I’ve read quite a few books on spirituality over the years, and more than a few self-help books. So after returning from Austin where I slept well, ate healthy food, and exercised several hours a day I figured my next step was to pick up a book that would move me to another mental plane. I decided to google Deepak Chopra. His most recent book is called “Reinventing the Body, Reinventing the Soul”. This sounded like just the right medicine so I eventually found my way to a CBS News video clip where he is interviewed about the book and about his opinion of healthcare reform.
He talked about the fact that we can control the production of dopamine and opiates (yep that’s what he said) in our body that give us that feeling of peace. That we simply need to re-program our genes. Bob Schaffer, the storied news reporter from CBS, looked a little surprised at this comment and said something like “I’d like to do that. How do I reprogram my genes?”, to which Deepack said that we need to focus on the “qualities of our spirit”. That we need to tap into our insight, creativity, conscious choice-making, generosity, compassion and love. His message, and he kept stressing we need to BUY his book to really understand the whole thing, is sort of the refrain from the song “Don’t worry, be happy”. Can it be that easy? I think not, but then, if you watch the video clip – Deepak looks pretty darn satisfied with his life. At the end of a pretty funny and long-winded diatribe about what’s wrong with healthcare (interesting note- he does support a public option in the new healthcare bill), Bob Shaffer thanked him and reminded the audience that he has written 54 books. Deepak spoke up quickly saying “That’s 56 books, Bob”. I guess not having those last two books in the tally might have upset the quality of Deepak’s spirit.
So tomorrow morning I’m going to take Deepak’s advice and meet with a group of friends for a Quality of Our Spirits, greasy egg breakfast at the Hollywood diner. We will share among us, compassion, insight and bacon with nitrates. I’m hoping this gene-therapy does the trick.
How have you reinvented yourself? Have you figured out a secret sauce for staying focused and relatively balanced during stressful times past or present?
We are floating. Some of us are looking for land and some of us want to float for a while. I need land, was never much of a floater. I am not commiting to just any land, but I need to get my feet on ground, walk around (test drive, so to speak), relaunch and float to explore the next island of opportunity.
Opportunity……………….I am learning to redefine opportunity. out of chaos comes opportunity.
A little known fact about Deepak is that he had a miserable childhood. Called “Pac-Man” by his friends in middle school, he developed a deep sense of insecurity (obvious in his need to correct Bob Schaffer about the number of books he has written), I say after 50, it doesn’t much matter unless you’re really looking for affirmation. Clearly, I am a guru-skeptic. I would guess that your support group has more impact than $29.95 times 54 (oops, I meant 56…Sorry Pac-Man).