All of us have heard this expression mind over matter, but what does it mean? I have been a practicing optometrist for over 40 years. As I approach the end of my career, I have become reflective and hopefully wiser. Doctors of every specialty are taught the anatomy and physiology of the body. We all study neurology and the workings of the brain and nervous system. But where does the mind fit in? This topic has been debated by religious scholars, theologians, and philosophers.
Over my years of practicing, I have been able to observe my own behavior, habits, and those of my patients. We are all biologically similar with same genetic makeup, but differ in our personalities and how we react to our environment and how we approach daily stresses. For example, in the office, I personally suffer from schedule anxiety. I hate not staying on schedule and making my patients wait. I am constantly battling the clock. In contrast, others do not seem stressed being behind schedule. My patients behave and react so differently when presented with similar medical findings and or treatment recommendations. Some react favorably, following recommendations, and returning as scheduled. Others listen but seem not to trust the diagnosis, are non-compliant with recommendations, or fail to return. Why are we all so different?
As I speak with other professionals in different specialties, this difference in human behavior is repeated over and over again. Why? The brain is in control of our bodily functions and mental decision-making. The brain relies on the past with learned, repeated habits that are developed throughout life. These patterns become the default setting and are repeated over and over again. For the non-compliant patient, the learned response may be: “I don’t trust doctors”, “I dislike taking medication”, or “why should I return just to pay more?”
Well, where does the mind fit in? A recent description of the mind compares it to the software that, on a higher level, controls the hardware which is the brain. So, with this analogy in mind, software can be modified to reprogram the brain to change. All of us have the ability to change these learned, repeated habits and the thoughts that run constantly through our brains and alter our behavior. Let’s put the mind back in control. Being “mindful” has been shown to improve health, strengthen the immune system, and increase life expectancy. So as an optometric physician, my advice to all: whether through prayer, meditation, yoga, or breathing deeply, be mindful and live in the now!
Future topics to be featured in the blog:
- Health Care Present and Future: My Thoughts
- Retirement: Love It or Leave It
- Baby Boomers: Bullish or Bearish
