After many years of focusing my attention exclusively on the factors that contribute to the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, I have two truths to offer.
The first truth is – Change is necessary to heal. There is an imbalance in your body that is creating the neurological symptoms associated with the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. This means that if you want to reverse those symptoms, you will have to make some changes in your behavior. I fully recognize this is a broad statement which implies a variety of possibilities:
Change may mean changes in how you are making decisions about what to do each day.
- Change may mean making changes about how you live your life.
- Change may mean how you move your body.
- Change may mean what you put in your body.
Whatever the nature of the change that is required, something has to shift if you expect that neurological symptoms will resolve and reverse.
The second truth is – Stress has a direct connection to the symptoms. When people are stressed the symptoms flare. When people are joyously pursuing their life’s passion, symptoms are hardly even noticeable.
Have you ever heard the statement:
“Fasting is good for you?”
The challenge this week may be difficult for some of you, but I am going to suggest a fast. Not a food fast (although research does show that a food fast reduces symptoms), not a people fast, but a news media fast.
Are you a news junkie? If so, this particular challenge may be particularly onerous and difficult for you. Permit me to suggest it anyway. Your life may be transformed if you accept this challenge.
What does this fast entail for you to become more mindful moment to moment during the week?
- No watching TV of any type.
- No reading newspapers from any source.
- No listening to the radio.
If you count up the hours that you spend in devoting attention to those three media sources, you may be surprised at how much of your life you are spending being exposed to mass media. I have personally realized that much of which is advertised to be news is actually just propaganda of one type or another. So why bother?
Once you turn off the TV, once you stop reading the newspaper, once you turn off your radio or never turn the radio on when you’re in your car; what are the alternatives. What do you do instead? There are many. Let me suggest a few.
- Play a musical instrument
- Learn how to play a musical instrument you have always wanted to learn.
- Listen to music.
- Cook.
- Chill out and relax.
- Meditate.
- Walk.
- Exercise.
- Paint.
- Write.
- Dream
- Talk with friends and family over the phone.
- Invite neighbors over to sit on your porch or your back deck and hang out.
Of course the list of alternatives is endless. Gardening may be one of your favorites. Whatever the choice might be, the key is, turn off mass media for this week. Monitor how you are feeling and be aware of your stress level. You will read more about the implications of this particular challenge in a few days. May you have fun with the challenge of this news media fast this week.
Robert
© Parkinsons Recovery