THE HEALTH BENEFIT OF CONTROVERSY AND THINKING

Although many people choose to avoid disagreement especially over controversial topics, their is a HEALTH sacrifice one makes in following this path.

Good health is a subject that incorporates MANY different aspects of living. Most people view “good health” as the absence of disease. One only needs to look at the most recent unfortunate diagnosis that Senator John McCain was handed to understand the inaccuracy in this belief. Are we to believe that Senator McCain was “healthy” the day before the discovery of a blood clot that resulted in the discovery of brain cancer? Isn’t it more likely a DISEASE PROCESS was occurring over a PERIOD OF TIME without SYMPTOMS?

Good health requires ACTIVE participation addressing the PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL and MENTAL aspects of life. This understanding reveals the importance and the interaction that food, exercise, sleep, stress reduction, social relationships and spirituality (for those believing in this aspect) has in the restoration and maintenance of good health.

SO WHERE DOES CONTROVERSY FIT INTO THE “HEALTH” PICTURE?

It is the “THINKING” component of GOOD HEALTH. Controversy produces a “fork in the road” in our minds that provides CHOICES for us. It requires an increased utilization of energy in multiple regions of the brain to determine the various beneficial and harmful pathways we choose to follow through life.

Those of us wishing to avoid “confrontation,” reduce the capacity of neural (brain) function over time. “Use it or lose it” is a phrase that best exemplifies this concept.

SO WHY DO PEOPLE ACCEPT REDUCED BRAIN ACTIVITY IN FAVOR OF LESS CONFRONTATION?

Emotionally, the process of learning new “TRUTHS” and the energy often required exceeds the energy and effort the individual is willing or capable of supplying. This emotional challenge, however, (similar to Senator John McCain’s brain cancer ) did not occur over night. Emotional weaknesses develop over a lifetime (often) without a sense of awareness or obvious SYMPTOMS. Childhood bullying, parental abuse (emotional and/or physical,) rejection, peer pressures, etc… are challenges children and adults face over time. The support of family and friends as well as other resources our children and adults acquire determine their future ability to face CONFRONTATION in a HEALTHY manner.

We don’t think of reduced brain activity as a CAUSE of DISEASE. Emotional withdrawal resulting in reduced brain recruitment (function) alters physiological function (ex. inappropriate hormone function, inappropriate nerve function, weakened immune function, constricted blood flow (leading to increased blood pressure and its complications, etc…)

DOES THIS MEAN OUR CURRENT POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT IS “HEALTHY” BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE VOICING THEIR DISCONTENT?

NO!

Improved BRAIN FUNCTION requires the ability to LISTEN, PROCESS and REFUTE OR AGREE based on ALL information available. When the brain is deprived by limiting it to “HEARING“ only one side of controversy shutting out ANY potential (legitimate) challenges that could alter one’s current perception, we reduce the capacity of these regions of the brain from FUNCTIONING.

Those unwilling to participate in controversy in a respectfully HEALTHY manner become capable of ONLY hearing those people expressing the same ideas and views.

WHY DOES THIS LEAD TO REDUCED BRAIN FUNCTION?

The answer to this question is best explained by a quote from Benjamin Franklin:

“IF EVERYONE IS THINKING ALIKE, THEN NO ONE IS THINKING”

Embrace controversy and INDEPENDENT THINKING to improve your BRAIN’S HEALTH. New TRUTHS can’t be discovered if we’re too afraid to expose our brains to NEW INFORMATION that contradicts our current BELIEFS. Ultimately, overcoming this emotional hurdle provides us another tool to achieve a HEALTHIER future.

CAN YOU SEE WHERE ONE MINDSET SUPPORTS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR BETTER HEALTH?

Tags: alternatives, attitude, brain, disease, health, lifestyle, preventative health, research, stress