Archive for November 29, 2011

The Whos Knew!

November 29, 2011 / Stormy Becker Falso / 8 comments

Turns out the Whos down in Who-ville had it right. “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” by Dr. Seuss spins the story of the Grinch, who decides to deprive the Whos of their Christmas celebration by stealing their presents and decorations. But, to the Grinch’s surprise, the Whos continue their observance without the gifts. This prompts the Grinch to experience a change of heart, return the Whos Christmas gifts and even join their celebration.

While this holiday classic points out that Christmas is more than all the commercialization, it also illustrates that bitterness melted away brings health. After all, the Grinch’s heart grew three sizes. It’s not just fiction though. Dr. Charles Raison, association professor of psychiatry at Emory University School of Medicine and CNNHealth’s Mental Health expert doctor, observes, “Bitterness is a nasty solvent that erodes every good thing.” Research included in a new book, “Embitterment: Societal, psychological, and clinical perspectives,” surveys current embitterment research and draws the line between mental outlook and health. And, that health can change for the better when bitterness is rooted out.

Additionally, a study conducted by psychologist Dr. Glen Affleck at the University of Connecticut found that, “cardiac patients who blamed their heart attacks on others were more likely to suffer another heart attack within the next eight years. On the other hand, perceiving benefits and gains from an initial heart attack, including becoming more appreciative of life, was related to a reduced risk for subsequent attack.”

To get rid of bitterness requires a change of perspective, a change of thought. People have found prayer works to alleviate bitterness and its effects. Someone once shared with me that holding on to bitterness or resentment was like letting it have free rent in your home. Sometimes evicting these thoughts is like trying to unstick duct tape. A solvent is needed to remove the adhesive. A recent study found gratitude can act as that mental solvent. The question then becomes, how do you find genuine gratitude? Admittedly this is a very individual process. I start with things like a shared moment with a loved one or a laugh with a stranger. Then I try to look outside of myself to find things to be grateful for, like watching the children in my neighborhood playing and appreciating their lightheartedness, exuberance and joy. I feel like it keeps my gratitude honest to look beyond myself. It also helps in those times when gratitude may be difficult to feel.

The Whos understood it. Even without all the accouterments of Christmas, they still felt love, appreciation and joy. It was so strong, it even grew the Grinch’s heart! What Dr. Seuss observed and wrote, has now been observed, tried and proved.

The Whos knew!

Gratitude is sweetest when shared

November 20, 2011 / Stormy Becker Falso / 10 comments

Sometimes funny situations teach great lessons.

It was the usual schedule: up at 4:30 am, out the door by 5 am to take my son to ice hockey practice, pickup another hockey team mate on the way to the rink, dash home, get ready for work and head out the door again. On this morning though, I realized Thanksgiving was just days away and I had not done the grocery shopping. At this point, I had cooked on Thanksgiving for so many years I knew the menu and the grocery list by heart. So as I drove the boys to hockey practice I realized I’d be very close to a grocery store that was open 24 hours a day. So I made a mental shopping list and heading straight to the grocery store from the ice rink.

There were only a few shoppers in the store, but the aisles were full of staff stocking the shelves for the rush of grocery purchases. I zipped along. My shopping basket brimming with the fixings for our feast. The last aisle was the frozen food section. As I stood in front of the glass door contemplating the frozen vegetables, I noticed my reflection in the frame of the freezer door. I WAS IN MY PAJAMAS!! I laughed out loud!

As I drove home with my groceries I decided I needed to rediscover the thankful part of Thanksgiving. I realized that in my hurry, hurry life I was not living graciously. I was like the plate spinner at the circus. Recognizing that something needs to change and actually doing it can be a true challenge. In my daily prayer practice, I changed something. Instead of listing all of the day’s activities and then asking for help to accomplish them, I took a different approach. I began my prayer with gratitude that God was an ever-present, all power of good; I listened more. This change wasn’t just for a day or a week, it became my regular daily prayer. And life became less frenetic and more joyful.

There are researchers who have been focusing on the beneficial effects of gratitude. One study (sited in a Harvard Health News Letter) found that, “gratitude…helps people connect to something larger than themselves as individuals.” Another effect was, “fewer visits to physicians.”

Each year as I get ready to enjoy this holiday with family and friends I think of this story and laugh. But I continue to be grateful for the lesson learned.

Gratitude is sweetest when it is shared. Please leave your Thanksgiving moment!

“I’ll keep you in my prayers.”

November 16, 2011 / Stormy Becker Falso / 6 comments

It’s a phrase I hear often, “I’ll keep you in my prayers!” It comes with an expectation of good, not just nice words. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (part of the National Institutes of Health), prayer for oneself and prayer for others are the two most common forms of complementary and alternative therapies.

U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords continues an ongoing remarkable recovery from gunshots wounds suffered on January 8, 2011. Her hard work and determination have been documented, along with the diligent support of her husband and his advocacy on Giffords behalf. Her mother, Gloria Giffords, has also been a constant presence in the Congresswoman’s recovery.

In an interview with the Arizona Daily Star, Gloria Giffords illustrates how she is actively praying for her daughter. She is described by her son-in-law Mark Kelly as a raging optimist. But it goes deeper than that. She is accustomed to turning to God in prayer and expecting a positive outcome. From the very beginning she maintains she was not afraid of the situation.While Giffords was in surgery, she describes her focus, “ I knew that she was God’s child, perfect. I knew that she was never going to change.” And, has ,”…a thought process where I don’t dwell on recrimination and anger.” Her prayer continues, she expects her daughter’s recovery and says, “Being with [Gabby] at any stage in her progress has been a joyous experience for me.” Watching Gabby’s improvement, she observes, “…I think it’s probably going to be better than we imagined.”

As a nation expectantly watches Congresswoman Giffords’ recovery, it’s important to consider a 2002 study of patients in intensive care. The study followed 39 patients and found the patients treated with prayer were able to leave the hospital sooner than the patients who were not treated with prayer.

If you’d like to read the full article about Gloria Giffords, it’s available at:

Prayer and Health

November 14, 2011 / Stormy Becker Falso / 13 comments

Have you ever searched the internet to see what information is available about you? If you have, you would be among the fifty-seven percent of American internet users who say they have looked themselves up on the internet. An even larger number of people say they look for information about health on the internet. The Pew Research Center has found that eighty percent of American internet users have searched for health information. That’s 113 million adults!

Another trend is worth noticing, too. About half of Americans say they pray about their health. This number has been steadily rising over the past decade. In 1999 less than fifteen percent of adults reported that they prayed about their health.

I’ve seen for myself the positive effects of prayer on health. In my twenties I started a regular practice of praying about my health. I applied for a job that required a physical exam before I could start work. During the exam, the doctor found a growth on my back his preliminary diagnosis was that it was cancerous. He refused to pass me on the physical exam until I was examined by an oncologist and a course of treatment was determined. I left his office scared and worried. As I sat in my car for a few moments to gather myself so I could drive, I began to think about what I had been learning about God and my relationship with Him through my daily practice of prayer. By the time I arrived home I was no longer afraid of the doctor’s diagnosis. I felt very sure that God’s love, protection and guidance were active at that very moment and that I could depend on God not only for comfort, but expect healing as well.

I called an oncologist and made an appointment. I continued to pray. Every time my thought would drift to the preliminary diagnosis or the outcomes described by the doctor, I would turn to God, affirming what I had been learning and experiencing through prayer. Within a week, the growth fell off. All that remained was completely smooth skin, not even a mark.

I called the doctor who had performed the original exam, told him what had happened and asked if he would reexamine me. He did and confirmed the healing. He rated my health as excellent. Before I left his office I called to cancel the appointment with the oncologist.

Turning to God in prayer doesn’t mean there will never be problems. But through my regular practice of turning to God through prayer I have found reliable solutions.

 

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