Ignite the Promise

Charisma

This year, 2012, is a presidential election year.  We will select candidates because of their policies and potential to make positive progress in leading the nation.  While we may not think it, we also select candidates because of their likeability, their charisma.

I always wondered, but never researched, what defines a charismatic person.  Now I know.  On page 16 in the April 15, 2012 copy of Parade Magazine, I found what charisma is!  I am paraphrasing the information.

The article says there are just three components that define charisma. 

First is presence that is represented by a person who is not distracted when you meet them.  You will feel you are the only person they are seeing.  Bill Clinton, George Clooney, and Ellen DeGeneres are persons mentioned with charisma.

Second is power in that the charismatic person broadcasts confidence.

Third is warmth in the ability to express goodwill and empathy.

The article goes on to point out that we can develop these qualities.  Steve Jobs was cited as an example of a person who became more charismatic as he gained confidence, poise, and warmth over the years. 

Here are two other suggestions to boost one's charisma : 1) keep a relatively still body language with no fidgeting or excessive nodding; and 2) wait a few seconds before answering questions to show your consideration of the question.  The pause suggests to the questioner their question was worthy since you needed to gather your thoughts.  Thus it's not just how you present yourself, but also how you make the other person feel.

Now you can go practice being more charismatic!

© Baldwin H. Tom CMC
www.tbgroupconsultants.com

Non-Invasive Healing

There is a pattern here as I continue to revert to 'roots' -- my early work history as a medical research scientist (cellular immunologist, biochemist).  Coupled with the aches and pains that come with growing older, there is focused interest on my part to find different ways to heal my body, mind, and spirit.  Currently I am focusing on non-drug and non-invasive means of therapy and healing. 

As it turns out, much of the non-invasive therapies have as their bases our individual energy fields, the field of quantum medicine.  In a sense, this gets me back to traditional medicines that include acupuncture and other holistic means to maintain and regain health, all the different therapies that I did not previously 'accept' as real (medicine).  Yes, I have changed my mind about alternative and adjunctive therapies as I have learned more about their scientific bases.   

Here is another noninvasive treatment.  It uses the placement of our hands on our body to help alleviate a myriad of ailments.  The method is from ancient times and the Japanese and is called, Jin Shin Jyutsu(R), energy healing, first popularized in the United States by Mary Ino Burmeister.  There are two books we are using: The Touch of Healing by Alice Burmeister with Tom Monte (Bantam Book, 1997) and Instant Healing by Barbara Semple (www.healingtouchquicksteps.com, 2009).

We have begun trying the healing touch method on different conditions, including sprained wrist, bunions, stress, kidney function, stuffy nose, general fatigue, planter fasciitis to give you some breadth of the ailments it treats.  Too early to tell you everthing works, although we have seen some work.

Here is my logic as to why I expect healing touch works: 1) Since my body operates without my conscious effort (except to feed it), I expect my subconscious (body) to be in dynamic equilibrium -- balancing all parts (chemical, electrical, physiological, mental aspects); 2) Since my body is in equilibrium and has control over all parts of my body, I expect that my body is aware when I place my hands on different parts of my body; 3) Since my body is composed of cells that have electrically charged cell surfaces, I expect that if I touch any part of my body, the charges on my hands will interact with the charges on my body surface in some way; and 4) Since my body reacts to my thoughts (happy or sad) and can secrete electrochemicals  (neurochemicals) in response, I expect that the success or failure of touch therapy is affected by my positive or negative thoughts about its success.  Three of the above four reasons for success are not in my full control.  However, I have full power to affect the results by my attitude as I think!

Here is a simple hand position to try.  Clasps your hands together.  Then raise the middle finger on each hand and point them out while touching them together.  It looks like forming a steeple on a church. That's it.  Hold this for 5 minutes when you can.  This hand position is used for releasing daily tension and stress from the head, lungs, digestive functions, abdomen, and legs.  I try to use this each night as I lay in bed to sleep.  It's a position that you can fall asleep on and not be in trouble.  When I do this in bed, I really don't bother how long I am holding the position.  When I do this, I have better uninterrupted sleep.

Try using YOUR hands, it may heal you!

© Baldwin H. Tom CMC
www.tbgroupconsultants.com

Your words can change a medical emergency!

Have you ever come upon an accident of any sort and you are one of the first persons witnessing it?  What did you do?  Did you try to help, or were you mostly a bystander?  If we are not in the medical profession is there something we can do other than call 911?  Absolutely!

I have to say that I was mostly a bystander in the few times I was close to an accident.  Two years ago, I took the Red Cross CPR/first aid certification so that I would be more prepared to physically assist minor accidents.  While this training helps support the immediate needs of bleeding, heart stoppage, and of breathing, it does not help the mental state of a victim.  It certainly does not help the healing process.

Because my wife is a Senior Chaplain with the International Fellowship of Chaplains and is focused on working with individuals with death and dying stress-related needs, she has books and reference materials handy.  The one book that got my attention was entitled, "The Worst is Over," or what to say when every moment counts (Acosta & Prager, Jodere Group, Inc. publishers, 2002).  I am studying this book carefully because I feel everyone should know 'verbal first aid.'  Why?  Because it is easy to do and extremely valuable.  Besides, "one day, sooner or later, someone you know will experience a medical emergency." A friend or colleague may collapse in a meeting.  A family member, spouse, child may experience mental or emotional pain.  Even with CPR training, there will be times when only the language of life-saving words will do, especially when you are the only person available or when you are waiting for medical help.

Knowing how to deliver verbal first aid can relieve pain and anxiety, speed up healing, shorten recovery and even save a life! The authors share true life examples where words led to improved healing and recovery.  One patient with a heart attack, while in the ambulance, was given verbal first aid as well as CPR support.  The doctor in the ambulance was trained in live-saving words.  "It looks like this fellow is going to be all right, doesn't it?"  The accompanying paramedic responded, "It looks like he's going to be fine."  Just then the EKG that showed an irregular heart rate jumped into a normal rhythm.  I personally observed a blood pressure monitor move rapidly from 90 to 60 beats per minute when a patient was being prayed over.  The concept that it is the state of mind that is critical in effecting one's physiology (body) has been shown.  If there is no expectation that healing will occur, then none occurs.  If there is expectation that healing will occur, the likelihood of healing is enhanced.  Apparently, what happens is that our thoughts, emotions, beliefs, and imageries affect our biochemical (endocrine) system to secrete molecules that affect our physiology and healing potential.

In a controlled experiment in a Kansas municipal hospital, entering patients were randomly sorted into two groups.  In one group, they were provided standard treatment.  In the other group, the only difference was that they were 'recited' life-saving words.  After a six month period, the results showed that those provided the life-saving words were more likely to survive the trip to the hospital, had shorter hospital stays, and experienced quicker recovery than the those without hearing the life-saving words.

One reason words work in traumatic situations is that a traumatized person often moves into an altered state of mind where the subconscious, autonomic responses take precedent.  It is during this period that words can most affect the person.  It has been shown that speaking words of support positively affect pain, heart rate, respiration, blood pressure, bleeding, asthma, rate of healing, secretions, emotional reactions and more.  In response to trauma, the body works to regain control of traumatic situations, and any means to gain control is beneficial.  Thus, when life-saving words are spoken to such persons, the autonomic response works to stabilize the person -- to take control. 

Everyone can learn to help save a life by what they say!  According to the book, there are three steps needed to practice verbal first aid:  1) Generate rapport with the patient before communicating; 2) Give suggestions that provide pain relieve or that will stimulate the body to support healing; and 3) Create an atmosphere "to turn fear into hope and panic into calm."  When you encounter a person in need, you really only have three actions to take:  1) say nothing; 2) say something harmful; or 3) say something helpful that promotes healing.  While most of us might take actions #1 or #2, it is the latter that we should all learn to take.

© Baldwin H. Tom CMC
www.tbgroupconsultants.com

It's St. Valentine's Day Once Again!

St. Valentine's Day (14 Feb) is one of my wife's favorite days.  That means I must remember it and celebrate it!  It is a great opportunity to recalibrate your approach to people you care about.  How do you make the day memorable to them?  Last year in my Valentine's blog, I ended by saying, "Yes, we need to send 'love' today, but should do so other times as well.  We should be gifting those we love, spontaneously, not just on St. Valentine's Day."  I also provided a bit of history that showed St. Valentine's Day was first declared in 498 AD!  So what I will do for my wife? 

It's simple, just do something -- with meaning, with heart!  Here is my list for all of this year: 1) Give her flowers; 2) Tell her I love her every day and every time I leave to go somewhere; 3) Help her more in the kitchen and with the laundry; 4) Ask her what she would like to do on the weekends; 5) Listen to her and talk less; 6) Give her undivided attention instead of multitasking when she is speaking with me; 7) Give her a hug regularly; 8) Make regular, unscheduled efforts to surprise her with things she likes, like a gourmet cookie; 9) Make dates to take her out to something nice; and 10) Pray for her health and success daily.

Happy Valentine's Day, Madeline.  I love you!

© Baldwin H. Tom CMC
www.tbgroupconsultants.com

We are of Two-Minds!

Have you ever heard the phrase -- my mind has a mind of its own?  It's a reality -- we have two minds -- conscious and subconscious minds!  As you might guess, the two minds may not always agree with each other.  When that happens, life can be stressful and bad things can happen! 

Our conscious mind works to think conceptually, abstractly, set goals, judge, try new things; it has short-term memory and limited processing capacity (illustrated by the inability to multi-task beyond 2-3 things at one time.

Our subconscious mind keeps us alive and safe.  It monitors our body functions, heart rate.  It is literal and is sensory based and holds our attitudes, values and beliefs.  It has long-term memory with an immense processing capacity able to manage thousands of events to support our body's needs.  Our subconscious mind is continuously being primed by all our senses.

The importance of understanding our two minds is when the two are not in synchrony.  For example if we consciously decide to undertake a risky task or sport, our subconscious is cautious and unwilling to act, so there will be an internal struggle.  In the 1996 movie 'Shine' we find a brilliant Australian piano prodigy struggling with his subconscious as his conscious mind strives to succeed as an acclaimed pianist.  He has been subconsciously programmed by his father to avoid the spotlight because the notoriety will get him killed.  Thus as he plays in a competition to win, his subconscious fights his conscious mind to fail.  He makes it to the end of the piece and collapses.  He has a mental breakdown.  The conscious fight to keep from failing had taken its toll. 

In an experiment conducted with college students, one group was 'tested' with a series of rude words. Another group was 'tested' with polite words.  After their tests, participants were asked to meet with two testers.  When they arrived at the appointment, they found the two testers having a conversation.  Unbeknowst to the students, the conversation was a test to see which would interrupt the two testers first.  All the students exposed to the rude words waited about 5 minutes before interrupting the testers.  Surprisingly, 82% of the polite-word group did not interrupt the testers during the entire test period.  Exposure to the different word-sets programmed the subconscious of the students.  Further, the subconscious demonstrated influence on conscious actions.

The understanding that our subconscious plays such an important role in our conscious life reinforces our need to feed our minds with positive thoughts and images instead of negative ones.  This understanding also reiterates the importance to help children read, see, hear, and be exposed to life enriching experiences.  If not, our children will be at a disadvantage to live positive fulfilled lives.

These ideas are presented after reading "Biology of Belief" by Bruce H. Lipton (Hay House, 2005) and "Circle Maker" by Mark Batterson (Zondervan Press, 2011).

© Baldwin H. Tom CMC
www.tbgroupconsultants.com

Where is your Mind?

Have you wondered where your mind is?  Is it in your brain or is it somewhere else?  I wondered to the point that I figured no one knew so I stopped wondering.  Well, there is research evidence suggesting that the brain is not where the mind is.  OK, we know where the brain is, so where is the mind?   

If the mind is defined as the organ that responds to environmental signals with specific and appropriate cell and body responses, then that excludes the brain as the mind.  The mind decides on actions to take.  The mind helps us move to take the action. The brain coordinates the actions.

The definition also excludes the cell nucleus, with its genetic material (DNA), as the mind.  The DNA does not have an on/off switch that is needed to control cellular and body functions. The genes however contain information to produce a response to an environmental stimulus.  That information on the genes is 'protected' by a protein coat.  When the body needs a specific response, a stimulus in the cell activates the protein coat to uncover that portion of the gene to allow synthesis of a needed protein product.  In other words, the genes are there to respond to signals from the cells -- and the cell receives its signals from the environment through its surface membrane receptors. 

While the brain does not have the responsiveness for a 'mind,' the cellular membranes throughout the body have such functional capability.  The short of it?  The mind of the body resides on the surface of cell membranes!  Furthermore, the mind works through energy fields to control our physiology and our health.

As more practitioners take on this new thinking that it is environmental signaling (and not our genetics) that controls our physiology and health, there will be more outside interventions that can help us heal, get well, feel good, and live long vibrant lives!  I am looking forward to learn more about this!  Hope you are too.

These ideas are exerpted from "Biology of Belief" by Bruce H. Lipton (Hay House, 2005).

© Baldwin H. Tom CMC
www.tbgroupconsultants.com

"It's the Environment, Stupid!"

What controls our health, our biology?  Is it our inherited genes?  No!  We have been wrong since 1859 when Charles Darwin published "The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection."  With this publication, Darwin launched a quest by scientists for the genetic proof that our biology is controlled by indelible genes.  This concept, Darwinian determinism, has been the mantra for over 100 years and our textbooks and literature tell us that our genes control our lives.  As a former medical school professor (who worked with cells that produced specialized proteins (antibodies) that confer immunity to foreign substances), I, too, learned the mantra.  Scientists spend years searching in the DNA for specific genes, e.g., a cancer gene, etc.  This view suggests that we are not in control of our lives, that the genes we inherit from our parents dictate who and what we will become.  It implies that if our parents had heart trouble or cancer we will have it as well.  We just wait for the cancer gene to emerge!

Genes give us the structure and unique form of who we are, but do not control our biology.  The book, "Biology of Belief" by Bruce H. Lipton (Hay House, 2005) shows it's the environment that is the driver shaping our lives (biology), not our genes.  Lipton, a former professor of Cell Biology, systematically and convincingly presents the case for this 'new biology' that is diametrically opposed to Darwinian determinism.  Instead, Lipton suggests it is Environmental determinism.  The implications of Lipton's thesis are profound.  It means that we are not trapped by our heredity; we are not cursed by poor health experienced by our parents; it is not inevitable that we get cancer if our parents had cancer; importantly, it means we have more control over our health and lives than we ever thought possible.  Lipton does reference that only 5% of cancer and cardiovascular patients can attribute their diseases to heredity. 

The dogma resulting from Darwin's thesis was that DNA (genetic material, deoxyribonucleic acid) produced RNA (ribonucleic acid messengers coding for proteins) that leads to protein synthesis.  Lipton says that this DNA-centric view puts the DNA (genes) in control of our biology and he emphatically points out that this is wrong!  Scientists have known much of what Lipton shares, but have not articulated the fact that it is the environment that plays the dominant role in controlling our biology. 

The concept that the gene is in control is so very entrenched (textbooks, curricula, lay media) that it is difficult to change mainstream thinking. It has been widely assumed in the science community that DNA (found in the nuclei of all cells) is the brain for the cell.  A brain is an organ that senses and responds to its environment.  By referencing published science experiments, Lipton shows that the main function of the DNA is for reproduction of the cell.  In his colorful way, Lipton says that the DNA is not the brain, but the gonads of the cell!  If the nucleus/DNA is not the brain, then where is the brain?  By its function, Lipton declares the cell membrane the brain.  The membrane senses the environment and with its receptors and effector proteins sets in motion an appropriate response to the environmental stimulus.  There is a scientific discipline, Epigenetics, that studies the control of cell function outside of genetics.  Most interesting from these studies is the fact that we can change our genetics and that those changes can be transferred to our progeny.  As Lipton says, the primacy of the environmental signal over the DNA results in a sequence that starts with an environmental stimulus resulting in triggering regulatory membrane proteins that then activate the DNA, the RNA, and subsequent protein synthesis.  And proteins are the substances that serve as 'workers' in our bodies to help send signals, pass information, and turn on and off cells that produce other mediators that keep our bodies functioning optimally.

How do we humans develop our biological complexity?  It is with the several hundred thousands of protein molecules that mediate and generate our diverse responses.  It appears that even though mice and humans have about the same number of genes, our proteins' abilities to respond to many environmental stimuli far exceed those of mice. Why?  From epigenetic studies it has been shown that over 2,000 protein configurations can be formed from a single gene sequence.  That's diversity!

The bottom line?  If our cellular membranes translate environmental signals into behavior, then our environment plays the major role in controlling our biology.  This means that we have significant control over health and well-being situations in our lives.  We are not constrained by our genetics.  We can help ourselves and can no longer blame our inherited past.  Now that is exciting!  What does this mean in terms of medical practice, nutrition and health, existing diseases, people and places we interact with, or what we think and do?  New thinking, new treatments, new ideas, and new hope where there was none!  There is more to this story and I can't wait to learn it. 

© Baldwin H. Tom, Ph.D.
www.tbgroupconsultants.com

Brain Patterns, Neurochemicals and Non-Genetic Implications

Most recently when I find an area that connects the right brain to the left brain, I am fascinated.  I have focused on the right brain emotions of feeling good, being sad, being depressed, and having faith because there is now scientific evidence that we can take pictures of our brain patterns that represent these emotions.  Now that is amazing!  There are now ways to characterize and map emotions to different sectors of our brains.  Furthermore, there are now identified molecular markers that serve as messengers in triggering emotions and/or the brain changes.  Awesome!  In other words, we are beginning to discover hard scientific evidence on what we have previously considered just a feeling without science or chemistry associated with it.

As I was reviewing my notes and reference materials to write up this blog, I picked up a book published in 2005, The Biology of Belief, by former university cell biologist Bruce H. Lipton.  I had not read this book yet so I began to flip pages to read sections. It is an amazing read if you are a scientist, as I have been, because it challenges Darwinian determinism.  It notes that it's not the genes that dictate who we are, but it's the environment.  I am still reading the book and I guarantee that it will challenge your understanding about how genes work and do not work in creating who we are. 

While I have yet to complete the reading, here is what has been said about this book.  1) Our biology is controlled by energetic messages from our negative and positive thoughts; 2) The healing potential of our bodies are influenced by our thoughts, perceptions, and subconscious awareness; 3) There is a connection between biology, psychology, and spirituality; 4) Your emotions regulate your genetic expression; 5) Your health is controlled by your lifestyle, not by your genetics; 6) You are less a victim of your genes and more a responsibility of your own actions; and 7) You can change the character of your life by changing your beliefs.  If this synopsis doesn't get you running to read the book, I'm not sure anything will!

While it appears I have deviated from my original theme around finding common denominators in brain patterns and neurochemical secretion among music therapy, prayer, meditation, cognitive behavior therapy, acupuncture, and microcurrent stimulation, I believe this book may actually help reinforce the theme.  The fundamental question I am yet seeking is whether these types of treatments result in physics-based electrochemical endpoints that change our biology.  As an adjunct here, I personally witnessed the change in heart rate of a hospital patient anxious about a planned surgery while she was being prayed over.  Her starting pulse rate on the monitor was 95 and during the 5 minute prayer it dropped to 60 and stayed around 60 until the prayer was over and the patient opened her eyes.  Then it went back up to 75, not 95.  Whether it was the prayer or her relaxation, I don’t know, but her anxiety level was reduced.  The pulse rate drop was dramatic.

To be continued ... 

© Baldwin H. Tom CMC
www.tbgroupconsultants.com

Faith -- The Fifth Dimension

We live in a three-dimensional world -- we move up/down, forward/backward, and side/to side.  When we add time, our total existence is in four dimensions.  That's it.  We can't be anywhere else! It is in these four dimensions that we work and play.  It is in these dimensions that we deal with life and work with their challenges.  We act in response to life's needs and demands.  We make decisions and we make plans.  We enjoy it and we are unhappy about it. 

Is there more?  YES!  For those of us who believe in a force outside of ourselves, we have faith.  Faith is about trust or confidence in someone or some thing.  Faith is not only believing that someone can, but that they will.  Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Faith is expecting the sun to rise again tomorrow because it happened yesterday.  Faith is thus the fifth dimension in which all of us can live. 

It is with faith that we can overcome fear.  Faith allows us to withstand times of challenge and difficulty.   Faith in a greater future guides us to new heights.  Have you been in the presence of someone with a strong faith?  Those individuals tend to be calmer under pressure, less agitated when confronted, and more composed when challenged by life.  Those entrepreneurs with a strong faith about themselves tend to take greater risks in innovative ideas.  Living can be difficult, yet a person of faith tends to weather the difficulties better -- believing tomorrow will be a better day.

It's a new year and I will focus on living fully in all five dimensions -- especially by faith.  That will be my New Year's resolution.  By the way, I have faith that 2012 will be an awesome year! 

© Baldwin H. Tom CMC
www.tbgroupconsultants.com

Jesus Christ is Born Today!

Born of a poor family, Jesus' virgin birth is accepted by the faithful.  When one connects the dots with the reported observations of people 2000 years ago, it is easy to see how Jesus was a unique person.  He is considered the son of God and lived a 'perfect' life.  Very little is known about his early childhood except that he was raised in the traditional Jewish ways.  His mother was Mary, Mary's husband was Joseph, and Jesus had a brother, James.

Only when he was thirty when his ministry became apparent do we have more information about his life.  What is amazing given what we know about the difficulty of 'getting the word' out today is that Jesus did it when the basic means of communications (transportation) was by foot.  There were no cell phones or iPads or such.  It was all face-to-face or word-of-mouth communications.  Yet, he was able to spread his message that there is a better way of living.  There is a heaven and there is an evil one, the devil, who prefers you not know about heaven. 

Jesus was brilliant as a debater and a spell-binding teacher.  He often used stories to make a point.  The story made you think to try to discern what he meant.  He did not lose debates.  When he was challenged by leaders who adhered to Jewish law who said, "This women was caught in the act of adultery.  The Law commands us to stone such a woman.  What do you say?"  These leaders' goal was to trap Jesus in breaking the law by sparing the woman.  Instead Jesus said, "If any of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."  No one did.

During Jesus' time, there were many others preaching about a better life.  There were magicians and other charlatans to entice people to join their movements, often for a fee.  Jesus just used well-placed miracles to make his point that he was the real deal.  You've got to love his math that I learned recently, where 5 (loaves of bread) + 2 (fish) = 5000 (people  fed), with a remainder of 12 (baskets of food)!  His miracles and teaching could not be countered by the powers in control of society, neither the priests, pharisees, nor the Roman authorities.  As more and more people 'joined' the Jesus movement (as it was not Christianity then) his detractors saw Jesus as a threat to their power and to the stability of their society.  Hence, Jesus had to be silenced.  He was ultimately betrayed by one within his inner circle of 12 disciples.  Judas Iscariot was one of the twelve and, for 30 pieces of silver, turned Jesus over to the Roman authorities.

Even though the Roman official, Pontias Pilate, could find no crime that Jesus committed, the custom of the day was to select a prisoner to be executed.  The crowd, consisting mostly of those who would best benefit if Jesus were eliminated, selected Jesus. 

He was tortured and hung on a cross, as was done with criminals, and died.  While Jesus suffered and died a painful death as one of us, he told his disciples that he would return in three days after being killed.  No one understood what this meant until it happened.  In his greatest miracle, on the third day he rose from the dead.

The rest is history.  In the short span of three years of ministry, Jesus was able to solidify teachings about God and Him, the son, to the disciples and to other believers so that his words would ultimately change the world.  However one views this Jesus story, it is irrefutable that Jesus Christ was born, preached, died, and for the faithful, he rose from the grave to change the way we might live.  Christmas is a celebration of Jesus' birth. Happy Birthday and Hallelujah! 

© Baldwin H. Tom CMC
www.tbgroupconsultants.com