Archive for May, 2010

The newest research on creativity and mental health finds some interesting correlations.

We have studied the brain and the dopamine D2 receptors, and have shown that the dopamine system of healthy, highly creative people is similar to that found in people with schizophrenia,” said associated professor Fredrik Ulen from the Karoliska Institute’s Department of Women’s and Children’s Health.

High creative skills have been shown to be somewhat more common in people who have mental illness in the family. Creativity is linked to a slightly higher risk of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The ability to made either unusual or bizarre associations are seen in both healthy creative people and schizophrenics.

Creativity

Since many of us had crazy parents or relatives (so we though), we should delight in our creativity. Dr. Ullen says “Thinking outside the box might be facilitated by having a somewhat less intact box.”

Perhaps thinking outside the box sees that inside the box is where the crazy thinking resides. It is the earth is flat type thinking many times. A lot of times creativity is being ahead of the convenient truth.

Mental Health

Creativity is mental health at its best; it takes us a step ahead of where we are. There are many examples of creative genius who have shown signs of metal illness.

However, what a society usually does to safeguard the institution is create a norm that the creative people go above and beyond. They see all the possibilities in ever situation, and have a keen sense of adventure through invention.

What creative people have is a good sense of awareness that what they see isn’t all there is. They find ways that work around limitations, and despite common sense arguments they gather steam and plow forward.

Mental health is what society accepts while looking to satisfy its voracious appetite for the expected.

Creativity is the unexpected results from seeing a new relationship with the vast possibilities.

Creatively supports the voice of freedom to see a thing is a whole new way.

Moderate to severely depressed clients showed greater improvement in cognitive therapy when therapists emphasized changing how they think rather than how they behave.

Creating Good Thoughts

To create good thoughts means looking for the beauty and positive aspect of everyday life. Facing life in a way that gives you control means extracting what you want to focus on. It means being aware how your thoughts set up your reality.

Two people win a 20 thousand dollar lottery, one laments if he just had one more number he would be set for life. The other person realizes how fortune he was to come into this windfall.

Of course the winner for life is the person who enjoys what he received. You either trade down or you trade up in life. The choice is yours.

Create Your World

What has been found was that a concentration on changing behavior of patients by having them schedule activities to get them out and about, did not significantly predict subsequent change in depression symptoms.

The research suggests that cognitive strategies are what will help patients improve. Scientific research has found that perception, expectations, values, attitudes of both self and others will affect behavior.

When a person is depressed they will focus on minor negative aspects of an everyday experience. When small things seem go wrong the depressed person will see the whole experience as negative.

Creating your world starts with self talk. That is the dialog you have with yourself. The longest conversation is the one you have with yourself. Self-talk is the things we say to ourselves all day long.

Automatic Thoughts

Automatic thoughts are repetitive, statements that we say to ourselves.

Again they can be positive or negative. They are called automatic, because they are thoughts that we always say no matter what the evidence is. It is presumptions that don’t weigh any contradictions to the emotional response to people and situations.

Irrational Thoughts

Irrational thoughts are ideas that are based on false assumptions. These are usually unrealistic, and incorrect. Fundamentally they make no sense, and are illogical. These can take you the brink and are the profile of many maladaptive responses to the world. Thoughts that put conditions on your ability to be joyful are usually irrational.

These are I can’t be happy unless I either loss weight, get into my bikini, win the lottery, and please a boss, husband, friend, or relative. These aren’t what your happiness depends on.

Neither does getting into a bikini or winning the lottery guarantee happiness. Many lottery winners can attest to that fact. These ideas aren’t conductive to any long lasting future happiness.

Instrumental Thoughts

The good part is many of these beliefs are not etched in stone. It takes intuitive work to develop a correct thought pattern. Awareness is something that is needed.

Instrumental thoughts are ones that supply you with sheer delight. They become effortless if you make it a point to entertain them.

Learning the right and empowering way of thinking has a profound change on your self view.

The world you live in is inside your mind. You create your thoughts, and you should be the master of them. If not then the thoughts are your master, and that may not be the best program to go though life with. If you have been previously programmed, then you may be going through life with other people’s voices leading the way.

Chefsters goes beyond Showtime, its accessibility to some real time lessons in survival for the next generation.

The Next Generation

The next generation is going to live in a very fragile world. They will need training to live in this new world. This is the first generation being introduced to a new model of living. Shaping their future are forces that aren’t capable, dedicated, or passionate about their wellbeing. The decision makers are openly corporate, incredibly powerful, and profit driven.

Food The Arbitrator

Food is the arbitrator and tool of health for the upcoming generation. Never before has the emphasis on this commodity been more important. In times of famine this was always an issue. Now, in times of plenty it has become a complicated relationship. So much so that it now can be characterized as either an addiction, or a psychological problem such as bulimia, anorexia, or obsession. We are in uncharted waters where a healthy relationship with food holds the key to our health, our children’s future, and probably our planet’s future.

Being obsessed with what a scale says is not the least of this generation’s problem. The topic du jour is dieting. Health is the real arbitrator of our future. 

Food Rules

Unless you know the rules you are overwhelmed with choices. It is obvious we are eating over processed and chemically-saturated food. It is more than making us fat, it is killing us. Unless our kids understand the connection between what they eat and their future, it is mute. If this sounds simple, it is actually not. It will take a great deal of effort to get this message across.

According to all statistics it is an exaggeration to think that anyone is listening to the message. Just eat real food is something that now has to be ingrained. This is a generation that thinks food is fast, prepared, and loaded with sodium and sugar for flavor. Bright colored cereals, candy, baked goods, get their attention, while vibrant plant foods sit on the shelves, and on their plates.

Our children like us are addicted to the sweeteners and manufactured additives that their palate is use to. What they are consuming is edible substances that are a far cry from food.

Real Food

One of the things that this culture must realize is real food is something that is hard to find in packages. Even eating in restaurants will insure that you will be ingesting exorbitant amounts of sugar and salt.

Real food means some cooking skills, preparing and storing skills. These are a little more time consuming than opening and nuking a dinner. Raw vegetables and fruits are terrific choices, but this generation needs skills so they can choose all sorts of healthy fare.

In fact they need to be educated to what is real food, and why it is so important for them to make the right choices.

Food Educators

The only food educators that our children are exposed to are TV commercials. This has to change, because the only educators that care beyond the profit incentive are the parents, and schools.

Parents have given this generation life, now they must save their lives. One of the ways to do that is by equipping this generation with the knowledge and tools to take care of their health. This is a big job, in the age of fast media messages, and little family time we need help.

That is why Chefsters isn’t Showtime, it is lifetime learning that will coach our children and help them identify what good food is and what it will do for them.

It will empower them to eviscerate the television commercials and join the health revolution that Jamie Oliver, Chuck Pardee and the Chefters staff is starting. In the Chefsters kitchen is where amazing things are happening for this generation.