Saturday, February 22nd, 2020 was Inspiration Day at Century House in New Westminster. Gracious members of the audience requested my speaking notes. Here they are.
I began with a brief introduction to my Empowering Patients public education program sponsored by the Burnaby Division of Family Practice. The purpose of my series of workshops, videos, posters and key points handouts is to provide everyone in our community with unbiased health and wellness information essential to live healthy, happy lives.
With respect to the things within your control, the best predictor of your future health are the habits you practice today.
Real healthcare is self-care as it is individuals – not professional healthcare providers – who provide over 90% of their healthcare.
The four foundations of self-care are: 1. what you eat (what you put into your body); 2. what you do (physical activity and rest); 3. how you feel (emotional wellbeing), and 4. how you connect (healthy relationships).
These are all key topics of my Empowering Patients talks. The slides and handouts are available in addition to videos on the public website for the Burnaby Division of Family Practice. https://www.divisionsbc.ca/burnaby/for-patients/empowering-patients
Upcoming 2020 Health Talks
Everyone is welcome to attend these no-cost talks, however registration is required as space is limited.
March 12, 7:00 – 8:30 PM – ‘Emotional Wellness’
Brentwood Community Resource Centre, 2055 Rosser Avenue, Burnaby
CLICK HERE to register.
March 31, 7:00 – 8:30 PM – ‘The Positive Potential of our Relationships’
Bonsor Recreation Complex, 6550 Bonsor Avenue, Burnaby
CLICK HERE to register.
April 8, 7:00 – 8:30 PM – ‘Healthy Eating’
McGill Public Library, 4595 Albert Street, Burnaby
CLICK HERE to register.
May 14, 6:00 – 6:45 PM – ‘Healthy Physical Activity’ & Walk With Your Doc
Confederation Seniors Centre (4585 Albert Street, Burnaby)
CLICK HERE to register.
For more information, check out all Empowering Patients materials.
THE POWER OF OUR STORIES
How we tell our stories affects how how we experience our lives.
HOW OUR STORIES CAN LIMIT US
The helplessness of the victim can feed anxiety.
If we can’t let go of anger, what we hold continues to harm us.
Remembering only loss and surrendering to hopelessness begets depression
With an attitude of entitlement, you will never be satisfied.
THE DEFAULT MODE NETWORK is the brain on autopilot creating stories. This typically happens when we are daydreaming, neither focussed on a specific task nor meditating. We can adopt unquestioned assumptions and core beliefs – many of them limiting beliefs, such as: “I have to be perfect to be loved.” “I can’t trust anyone.” “Life is unfair.” “I’m not good enough.” “I don’t deserve success, happiness or love.” “I am powerless.”
COGNITIVE BIASES are unconscious cognitive shortcuts with which we misinterpret reality. One such bias is the negativity bias. We notice more of what is wrong than what is right – with our partners, our situation and ourselves. To counter the negativity bias, we need to see (and hear) FIVE positives for every negative. This is a key principle for maintaining positivity in your most significant relationships and in creating a happy home for our children.
Actively see the positive in your life by the daily practice of gratitude. I start each day – before I even get out of bed, with a prayer of thankfulness for all the blessings in my life, beginning with the person lying next to me: my wife. This attitude primes the pump for noticing the positive aspects of all that I will see throughout the day. By days end, when I will reflect on the day with another prayer of thankfulness, my cup is overflowing.
I teach quality improvement to my physician colleagues to improve patient safety and health outcomes. When problems arise, we do a root cause analysis. This might include using the Five Whys. Ask at least 5 whys to get beyond the proximate or superficial causes of problems to get to the root cause.
I applied the Five Whys to every problem I could think of and found a single root cause for every problem in the world: a false sense of self.
We live with the illusion of separateness . . . and a life of competition.
There is the illusion of the Other . . . that engenders prejudice based on colour, gender, age, body shape, clothing, faith, language, accents and customs. The other may appear strange, different, less than, threatening or dangerous.
We went through an exercise in compassion to dissolve this false separation. I asked audience members to look at a person directly across the table from them. They were to look into each other’s eyes – not speak – but rather listen to these words. This person was once a baby, loves and held in the arms of parents . . . just like you.
This person was once a child who laughed and cried, with big hopes and dreams . . . just like you.
This person has felt alone and sad, heartbroken and disappointed . . . just like you.
This person just wants to be happy . . . just like you.
This person needs to be loved . . . just like you.
The inescapable truth: you are not a separate, independent individual. You are a global citizen interdependent with every other person on this planet. Your wellbeing is dependent on the wellbeing of others.
We are all a part of a greater whole, members of a family, supported by a network of friends, neighbours and peers.
We are part of a community, citizens of this country and members of humankind, connected to all living things, a part of nature and this planet.
This is your true identity.
You belong here.
Another exercise to foster unconditional love. Imagine in front of you, one whom you love naturally and easily. Someone who always brings warmth to your heart and a smile to your face.
Say these words to them: May you be happy, healthy, peaceful and safe.
Now imagine someone you have had a disagreement with in the past week.
And say those same words: May you be happy, healthy, peaceful and safe.
The big problems of our society and the world will never be solved by people looking out for themselves. When we realize our interdependence and connection with the global community and all life on this planet, we will see the positive evolution of humanity and life on Earth.
It begins with us.
Together let us be the change we wish to see.
What is your story?
Engaging with Life and Coping with Change
The reality of change. Change is the nature of all things. It is our very nature. It is futile to pursue and cling to that which does not last. Nothing lasts.
We must appreciate what we have when we have it.
Every gift is not ours to hold forever. We must love and appreciate others while we can and let go when we need to. Accept what you cannot change. Accept responsibility to change what you can.
Be an Agent of Positive Change
Be dynamically response to change. Seek out the positive potential of each moment. Be responsive not reactive.
The Science of Neuroplasticity
Though our habits of thought and behaviour seem hardwired, with effort and repetition, we can transform our own minds. Donald Hebb, Canadian neuropsychologist said, “Neurons that fire together wire together.” this is how we can adapt to our changing world. You can retell your life story . . . and see beyond the illusion of a separate smaller self.
Evolving into Our Positive Potential
Discovering your potential in life. Your calling is the intersection of four circles: your passions, your talents, your values and the needs of the world.
Joseph Campbell said, “Follow your bliss.” When you listen to life and rise up to meet the challenge, you will find meaning and purpose.
Heed the call which may change at different stages of your life. There is a potivie potential to be realized in each day. We must see, feel and act.
We are all a part of the Love Cycle. In our lives, we receive love in many forms. We give it forward. The giving of love does not diminish us but connects us and makes us stronger.
At the end of each day . . . and at the end of this life, you don’t want to regret having not given enough or loved enough. The greatest tragedy in life is that we may die not knowing how much we were loved.
Life is lived fully by loving without limit, giving all you’ve got and holding nothing back.
We are all human and imperfect but still deserving of love, beautiful and able to love.
You ARE good enough.
You ARE worthy of love.
You DESERVE to be happy.
You are BEAUTIFUL just as you are.
You belong here.
We are all interconnected in the Cycle of Love. When we realize our interdependence and connection with the global community and all life on this planet, we will see the positive evolution of humanity and life on Earth.
It begins with us.
We are part of a greater whole.
We are all Agents of Positive Change.
You are greater than you think. We can make a difference.
Together let us be the change we wish to see.
Dr. Davidicus Wong is a physician and writer.