Category → Healing Articles
Physical exercise shown to support brain health and pursuits of inspirational stories of commitment
Anxiety can cloud an individual's thoughts and make pursuits of personal development nearly impossible. However, new research suggests that regular physical activity may be one way for panic sufferers to overcome their fears and begin to write their own inspirational stories about commitment.
Researchers from the Southern Methodist University and the University of Vermont found that when a person who is prone to anxiety exercises on a regular basis they are much less likely to experience panic in potentially frightening situations. The finding was based off of a study of 145 adults.
"Exercise can be a powerful addition to the range of treatments for depression, anxiety and general stress," said Michael Otto, one of the researchers who participated in the study. "And when people exercise to feel good, they are also taking the exact steps they need to benefit their general health."
The findings prove that a person has the power to control their thoughts and prevent unnecessary or unwanted ideas to creep in. Author and philosopher Ilchi Lee has long recommended physical activities such as yoga or tai chi to help individuals grasp control of their brains and begin pursuing their own inspirational stories about faith in their ability to improve themselves.
Mood and anxiety disorders are among the most common mental issues faced by people today. The overall prevalence of them is extremely high. Some groups have even called depression the leading cause of disability in the U.S.
The finding that overcoming these problems may be as simple as getting a little more exercise could come as a major benefit to millions of people. Additionally, options like yoga and tai chi can make getting fit a fun and rewarding endeavor.
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Positive people feel more satisfied, study finds
Ilchi Lee has long said that keeping a positive attitude in the face of adversity is the key to achieving personal success. It is the most effective way for a person to overcome the obstacles in their daily lives and attain their life dreams.
Now, a new study out of Kent University in the UK has confirmed these benefits. The researchers found that participants who looked for the positive aspects of stressful events and used humor to cope with stress felt more satisfied and fulfilled at the end of each day.
For the study, researchers asked 149 participants to keep a daily diary of the things that made them feel stressed, how they dealt with these issues and how satisfied they were at the end of the day. The results showed that positive people were much happier with their lives.
The results may not be that surprising given the number of motivational stories Lee has about triumphing over adversity by keeping a positive attitude. Negativity and anxiety only serve to slow a person down. However, with positivity, hope and trust in one's self, there is no limit to what a person can achieve in their life.
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Researchers discover reasons behind neurodegenerative effects of stress
Stress can cause the brain to deteriorate over time, and now a team of researchers from the University of California, Davis has determined the cause of this effect. The findings may help individuals limit stress and rejuvenate their pursuit of personal development.
They found that a gene known as RCAN1 is produced at high levels in the brain during periods of stress. This gene normally is involved in the brain's coping mechanisms and helps individual's deal with stress. However, when it is present in large quantities, it appears to destroy brain tissue by enveloping neural networks and limiting their function.
"One can imagine that it becomes sticky and makes tangled scaffolding," said Kelvin Davies, who led the study. "By publishing this hypothesis, we hope to stimulate more research on the subject."
Ilchi Lee has long recommended meditation and other relaxation techniques in order to help people reach their full brain potential and avoid the damaging consequences of stress. The findings of this new study provide yet another reason to adopt this approach.
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Early life experiences may predict future depression risk
A new study out of the University of California, Los Angeles has found that individuals who have experienced trauma early in their lives may be more prone to depression following minor stressful situations later in life. The findings suggest that individuals who have had traumatic experiences may benefit from relaxation exercises like meditation.
The researchers said that depression is triggered in most adults by a sudden disturbing experience, such as lose a loved one or getting fired from a job. But at least 30 percent of people who develop depression experience the mood disorder as a result of much more minor everyday stresses.
After surveying a group of depressed adults about their early life experiences and what triggered their current bout of depression, the researchers found a strong correlation between experiencing trauma at a young age and being launched into a depressive state by minor life events.
Ilchi Lee recommends meditation as a way for individuals to let go of the stresses of their days, and the findings suggest that this may particularly important for some people. Simply taking a few minutes each day to focus one's self and let go of what bothers them may be an effective way to preserve mental health.
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Tai chi shown to support cognitive function
A recent study from researchers at the University of Missouri showed that practicing tai chi helps cancer patients avoid the cognitive effects often associated with chemotherapy cancer treatments. The findings suggest that this ancient practice may have many positive effects for anyone's brain potential.
"Scientists have known for years that tai chi positively impacts physical and emotional health, but this small study also uncovered evidence that it might help cognitive functioning as well," said Stephanie Reid-Arndt, who led the investigation.
For the study, the researchers administered cognitive tests to a group of women who had recently undergone chemotherapy before and after they participated in a 10-week tai chi program. The results showed that these individuals made significant improvements in their cognitive abilities during the course of the study.
Reid-Arndt said that this may be because the practice forces individuals to focus their attention. Ilchi Lee has long recommended these types of exercises along with meditation as a way for individuals to maximize their brain potential and preserve healthy mental function. The findings of the study confirm these recommendations.
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A good night’s sleep and limiting stress shown to aid in weight loss
While many people look to restrictive diets and supplemental products to stimulate weight loss and improve their well-being, Ilchi Lee says health is a matter of focusing on the basics of life and searching for ways to live as nature intended. This view is increasingly being borne out by science.
For example, a recent study conducted by the Kaiser Permanente Foundation found that individuals who are seeking to lose weight are more successful when they get a good night's sleep and limit their stress levels.
After studying several factors in nearly 500 individuals who were looking to lose up to 10 pounds, the researchers found that sleep and stress are two of the most important factors. Those who slept between six and eight hours per night and limited their stress were significantly more likely to reach their weight loss goals.
"Some people may just need to cut back on their schedules and get to bed earlier," said Charles Elder, who led the study. "Others may find that exercise can reduce stress and help them sleep. For some people, mind-body techniques such as meditation also might be helpful."
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New study on bipolar disorder confirms mind-body-spirit connection
In the dominating Western view of the self, the mind and the body are two completely separate entities that serve distinct functions. However, science is increasingly dismantling this dichotomy and indicating that the mind-body-spirit connection is stronger than previously thought.
For example, a recent study from a group of researchers at Indiana University found that poor posture may actually be a contributing factor to bipolar disorder. For years, doctors had noted an association between the two but dismissed the connection as a random association.
The researchers said that their study revealed individuals with bipolar disorder often experience difficulty maintaining balance and holding themselves upright while standing, and that these problems often precede any mood disturbances.
"It appears that people with bipolar disorder process sensory information differently and this is seen in their inability to adapt their movement patterns to different conditions," said S. Lee Hong, who led the study.
The findings confirm what author and philosopher Ilchi Lee has been saying for years about the extremely close association between the brain and a person's physical form. This mind-body-spirit connection is fundamental.
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Doctors increasingly recommend meditation
The use of alternative therapies like yoga, meditation and deep breathing is on the rise, and a new study has found that doctors are increasingly the ones recommending that their patients pursue these mind-body-spirit methods of healing.
Researchers from the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School gathered survey responses from more than 23,000 U.S. families and found that about one in 30 Americans are using some type of alternative mind-body therapy after being referred to it by a physician.
There is a significant amount of evidence that these types of healing methods can provide benefits, the researchers said. They were just surprised to see that so many medical professionals have started to buy into these types of treatments.
While increased prescribing rates were seen as a positive thing, the researchers noted that most of the individuals using them tended to be sicker, suggesting that doctors only recommend mind-body therapies as a last resort. However, these methods may have significant preventative effects that could benefit individuals before they become sick.
The findings support the teachings of Ilchi Lee, who has long professed a belief that strengthening the mind-body-spirit connection through methods like meditation can improve physical health.
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Depression shown to boost decision making
Depression is the most commonly diagnosed mental illness, and much research has been conducted to find a way to eliminate the symptoms of the condition. However, a new study has found that depressed individuals may have greater brain potential in one area.
The investigation, which was published in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology, found that individuals who suffer from depression score better on tests of their decision making ability than healthy people.
The findings suggest that coming to terms with a mental illness and celebrating the unique qualities that it instills in a person can be an important part of overcoming it. Philosopher and trailblazer Ilchi Lee often says that individuals should be more accepting of themselves, even their flaws. Doing so can help them achieve greater fulfillment in life.
In the case of depression, which can make it difficult to summon the strength to perform daily tasks, the condition may make these tasks a bit easier due to the fact that the sufferer may be better at making decisions. Embracing this boost in brain potential could help individuals with the condition be less burdened by its symptoms.
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Sleep may play an important role in healthy mental function
Ilchi Lee says that brain health plays an important role in an individual's ability to pursue their life passions with vigor and to achieve fulfillment in their life. Now, a new study has found that getting an appropriate amount of sleep each night may be the key to preserving good mental function.
Researchers from the University College London reported in the journal Sleep that middle-aged men and women who sleep between six and eight hours per night tend to have lower rates of cognitive impairment later in life than those who get more or less sleep.
"The detrimental effects of too much, too little and poor quality sleep on various aspects of health have begun to receive more attention," said lead researcher Jane Ferrie. She added that the modern lifestyles of many people have caused an increase in the number of individuals who get a poor night's sleep on a regular basis.
One way that individuals can cut down on the distractions that may contribute to poor sleep and preserve health mental function is meditation. Ilchi Lee has recommended this approach for years, saying that it can play an important in brain health.
