a "denial of the truth" by Patriots. It kind've is. Why - is beyond me.
My reality/truth is I saw and heard General Flynn and separately two other ex-military personnel later affirm what Flynn said. At war in battles for truth.
So, for me, "the denial of the truth by others" IS the center of this "real war" for the truth. And people, including me, can get confused and lost in this conflagration of information, truths and lies. And people can get so confused, lost, concerned that it could lead to stress, despair and potentially mental illness - whatever that is. I could see people becoming despondent and giving up. I know of such people who are more comfortable in denial and avoidance. Go play golf, etc. Their own avoidance of the truth. A valid survival mechanism.
Whether that leads to "mental illness" or not is a question because mental illness is a human construct. Would any sane person today accept a diagnosis, say, by a Dr. Fauci of a mental illness. Not me. NOR by the American Psychiatrist Association's "Approved Psychiatrists". It speaks loudly that 80% of America is on psychotropic drugs, per Dr. Breggin.
That's a lot of "mental illness" OR is it just denial of truth?
I recall "scientific experiments" decades ago where a person was given a slight electric shock if they answered a question incorrectly or lied. The "experimenters" intentionally cornered them and shocked them into NOT telling the truth - to avoid being shocked again. Of course the only mentally ill person in those studies were the experimenters themselves. In denial of the truth of empathy and compassion IF they had any.
And in this psychotropic drug-laced world - drugs Designed and DOCUMENTED to reduce empathy and increase grandiosity and narcissism - there is then very little actual truth.
Hope this is helpful.
Yes it is, I read it years ago.
Get out in nature every day. If you live in a city, find a park where you can be around trees and maybe water. Look up at the sky instead of the screen on your phone.
Here's a quote from Thich Nhat Hanh that I find helpful:
If you listen too much to the suffering, the anger of other people, you will be affected. You will be in touch only with suffering, and you won't have the opportunity to be in touch with other, positive elements. This will destroy your balance. Therefore, in your daily life, you have to practice so that you can be in touch with elements that do not constantly express suffering: the sky, the birds, the trees, the flowers, children - whatever is refreshing, healing and nourishing in us and around us.
Thanks, Celia, for asking the question.
What settles my heart - and grounds me?
In the morning I view the 8:00 a.m. (EST) Mass on EWTN. After, I reread and meditate upon the Mass Epistle and Gospel of the day. I precede the readings by reciting two biblical quotes: “May the words of my mouth and mediations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my rock and redeemer” (Psalm 19:14), and, “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10).
A wise spiritual director suggested I first read the two daily Mass passages out loud slowly, underlining words or phrases that leaped out - and make notations of thoughts in the margins. Then he stated that as I went over the passages I needed to stay with them until I had a takeaway, a memento. He was right. Sometimes it takes longer, but there are always takeaways that settle the heart, fire the mind, increase faith, and give one resolve. God, the creator, redeemer and sanctifier made us in His image and likeness. We are the crown of creation. St Augustine wrote, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in Thee.”
Thanks, Fr. Jose. May you be blessed manifold.
“May the words of my mouth and mediations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my rock and redeemer” (Psalm 19:14), and, “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10). This is the one for the morning mirror!
Yes, a mirror would be good. I "orient" to the East and annoint (moisturize) my neck from my mouth to my heart and the across, ultimately making two full crosses while praying those blessed word. Remembering God, Father & creature, Son, Redeemer & judge, Holy Ghost, Giver of Life & Sanctifier.
When you are in bed, before falling to sleep, each and every night:
1. Name 3 things you are grateful for that day (easy and very open ended).
2. Name 1 thing you did to make someone else's life better (this one can be surprisingly difficult).
3. This one isn't for everyone. But, if you believe that when you sleep you have access to other powers/forces, use that connection to solve a problem or question or situation you are struggling with. It takes some getting used to, because you can't be overly specific or overly general. The next morning when you wake, write down your immediate thoughts first thing. Often you'll need to approach the same question more than once, from different angles.
Orthodox Christianity is a therapeutic system that for centuries has consistently produced healed human beings, triumphant over the powers of darkness. I'm happy to share more, or just look up lives of Orthodox Christian saints.
Breathe deeply and intentionally ("Breathing Into Life" by Bija Bennett is a great, short book about this). Ground ourselves either by making sure we let our bare feet touch the bare ground daily or using grounding products (Earthing.com has some amazing products). Letting the sun shine on you without sunscreen or sunglasses (Jacob Lieberman, O.D., Ph.D. has some fascinating books that talks about these topics, how healing your vision helps heal your psyche, and also talks about color therapy). And, prayer has really helped me to come to know that God hasn't forsaken us and He's always watching over us, even in the most trying of times.
Wonderful, Celia– I will do my best to make the Zoom!
What settles my heart and grounds me?
My morning practices, about an hour and a half, include polyvagal exercises, a healing water ceremony, pre yoga and yoga movements, gratitude throughout, self-massage, breathwork, active meditation, psycho-spiritual reading (now from Louise Hay's "Trust Life" and Richard Schwartz's "No Bad Parts").
Then ( when the weather is not icy cold) I walk barefoot across the dewy grass, heartily sending love to all the critters and thanking them for respecting our garden, thanking the devas for their help in communicating this, and picking my morning tea (dandelion, cilantro, echinacea, red clover, sweet annie, chamomile flower, tulsi, lemon balm, lavender, oregano, mugwort, sweet mint, rosemary, mallow blossom, sage leaf, thyme flower, motherwort, achillea and goldenrod leaf. This all changes with the seasons, of course.
Back inside, I add half a lemon, fresh grated ginger and turmeric root, green tea, maca, a touch of cannabis, local honey, and india black tea. I think that's it for the tea. I drink it and then eat the herbs left in the cup (about half the cup!)
On a sunny warm day, I'll immerse my body in the cold Stoney Kill Creek– a mini Wim Hof!
“A cup of tea cures all ails” - Britain
What I hear is stopping, focusing on a small task, enjoying the process and being rewarded by a hot beverage being sipped whilst just being for a moment.
Cooking for oneself - with these ingredients:
- passion
- patcience
- time and timing
-
And later then:
Cooking for friends.
I've spent the greater portion of my life financially strapped, to the point where a buck or two extra per day on average could, and did, make a real difference ($1.50 X 365 = almost $550, enough for two weeks rent). So, over the years, I somehow learned how to resuscitate my paleolithic chromosomes thereby allowing me to develop a knack for efficacious scavenging. I'm in better shape financially these days, to the point where I don't really need to scavenge, but it's now ingrained behavior, like it or not. The title TV character known as Monk referred to his severe OCD as both a blessing and a curse, but I regard my frequent long walks as tantamount to treasure hunts. My haul today was quite modest, a mere 29 cents in change, but yesterday was quite different. I was passing by a house as I headed downtown and noticed a bike leaning against its front wall. Here in Carson City, it's not uncommon to see kids' scooters and bikes in front yards unattended, but this was a more expensive adult bike, in pretty much brand new condition. And then, with no deficiency of amazement, I spotted an attached sign declaring this property free for the taking.
On the flip side, meaning for the betterment of the collective, during these walkabouts I often remove screws and nails I notice on motorways, as well as more conspicuous hazards like large rocks. Sometimes, too, keys or IDs are found, here and there, which I turn in to the nearest establishment.
This pedestrian pastime of mine is one of the activities I rely upon to stay both alert and resourceful.
That's a good hobby. If I am ever, God forbid, forced to live in the city again, I'll take it up.
one of the other dividends which I was tempted to get into at some length: close encounters with fauna ranging from grasshoppers and assiduous pollinator-insects to basking lizards to California quail, bluejays, robins, cottontail rabbits, neighborhood cats. a couple of years ago, one morning when I was cutting through the campus of UNLV, an owl swooped down from its perch and smacked my shoulder with its talon. huge wow.
My garden, the birds, the sounds of nature, essential oils, natural foods, breathing consciously, good sleep, inspirational sounds/music, water, bodies of water, preferably salty and with sand under the feet, warmth, warm weather, a nice cuppa homemade anything, a soul exchange, reflexology, light, real light, colours, above all become a walking prayer, walk in faith, Grüß Gott.
Grounding. You've got to discharge excess electrical energy. Gardening. Meditation is key here. God is within all of us. Meditation restores calm to the nervous system, puts you in rest and digest mode and takes you out of fight or flight. Belly breathing. If you are chest breathing, you are in fight or flight. Watch how a baby breathes while sleeping. The belly is going up and down. We all used to breathe like that. When you breathe that way, the adrenals cannot fire, so you cannot release cortisol and the hormones of stress. And from the wisdom of my husband, "unplug from that shit" 99% of the world had a pretty good day yesterday. Blessings!
Sitting in the morning sun
I'll be sitting when the evening comes
Watching the ships roll in
Then I watch them roll away again
I'm sitting on the dock of the bay
Watching the tide roll away
I'm just sitting on the dock of the bay
Wasting time