Dean Ornish, a professor of medicine at the University of California at San Francisco and founder of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute, decided to reframe the underlying mind-set beneath the patients’ narratives. He wanted to change it from “If I behave this way, I won’t die” (fear driven) to “If I behave this way, my life will be filled with joy” (hope driven). In his words, “Telling people who are lonely and depressed that they’re going to live longer if they quit smoking or change their diet and lifestyle is not that motivating. Who wants to live longer when you’re in chronic emotional pain?” How much better would they feel, he thought, if they could enjoy the pleasures of daily life without suffering any pain or discomfort? In his experiment, 77 percent of his patients managed to make permanent changes in their lifestyles, compared with a normal success rate of 10 percent.
Saturday, April 22, 2023
fear driven vs. hope driven
Friday, December 16, 2022
things you only hoped for
Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you do not have. Remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.
The Essential Epicurus: Letters, Principal Doctrines, Vatican Sayings, and Fragments. By Epicurus. 1993. Prometheus Books. As found in 2022 Great Quotes from Great Leaders Boxed Calendar: 365 Inspirational Quotes from Leaders Who Shaped the World.
Wednesday, April 7, 2021
all politics is personal
Joe Biden
Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose. By Joe Biden. Flatiron Books. 2017. Preface. 129
Tuesday, April 6, 2021
rules for happiness
Rules for Happiness: something to do, someone to love, something to hope for.
Attributed to Immanuel Kant
Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose. By Joe Biden. Flatiron Books. 2017. Preface
The real source of this quote may be George Washington Burnap in his book “The Sphere and Duties of Woman: A Course of Lectures” 1848. See post on Who Said That Really? on Tumbler. Dec 7th, 2013
Monday, March 15, 2021
hidden but never extinguished
I never lost hope… because of the courage of the ordinary men and women of my country. I always knew that deep down in every human heart, there is mercy and generosity. No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite. Even in the grimmest times in prison, when my comrades and I were pushed to our limits, I would see a glimmer of humanity in one of the guards, perhaps just for a second, but it was enough to reassure me and keep me going. Man’s goodness is a flame that can be hidden but never extinguished.
Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela. Back Bay Books. 1995. p. 662
Sunday, November 17, 2019
you're a provider of hope
Thursday, October 18, 2018
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
patience is...

Saturday, April 9, 2016
to be hopeful
