Philosophy
Do you check your sleep score every morning and cheer or despair based upon the outcome? If sleep tracking is an integral aspect of your self-care ritual, what happens when you take a break for a few weeks? If you’ve never done so, I would encourage a lengthy wearable vacation and a little time getting…
A colleague of mine once gave me a piece of advice I have never forgotten: before a patient goes to a psychologist wondering whether they are depressed or anxious, first make sure they are not surrounded by idiots. She used a profanity for “idiots,” but in the interest of keeping this post fit for polite…
I woke to the soft pull of sheets and nothing else—not even my name. For a moment, there was only touch: fabric against skin, the quiet weight of my own limbs, the dim geometry of a body arranged in a bed. Many people know a milder version of this—those brief seconds of fog when you…
If you can sit or lie down in relative comfort, you can meditate—the only requirement is passive receptivity. The biggest obstacle to sticking with a meditation practice is the false belief that you’re “doing it wrong” if thoughts arise while you sit. Unless you have a very mature practice (usually built over decades), the cessation…
This month’s post highlights the work of a guest contributor and dear friend, Emma Liles. It’s one of those pieces I find myself wishing I had written. With profound wisdom that beautifully complements my recent explorations into the connection between cancer and emotions, Emma masterfully weaves together personal experience, scientific understanding, and heartfelt reflection. Her…
Meditation has long been a cornerstone of human spirituality and self-discovery, consisting of various techniques to quiet the mind and foster inner peace. While the practices may vary widely, they share the common goal of guiding practitioners toward greater mental clarity and emotional balance. In this post, I will explore four distinct types of meditation,…
It’s no secret that Americans spend more on healthcare than any other developed nation. In fact, the United States’ per capita healthcare expenditure in 2022 was $12,555, nearly double the average of $6,651 in other high-income nations. Yet despite this substantial investment, Americans are often underutilizing some of the most powerful and accessible self-care practices…
If you’re attempting to establish a new habit, like getting in shape, I recently heard some simple yet profound advice: don’t focus on the specifics of exercise; focus on being the person who shows up at the gym. This may sound odd at first, but there’s a subtle wisdom in that statement. New habits need…
If you look beyond the fear of death and the uncertainty of an unknown future, you will find something even more concerning. At the core of a cancer diagnosis lies a deeper existential anxiety: the dread of not having lived up to one’s potential and purpose.
There are many explanations for and descriptions of the origin of cancer, but perhaps the most revealing, is that of a wound that isn’t healing. Implicit in that definition is the understanding that malignancy has a root cause that develops into a chronic imbalance.