This summer I attended the MindShare conference and the organizer, JJ Virgin, asked
us to set an intention for each day. She also said that you will get out of the
conference what you put into it and she recommended that we do not hide in our
hotel rooms. When she said that I felt like she was reading my mind as that is exactly
what I wanted to do! At the best of times, I find networking anxiety provoking. And
often, in these situations, my social anxiety gets the best of me and I want to retreat
from humanity.
I made a conscious decision, however, to break out of my comfort zone and be open-
minded. I believe that every interaction we have is divinely guided so I was ready to
see what spirit had in store for me. The next morning, after doing my meditation, I
decided to set the intention of meeting someone who would have me on their
podcast. By the end of the morning business lectures, I had met, not one, but two
NDs who offered to have me their shows: Dr. Trevor Cates and Dr. Tyna Moore. I
was grateful and delighted.
The next morning, I woke up, did my morning meditation and set another intention
which was to meet someone who needed to hear my story of how I have regained
my mental health using Naturopathic Medicine. At lunch, I wasn’t sure where to sit,
so I picked a table that was unoccupied. I was joined by a fellow Canadian, Nicolas
Pinneault, and we immediately bonded over our concern for the environment.
Nicolas has recently written a book that I highly recommend called: The Non-Tinfoil
Guide to EMFs.
A few minutes later, a gentleman approached us and asked if he could join us. We
started talking and he asked me why I was at the conference. I shared that I had just
written: “Beyond the Label: 10 Steps to Improve your Mental Health with
Naturopathic Medicine” and talked about the mental health challenges that I have
overcome. He listened intently and carefully. When I was finished, he said “I knew
there was a reason I was drawn to this table. My wife has struggled with bipolar
disorder type 1 for the past 20 years and really needs to read your book”.
Since the conference, I have been in touch with his wife and she has started her
journey into mental wellness by following “The Essential Diet: Eating for Mental
Health” and following the steps outlined in Beyond the Label.
After the US thanksgiving holiday I received this message from her:
“Christina –
I really want to thank you! I now have a freedom that I never thought I would
experience. It’s gone, all gone for both my mother in law and my daughter. Thanksgiving, a holiday that I hate the most, was amazing. I showed up to my
mother in laws house and was free! I thought nothing bad and felt nothing bad.
Thinking it was a fluke I waited the weekend, still nothing. I even hung out with my
daughter yesterday with no bad thoughts or feelings. I am free!
Even before we went to Thanksgiving dinner, I had no anxiety, no fear. I just enjoyed
being in the present moment.
There are no words for the freedom you have walked me through. Years of therapy
for just these two people and in just 7 weeks, you have given me a freedom I never
thought possible. It really is the most amazing feeling on the planet.
But it’s not just this situation. I feel more free today than I ever have on a day to day
basis. I feel hope that I really can kick this illness to the curb.
I just need to say THANK YOU!
With much LOVE”
Anyone who has attempted to develop a new habit knows that it takes repetition
and consistency. After the conference, I neglected to set specific daily intentions.
However, a few months later, I was heading to the Bulletproof Conference and
decided to set the intention that I would meet one person who needed to hear my
message. On my flight to Calgary, the gentleman sitting next to me struck up a
conversation. When I asked what he had been doing in Edmonton, he said that it had
been a difficult day because he was here for a funeral – his colleague’s 16 year old
son who had committed suicide. After giving my condolences, I explained that I
could relate to his experience. He then opened up to me about his own struggles
with anxiety and stress. I left him with hope as he was excited to read Beyond the
Label.
While I haven’t been 100 % consistent with setting intentions, I can say that in my
daily patient preparation, I have added intention or “wish” setting for the patients I
am seeing that day. I believe that your thoughts affect your reality and that being
grateful is an important component to our mental health. I also think that setting an
intention, goal or desire and giving that up to God is a great mental health practice
as well. What about you? Are you already setting daily intentions? If not, give it a try
and let me know how it goes!
Sending you healing thoughts,
Dr. Chris
