|
Relationship Between The Conscious And The Unconscious Minds
The unconscious part of the human brain can see and respond to
things that it is not consciously aware that it is seeing.
Recently, French and English scientists had volunteers play a
simple game while undergoing a brain scan. The subjects held a
handgrip while watching a computer screen. They were told to
squeeze the handgrip whenever they saw a picture of money on the
screen. The more they squeezed the more money they would win.
While some pictures stayed on the screen long enough to be
identified, others raced by. Regardless, the image of a British
pound caused the volunteers to squeeze harder than they did at
the sight of a penny, even when it appeared so quickly that they
were not consciously aware of what kind of money they were
seeing. The researchers found that the same part of the brain
became active whether the response was conscious or unconscious.
This is a good example of how the conscious and unconscious are
working together.
In another study subjects were shown pictures of human faces
while the researchers scanned their brains. In some trials, the
subjects chose two words to describe the expressions they saw on
each face they viewed. This forced them to consciously reflect
on the emotions that they saw. In other trials, subjects chose a
name for each face, but no attention was drawn to the emotions
that were being expressed.
When the subjects only chose a name for a face that was
expressing an emotion, the amygdala region of the brain
activated. The amygdala is part of our survival mechanism as it
reacts unconsciously to emotional situations. In the subjects
who used words to describe the faces, the amygdala remained
quiet while an area involved with refection, reasoning, and
self-control was activated.
This means that sometimes our unconscious mind will work even
more effectively than our conscious mind to assist us in knowing
what is going on in the world. At other times our unconscious
mind won’t even be aware of what we are doing. The writer of
this article felt that when the unconscious mind is not being
triggered we have the conscious free will to decide what we want
to be doing.
(Reported in Discover, Oct 2008)
The Importance Of Vitamin B12 To Keep Your Brain Young
About 40% of the US population is deficient in Vitamin B12.
Recent research has shown that older people with low levels of
Vitamin B12 are at increased risk for brain atrophy or
shrinkage. Brain atrophy is associated with Alzheimer’s disease
and impaired cognitive function.
This study, involving more than 100 volunteers aged 61 to 87,
found that individuals with the lowest Vitamin B12 levels at the
start of the study had a greater decrease in brain volume after
five years. Those with the lowest levels of B12 had a six-fold
greater rate of brain loss. An important fact to note is that
none of the participants were actually deficient in Vitamin B12,
though they were in the low level of normal range.
As I said, since 40% of the population is actually deficient,
this means the number of older people experiencing brain loss is
probably much higher. It also means having a blood test that
shows your B12 level is in the ‘normal range’ might not mean
that you are at the level for optimum healthy brain functioning.
So…get your Vitamin B12 level checked by your doctor and make
sure you aim to keep it at the higher end of the normal range.
(Reported in Neurology 2008)
Finding Your Purpose Can Help You Live Longer
A survey conducted in 2005 reported on the health and well-being
of 12,640 middle-aged Hungarians. The researchers found that
those who felt their lives had meaning showed much lower rates
of cancer and heart disease than those who didn’t feel that way.
Another study looked at people, who had lived past 100, living
in different locations around the world. A common trait amongst
these centurions was having a sense of purpose - “having a
reason to get out of bed.”
Dr. Harold G. Koenig, from Duke University Medical Center, said
that “people who feel their life is a part of a larger plan are
guided by their spiritual values and have stronger immune
systems, lower blood pressure, a lower risk of heart attack and
cancer, and heal faster and live longer.”
So…with a financial crisis forcing people to make different
decisions, there may be a glimmer of a silver lining. People who
enjoy working may choose to continue and those who have lost a
job may be freed up to pursue what they would really like to do.
Whatever it is, just make sure you find something of purpose for
yourself! Remember, the Chinese character for crisis also
contains within it the word opportunity.
(Reported AARP November & December 2008)
The Difficulty In Saying Thank You To The Right People
In an interesting article in October’s Fast Company, Dan Heath
and Chip Heath, the authors of Made To Stick, pointed out the
difficulty in finding the right people in an effective business
or company in order to compliment them. While it’s easy to
register a complaint, paying a compliment is much harder.
So, does it really matter whether someone gets complimented or
not? Well, according to the authors, a survey of 10,000
employees from the 1,000 largest companies found that 40% of
those surveyed cited “lack of recognition” as a key reason for
leaving a job.
While it’s easier to complain, giving compliments may actually
be beneficial to the customer. Some recent research has shown
that when a customer says thanks and expresses gratitude, they
not only make the employee happier, it makes the customer even
happier. In one study, groups of volunteers made a list of
things they were thankful for, once a week for 10 weeks. This
“thankful” group felt more happiness, excitement and joy than
the other groups. They even reported better physical health with
fewer headaches and colds.
So…next time you’re out to dinner and you have a great meal,
write a note for the server to give to the chef. Imagine the
smile on his or her face as you also walk out smiling from the
restaurant.
Alternative Therapies Gaining Ground In Hospitals
The American Hospital Association reports that 37% of American
hospitals are making complementary and alternative treatments
available to their patients. The therapies include acupuncture,
touch therapy, and music and art therapy. This percentage has
grown from 2005, when it was offered by only 25% of hospitals.
The majority of hospitals are using patient satisfaction as the
best way of determining whether an alterative treatment was
beneficial. Next, the hospital looks at clinical data on its
effectiveness. At the Cleveland Clinic, half of 1,700 patients
undergoing heart surgery opted for alternatives and 93% of the
patients found the services were helpful.
As an example, a nurse was having difficulty inserting an IV
into a patient’s arm because of the patient’s anxiousness over
her scheduled surgery. Instead of continuing to prod and poke
the patient, the nurse called in a massage therapist and in 10
minutes the IV was in place.
So…if you have time to make a choice as to which hospital you go
to, ask them if they offer alternative treatment programs. If
they don’t, make sure to tell or write the head honcho as to why
you’re not going to be using their facility. If enough folks did
that, the 37% figure would grow quickly and dramatically and so
would the benefits to the patients.
(Reported in USA Today Online 9-14-08)
Feedback From A Reader On The Full Spectrum Lights
I just received an email from Carey Hansen in Green Bay
about the impact of the full spectrum fluorescent lighting she
had purchased from us.
She was excited because it got
rid of her seasonal affective disorder illness, which causes
severe depression. Here’s what she said:
“Just wanted to let you
know that earlier this year I purchased lighting for the office
I work in. Normally in fall I suffer from SAD… this year I had
little or no affect from the change of seasons.
The only thing I can attribute it to is the lighting. If I
hadn’t tried it I wouldn’t have believed it!!!”
I am definitely sold on how much lighting can affect a person.
Thank you sooo much!”
Carey, you are welcome.
Researchers from the University of Toronto reported in a study
published in Archives of General Psychiatry have figured out
what is going on in the brain. They did brain scans of
volunteers and discovered that levels of serotonin were lower in
autumn and winter than spring and summer. Because sunlight
regulates a protein controlling serotonin levels, lack of
sunshine means less serotonin, which is the bodies feel good
chemical.
 Because
of Carey’s email, I’m going to extend my Special Offer to
Teplitz Email Report subscribers that I made last month. –
order one case (up to 3 cases) of tubes and you’ll receive an
extra 5% discount for a total discount of 25%! This offer is
only good until December 15, 2008. To order go to
JTV-ENERGY-LIGHTS.com and on the order form page,
enter PROMO CODE: 413632
Increase Sperm Count With Folic Acid and Zinc
Researchers at the University Medical Center in Nijmegen in the
Netherlands found that men who are infertile may be able to
increase their sperm count just by adding extra folic acid and
zinc to their diet. Researchers put 103 low-count males on
regimens of zinc sulfate or folic acid, a combination of the
two, or a placebo for 26 weeks. Those who received both
nutrients increased the number of active sperm from 7.5 million
per milliliter to 12 million. While this is lower than the 20
million to 150 million per milliliter produced by healthy
fertile men, it could make a difference.
 Easy X-MAS Shopping -
Save $70 and get F.R.E.E. Shipping!
I’d like to make a special Christmas shopping offer to you as a
subscriber to my Teplitz Email Report (US Subscribers only).
You’ll get some great gifts if you:
Buy four of the Steven Halpern gentle or subliminal music CDs
and you’ll receive a F.R.E.E.
copy of one of my
Books, your choice. The
books are
Switched-On Living, Brain Gym For Business or
Managing Your
Stress: How To Relax and Enjoy.
PLUS
you also won’t be charged any shipping or handling. Your
products will be sent to you via the US Postal Service.
Besides all of this, you’ll also receive a
F.R.E.E. streamable version of my video that will
show you how to get rid of lower back pain in 3 minutes using a
Japanese Pressure Technique called SHIATSU. Also included is a 5 minute full
back treatment that will feel as if you received a ½ hour
message. If you are giving this streaming video as a gift, you
will be able to forward it to the person of your choice.
You will receive download instructions immediately upon ordering
the package selections below:
The
Halpern Gentle
Music CDs include either Connections or
Comfort Zone.
The
Subliminal CDs to choose from include:
Achieving Your Ideal Weight
Accelerated Learning
Enhancing Creativity
Enhancing Success
Attracting Prosperity
Radiant Health and Well-being
Accelerated Self-healing
Effortless Relaxation
Sleep Soundly
No Smoking
Enhancing Intimacy
There are also two
Business
Subliminal CDs you may select:
Success For Salespeople
Success For Managers
All of this would
regularly cost over $150 and it’s yours for only $80 and no
additional shipping or handling charges!
This offer, to receive in time for Christmas, expires December
18, 2008. If you do place an order after Dec 18, you will be
charged for our sending the items UPS Second Day or Next Day Air
(to make sure that you receive it in time for Christmas, unless
you specify otherwise).
To place your order, either
order the package online here and you will receive an email
form to select your personal choices - - or call 1 800
77-RELAX (777-3529) to order by phone.
That's it
for this month. And Happy Holidays To All.
|
