Page 32 - TA Magazine Winter 2022
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CHECKING IN VERSUS CHECKING OUT

               aration within our family community? To me, the best way to   via the hypothalamic-pituitary-immune axes and autonomic    lifestyle changes of the last 18 months.   “FOR               don’t threaten our own. More importantly,
               do that is to focus on creating connections instead of conflict.         nervous system, but you don’t have to be concerned with all   They’re having a very hard time tran-  THE       when we respect the choices of others we
                                                                that to experience the health benefits of oxytocin. All you have         sitioning back into a more socially free   WORLD              protect our own right to live the way we
                                                                                                                                                                                      TO
                         Gratitude & Togetherness               to be concerned with is feeling good by being in the company             existence. It’s up to us as adults to lead   REALLY           choose, as well.
                                                                                                                                         by example in mitigating our own fears
                                                                of people you love, and oxytocin will take care of the rest.
               TO MOVE OUR  families in that direction we should be ap-                                                                  to show them how to create connection      HEAL,              When we live in a more connected and co-
               proaching our relationships with gratitude, and not fear or   In contrast, research consistently shows emotional stress has   with the world and others again. I think   WE             operative way like this it creates more bal-
               upset, because we finally have the opportunity to celebrate   the opposite effect by generating free radicals and other harm-  the new year provides a lot of opportuni-  CAN’T         ance in the world, similar to a healthy body
               together again. I hope we haven’t forgotten that for nearly 18   ful chemical changes in the body that suppress immune func-  ties for that, but it can’t happen if we’re   HAVE        that’s in balance. Every cell, organ, tissue,
               months we weren’t able to see the family and friends we love   tion. In fact, chronic stress is a primary risk factor in nearly   caught up in conflict.               AN               and system not only has to do its own job,
               while quarantined. A year ago, most families were fragmented   all diseases and makes us more susceptible to everything from                                           US               but it has to coordinate with all the other
               into much smaller groups with some doing their best to stay   colds to cancer.                                            Nothing creates a stronger and faster        VS.              cells, organs, tissues, and systems for health
               connected with video conferencing, while others were com-                                                                 connection between people than love. Of    THEM               to happen. If one organ decided to isolate it-
               pletely isolated.                                                                                                         course, acting from fear has the opposite   MENTALITY.        self and pull out of this shared effort disease
                                                                          Past Informs the Present                                       effect. In my daily life as a parent, wife,   IT’S            would occur. If just one cell decided it was
               We get to re-establish those strong emotional and social bonds   SO EVERY NEW YEAR, especially this one, should be focused on   doctor, sister, friend, customer, perfect   GOT         only going to look out for its own interests
               that are essential to family unity.              how we can bring our families together rather than dwelling              stranger, and any other role I find myself   TO               by replicating and supporting more of itself
                                                                on our differences. If we are committed to conscious living and          in, I know I only have two choices in how    BE               it would result in cancer. I think we can see
                                                                                                                                                                                     WE.
                           Happiness for Health                 evolving into greater self-awareness, then it’s up to us to recog-       I can interact with others. I can choose to   THE             this metaphor playing out in today’s world
                                                                                                                                                                                                       where so many people and special interest
                                                                nize that the things going on in our outer world, whether good
                                                                                                                                         act from love or fear. I can create connec-
               REINFORCING THESE LOVING CONNECTIONS not only improves   or bad, are reflections of deeper issues inside. If our emotional   tion or conflict and separation. With this   FOCUS         groups don’t respect the choices of others.
        22     our emotional health, but our physical health, as well. When   reactions aren’t to our liking, then we must look inside our-  in mind, I’m always asking myself as I   HAS              Is it any wonder why the world just doesn’t   22
        Y ANDERSON        WINTER 20  One of these changes is an increase in oxytocin, the love hor-  Remember, the goal is to enjoy each other’s company. That   and COVID, I’m seeing more and more   our  opinions or choices are we all want   Y ANDERSON        WINTER 20
                                                                                                                                                                                      TO
               we’re joyful and feeling supported in the company of people
                                                                                                                                                                                                       seem to work on any level anymore?
                                                                selves for the parts of our past that cause us to be unconscious-
                                                                                                                                         go about my day whether my words and
                                                                                                                                                                                      BE
                                                                ly triggered and set an intention to heal them. Just understand-
                                                                                                                                         actions in a given situation are coming
               we love, the body is flooded with healthy endorphins and
                                                                                                                                                                                      ON
                                                                                                                                                                                                             The Ultimate Choice
               overall health.
                                                                emotional issues can be enough to keep the fear at bay.
                                                                                                                                         Unfortunately in the Age of Outrage
       30      countless chemical changes that boost immunity and improve   ing that most of the time our upset comes from unresolved    from love or fear.                       UNITY...”            AT THE END OF THE DAY  no matter what   31
                                                                requires consciousness, cooperation, and compromise on ev-
               mone that’s responsible for human attachment and bonding.
                                                                                                                                         people living unconsciously and making
                                                                                                                                                                                                       the same thing—health, wealth, happiness,
                                                                eryone’s part. That’s what creates connection, not conflict.
                                                                                                                                                                                                       and love. Perhaps finding similarities along
                                                                                                                                         fear-based, reactionary choices without
               For example, skin-to-skin contact after childbirth and during
                                                                                                                                         attacking their ideas without a shred of
               and her baby to secure a strong emotional connection between
                                                                                                                                                                                                       for creating connections.
               them. Likewise, we experience surges in oxytocin in romantic
                                                                                                                                         compassion for  anyone  else’s  concerns,
        C      breastfeeding triggers high levels of oxytocin in both a mother   Leading by Example                                      thinking at all. They scream at others,                       those lines would be a good place to start   C
        TRA    relationships or when spending time with loved ones that rein-  UNFORTUNATELY, we seem to be living in a time when an in-  which are actually as important, if not                      At the same time, people who create more   TRA
               force the bonds between us.                      creasing number of people lack the ability to respect opposing           more so than their own, when it comes to health and well-be-  connections and less conflict in their lives create more op-
                                                                opinions and not feel threatened by those who hold them. So              ing. As more of our children continue to fall prey to anxiety,   portunities for themselves because all opportunities lie in
               When we’re with family, our elevated oxytocin levels are pro-  many people and social groups are outraged now on a daily   depression, and suicidal thoughts under the mounting pressure   other people. So setting the intention to make more con-
               tecting us in many ways. Research has shown that oxytocin   basis about some issue that it’s almost impossible not to be   from all this fear and conflict, how we choose to show up in the   nections will open the door to a more prosperous New Year
               can  protect  the  thymus  gland,  promote  the  development  of   affected by the negative energy this constant conflict generates   world every day as adults will determine the future they create   in many ways. No matter what your goals are for this year,
               bone marrow, strengthen immune defenses, and inhibit inflam-  throughout the country. This conflict used to be prominent   because they’re taking their cue from us.          your odds of achieving them are much greater the more
               mation. Oxytocin has antibiotic effects as well and protects us   in just the political realm, but now it’s firmly entrenched in                                          connections you can make.
               against pathogenic microbes, while promoting wound healing   healthcare, as well. In the age of COVID, healthcare and even           Continuous Connection
               and regeneration.                                our personal healthcare choices have become politicized.                                                                 Whatever your intention for the New Year is, be sure it isn’t
                                                                                                                                         AS WE LEARN HOW TO increase connection within our families,   just about you. While it might make your life better it should
               It’s particularly beneficial for cardiovascular health. Not only   Insulating our families from this polarizing effect requires re-  let it be our intention for the New Year to go on creating this   also make the world a better place to live in, as well. How will
               does oxytocin work to heal damaged heart tissue, but it binds   spect for everyone’s individual choices. This used to be a live   kind of connection in the world around us no matter what this   achieving your intention create greater good beyond your im-
               to receptors inside the arteries to stimulate the release of calci-  and let live world where we knew how to respect differing   person or that group believes about something. That’s how we   mediate life? How will it create more connections in the world?
               um, which triggers the production of nitrous oxide (NO) that   opinions. This keeps us engaged with family and the rest of the   begin to heal a world that’s dividing into even more fractured   Just like a cell in the body you are one cell in the body of all
               helps arteries dilate so more blood can flow easier and the heart   world so we don’t check out or retreat from those who disagree   and opposing groups by the day.      humanity, and every choice you make affects the greater func-
               doesn’t have to work so hard.                    with us. The more we engage with others, the better overall                                                              tion of the world as a whole. Will it be connection or conflict,
                                                                quality of life we will have.                                            For the world to really heal, we can’t have an Us vs. Them   love or fear?  TA
               Even better, studies show NO compounds inhibit SARS-coro-                                                                 mentality. It’s got to be We. The focus has to be on unity
               navirus  infection  and  viral  replication.  This  all  happens   In my practice, I’ve seen many children suffering from depres-  through mutual respect for different life choices. When we do   “Love is the bridge between you and everything.”
               through the neuroendocrine regulation of the immune system   sion  and  anxiety  upon  returning  to  school  after  the  drastic   this we teach our children that those with differing opinions   RUMI
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