What Many See:
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fat
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ugly
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lazy
What I See:
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unhappiness
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insecurity
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eventual unnecessary loss of quality and function in life
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systemic inflammation with resulting chronic diseases
.
What Many See:
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a musical icon
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enormous wealth
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an eccentric lifestyle
What I See:
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unhappiness
-
insecurity
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eventual unnecessary loss of quality and function in life
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systemic inflammation with resulting chronic diseases (ending in premature death)
.
Whether we view people as fat, rich, lazy, talented, insecure or eccentric, a common theme exists.
OUR WORLD IS FILLED WITH:
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unhappiness
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insecurity
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eventual unnecessary loss of quality and function in life
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health maladies (commonly) originating from lifestyle habits leading to chronic inflammation and resulting in multitudes of diseases (including premature death.)
This is our REALITY today. It will be our reality tomorrow as well, if we continue to avoid the TRUTH. Living a PASSIONATE life based on PURPOSE and filled with MEANING provides the greatest defense we possess to combating these negative harms.
When a person discovers PURPOSE they discover SELF VALUE. Self value changes one’s mindset making it easier to both identify and avoid destructive behaviors that interfere with MEANINGFUL goals in life.
SO WHAT WILL YOUR CHOICE BE?
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Acknowledging this article might be “interesting” followed by ignoring its recommendations?
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Recognizing change is needed, but insisting on establishing parameters unlikely to ever achieve desired results?
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Asking oneself, (“what is my PURPOSE“) followed by designing a plan of action to pursue and achieve it?
I’ll bet most of you can’t answer the question, “what is my PURPOSE in life?” This is likely because we were never taught to discover or pursue our purpose growing up. Instead, we were taught to pursue a “job” or “career” that satisfied our financial obligations. It didn’t really matter how fulfilling this job or career was. As long as the bills were paid, mission accomplished! If we were also taught that the pursuit of PURPOSEFUL living was equally important, the negative mindset so many of us seem cursed with would have been balanced with positive attributes discovered living this lifestyle.
It saddens me to see so much negativity and self destruction in the world we live. I have learned to protect myself by harnessing a positive attitude and increasing SELF VALUE by remaining true to my PURPOSE in life.
Common sense should make us realize that:
PURSUING HAPPINESS IS MORE REWARDING THEN LIVING IN SADNESS
So I ask you, “which of the following pictures will better represent your life going forward?”
All About Healthy Choices 
If i’m doing a lot of the things that society suggests are “right,” but still feel that something is wrong — that’s probably a sign that I am “off purpose.” When I am Living”on purpose”, I am entirely fulfilled because I am living a life engulfed in personal meaning.
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Bravo!!!! Hopefully your comment is read by those needing greater clarity regarding this concept. You stated it so much better than me. Thank you.
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Yes!! I am living what you say here. I will turn 65 this year and so far, this is my best year yet. It’s never too late to turn your attitude and your life around.I
I love the Christmas picture, with the lurker in the background. Hilarious! I hope they were in those miserable poses just to be silly. Otherwise, Yikes!
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Once again, you are proof that PTSD doesn’t equal a miserable existence. I’m sure there are many challenges and ongoing difficulties that interfere with desirable pursuits, but you’ve also proven that life can have significant upswings making our limited time on this planet a worthwhile experience. I wish for you that 66, 67 and onward continue in this upward trajectory. 🙂
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It took me awhile to realize this but now that I have things seem to fall into place. Doesn’t mean everything is perfect..it just means it’s easier keep things in perspective. Thanks as always!!
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Life is all about perspective. It’s not about perfection, unlimited wealth or prolonged cosmetic beauty… it’s about incorporating the different component in health (and life) that help a person achieve a level of meaningful HAPPINESS and FULFILLMENT. Each of us are so different, the journey requires different quantities of essential needs to successfully achieve a level of personal satisfaction.
Traditional health care doesn’t view life (or health) from this perspective. They remain antiquated choosing instead to “name a condition” to a “named prescriptive solution” in hopes of creating “HEALTH.” This approach to chronic maladies has failed and will continue to fail until BOTH consumer and physician become willing to accept this reality.
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Dr J., thank God I have a purpose in life! Great post! Words worth their “weight” in gold. 🎉 Christine
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Makes aging more joyful than worrying about how much longer “we’ll still be here?”
Thank you for your input as always! 🙂
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What an inspiring read!! So true about pursuing something that gives your life meaning, otherwise what’s the point of just existing?
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…”what’s the point of just existing”… a statement I repeatedly ask without receiving honest answers. The truth is, BECOMING HAPPY in a world full of “noise” and other distractions requires effort. It seems most people are unwilling (or unable) to apply the effort needed.
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So true and inspiring. Also interesting to read about systemic inflammation.I do try to eat healthy and exercise. Are there other ways to reduce inflammation?
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First, one must see if inflammatory markers are elevated. Applying lifestyle NEEDS to the body (in a physical sense) is measurable through lab work. Stress, poor nutrition, sedentary living, dehydration all cause inflammatory changes to the body making it more susceptible to disease. For the average person, improving lifestyle habits is a great starting place. For those wanting to carry it to the next level, specific anti inflammatory meal planning supports even healthier outcomes.
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Thanks so much!
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The Christmas picture looked like my family picture except for the little ones that don’t know any different. They were happy and squealing with this happiness brimming over. The rest of us just looked on wishing it was over.
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Maybe in time your family will choose to be a happier version of themselves. 🙂
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Maybe. We aren’t the happiest people around.None of us fit together.
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Sometimes it takes great effort to find overlapping similarities making the “fit” better.
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True!
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No matter where I go, I take me with me! My focus is to bring my best daily! Use hope and I choose joy daily!
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You’ve discovered the joy of living. It starts within each of us!
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Yes indeed! Jonathan way to shine! Life is what we value no matter our place in life we are connected!
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Wow! Tell it like it is Doc!…. You are certainly a hard hitter…It’s the ostrich syndrome though and even when it stares one in the face…and I saw and heard a great example of this only yesterday…I was thinking why???? They were just blatantly doing the Ostrich…Will they be here in 6 months…I very much doubt it…My mind just doesn’t commute that type of thinking…I am stuck for words 🙂
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If we don’t believe that life can really get any better than it is, there is no motivation to pursue ANYTHING in life. I believe many people have fallen under this “spell.” You can’t make a person that has given up on life enjoy a better quality of existence.
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Honest. True. Beautifully said in a forthright manner.
But many will wonder – how do I figure out my purpose in life? I know I wondered before I had children. I wanted to be of value to society, but how could I be of any use in my one small way? Loving someone gives purpose. Taking care of those who can’t take care of themselves gives purpose. (I became a much happier person once I became a mother.) Now, I realize that BEING alive with kindness, joy, love and spreading that around every day – gives purpose. Perhaps that helps you find passion in what you do every day too. Many find their passion in volunteering – with the disabled, the elderly, abandoned animals – which gives them purpose and spreads the love.
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I think “waiting” to discover one’s purpose might contribute to the problem. One must SEEK through discovery until the “SPARK” occurs. It requires being in tune with one’s feelings and overall emotions.
Some will choose to go through a “list” to hopefully discover purpose. Some will live life and develop an understanding within themselves that creates awareness for PURPOSE. Whichever method one chooses, ACTIVELY pursuing this goal remains a necessary component to achieving it.
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Right ON!
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Thank goodness I know my purpose.
Hopefully others sooner than later will find there’s. Brilliant post Jonathan as always !
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Thank you Lynne
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Happy and getting healthy moving forward….patiently and steady on….somehow I still see in my minds eye a young woman with great legs…LOL reality is just in the mind right…LOL its so hard to get old….things drop, sag and just jiggle a little….LOL hope your keeping warm, and making snow angels…..xx
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The older I get the less I care about “what it looks like.” Today, I care so much more about “what it FEELS like.”
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HOw true…so often I forget to add that very most #1 importance into the mix….what a different a day makes when you can move, bend, step without pain…..xx
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So much truth in this post. Imagine if everybody found their purpose in life and really set out to fulfil that, what a different world it would be.
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Here’s a question….If it is easy to see how much better our lives could be by discovering “things” that enhance our quality, why do we choose instead to minimize our pursuit of PURPOSE and PASSION in life (in favor of regimented existence?)
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Some people have been let down by their hope because there hope has greater expectations than what they received. Since they did not get what they thought this should have by hoping, they feel like why should I hope anymore,why should I trust anymore, I will just exist until I die, not realizing hoping itself builds faith, builds character, builds health. Expectation can be a daunting force that, in many cases yields great significants but in other cases, bitterness, depression and lost hope.
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I agree with a large segment of your comment. Our impression of the word, “hope”, however, is slightly different.
In my opinion, hope is more of a “feeling.” It is an important feeling, however, is not enough (in and of itself) to produce consistent results. I am not certain that hope builds character, faith or health. I believe it commonly takes a plan of action supported with hope (a belief, a feeling) to build character, faith and health. To me,hope by itself, is similar to a “wish.” It may be noble and well intentioned, but less likely to become a reality without a tangible basis for achieving it.
Thank you for sharing your answer to my question. I appreciate and respect your opinions and comments very much. In my opinion, we grow and develop our thinking and attitudes through ongoing dialogue. It’s not about right and wrong; it’s about better understanding that results in positive changes.
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I agree with most of your beliefs. Most people need some sort of tangability to sustain them. However, as some Psychologists believe, faith and hope is a positive attitude that releases endorphins in the body. Endorphins can create natural healing. That kind of healing, in turn, builds a person’s physiological makeup. I do agree most people need tangability to get them started but I also believe that hope, when not averted, builds strength and character and brings a little faith in the process.
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Stated beautifully. How often we doctors display our weaknesses in understanding the power of the mind. You are spot on with the physiology regarding the endorphin release in response to faith and hope.
Thank you for clarifying this point. It adds great value to the overall message conveyed to the readers. 🙂
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Thankyou.
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I remember getting an email notification of this post as I lay in bed writhing from an RA flare with my mind still singing its own lullaby following and overwhelming family burial. That was the Eve of my 39th birthday and it looked like I was going to spend it in bed. I refused to throw a ‘pity party’ instead and hear any poor you/poor me. I read this post and looked at my own self first in my virtual mirror and here are some I saw:
1) That indeed I weighed 78kgs a good 3kgs over the ‘prescribed’ ideal for my height, but that I felt so good about my shape inside out;
2) That I didn’t have or make as much as a decade ago, but that I was so happy because I loved the inner peace, serenity and love I had and could share;
3) That I was no celebrity but I was contributing my own mite to my society by being a voice of the voiceless, having come so far in my own personal mental, psychological, emotional and spiritual journey, and now had the Grace and Courage to share it all, to inspire and motivate.
In sum: I found my purpose and self value 5 years ago after searching and scrapping for near 3 decades. I work on my plans each year and it only gets better. Even the people I now meet on my journey are more of builders than ruiners. You are are one Doc, of this I am very sure lol! thank you very much
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Our world would be a better place to live with more BALANCE and serenity if more people were willing to introspect and see themselves as you do.
Thank you for making me feel like one of the “good” guys in life!
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Loved it
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Love seeing the word “love.” Thank you for taking the time to read and comment on this post.
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I loved this post Doctor Jonathan! I feel sad for the people in the first photo. I cannot believe it’s possible for them to feel comfortable and that must limit them as far as what they can do. It really is very sad to see. Thank you for sharing! Wishing you much happiness!
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Thank you Joan. It is challenging to get people to accept reality BEFORE it “strikes” home. People tend to deny REALITY until they have no choice in the matter. If instead, they realized that SELF LOVE and SELF AWARENESS offered better chances for QUALITY (healthy) LIVING, the motivation to modify their current lifestyles would dramatically increase.
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Reblogged this on MLLESHOPPING.COM.
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