Category: Mindfulness

Got Purpose? Your Health Might Depend on It

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In a symposium that felt much like a philosophy lecture, attendees were treated to a spirited discussion of the gap (or perceived gap) between humanistic and positive psychology. The room was filled beyond capacity- the strongest turnout of any of the symposiums I attended throughout the convention. Why? Psychology can ask some pretty big questions. Big questions like “what does it mean to be human?” and “what is the purpose in life?” are some of the questions that draw people to psychology in the first place.

While many psychologists relegate such big questions to philosophical debates, others are trying to get at them scientifically. One such researcher is Dr. Carol Ryff, a professor at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Ryff has made a career out of developing and testing core constructs that define well-being. One of these constructs she calls “purpose in life.” How does one define purpose in life? Ryff defined it as “finding meaning and direction in your life.” In a several studies, she has documented that purpose in life, as a measure, has impressive predictive utility for health. First, purpose in life is not static (i.e., it changes over time). In a recent study, she and her colleagues found the purpose in life plummets, on average, as we get older. In addition, low levels of purpose in life are associated with several biomarkers indicative of early disease risk and premature mortality. For example, she has linked low purpose in life to markers of systemic inflammation, which has been linked to heart disease, among other chronic conditions.

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Does one’s purpose in life effect one’s biology directly? People who report more purpose in their lives appear to take better care of themselves. For example, Ryff and colleagues used data from the Health and Retirement Study, a longitudinal study of older adults, and found that those reporting greater purpose in life were more likely engage in preventive care (e.g., get their cholesterol checked, get cancer screenings).

Is it possible to increase someone’s purpose in life? On the face of it, sure. I can certainly think of friends and loved ones who have found greater purpose in response to life experiences, such as surviving a health scare or having a baby. What about an intervention that could be deployed to lots of people? That’s something Ryff and her colleagues are thinking about. While she didn’t get into details, she did note a recent study, known as the Lighten Up study, that seeks to improve well-being among older adults. Just another example of how psychologists are tackling questions at the core of human experience.

Buffalo Wings + Niagara Falls + Fear of Heights = Great Trip to Toronto

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As a person who grew up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (roughly 200 miles northeast of Toronto), I have an appreciation for the Ontario landscape. I am also one of the few people in the United States who views Toronto as south of home.

As I walk through the convention hall, I hear whispers of subtle frustrations with Toronto. Changing currency, no smartphone usage and a convention center that is set up like Hogwarts. OK, Toronto is not everyone’s favorite APA or vacation destination. Although I do empathize with some of these complaints, I still think a trip to Toronto has a lot to offer. I chose to drive from Ohio, and with this choice came some great opportunities. Whipping up the coastline of Lakes Erie and Ontario is as beautiful as it is adventurous. It allows for clarity and mindfulness that no workplace retreat can offer.

I was able to stop in Buffalo and partake of the original buffalo wings at Anchor Bar. IMG_0427The joint is filled with motorcycles, car parts and license plates plastering the walls like makeshift aluminum siding. The wings came and I enjoyed them with a cup of coffee. It’s an odd mix, but I needed to stay awake on my drive. Buffalo as a city is an amazing place. The combination of East Coast architecture and Midwest post-industrialism provides a unique yet middle American feel.

North of Buffalo, I entered Niagara Falls, one of the great wonders of the world. From miles out, you can see the mist floating above the city, giving it a majestic quality. Looking over the falls, you can’t help but feel small, insignificant. It makes your symposium seem unimportant in the grand scheme of things. It feels refreshing.

In Toronto,I have seen many sights and eaten some great food, but the highlight had to be climbing the CN Tower. As someone afraid of heights, I found this both a tourist destination and prolonged exposure therapy. I was able to walk to the edge of the tower and look over, but walking on the glass floor proved to be overwhelming. My SUD levels pushed too high and I had to back up. Again the feel of being small and insignificant washed over me. My concerns for making appointments and attending meetings shrank. Climbing the tower gave me a needed booster shot of self-care on a Friday afternoon.

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Yes, your data plan is useless, it’s hard to find meetings, and image management is at an all-time high. But, just for a second, put down your non-working smart phone, forget APA policy changes, and enjoy this Canadian wonderland. For me, seeing the city and enjoying the landscape is providing some much needed energy during a very busy convention weekend.

 

How mindfulness can help psychologists and their patients

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With its emphasis on acceptance, continual exploration and compassion, the practice of mindfulness makes sense as a tool for clinical psychologists and their patients, said author and meditation teacher Sharon Salzberg. She spoke before some 200 psychologists in a conversation with Donna Rockwell, PsyD, a clinical psychologist who is also a meditation teacher.

By training the mind to focus on the present and accept thoughts without judging or dwelling on them, mindfulness can help patients who ruminate over past events, catastrophize or worry about the future, Salzberg said.

“It’s a quality of awareness where our attention is not distorted by bias or fears of the future or physical discomfort,” she said. “By relinquishing the hold of some of these add-ons, the belief is we have a chance of a cleaner, clearer experience of what’s happening right now.”

That calm contemplation may lead to greater insight into how our emotions come to be, and a better chance at managing them, Salzberg said. “It’s the understanding which comes from the equanimity — knowing there’s something going on, but not immediately reacting and jumping in so we have space to look more deeply,” she said.

Mindfulness skills might help psychologists with their own stress, too, Salzberg said.

“Mindfulness might help the clinician who is really dealing hour after hour and day after day with some really difficult material that others are presenting,” she said. “It’s independent of a belief system and equipment, and it’s an experiment in itself. If you practice every day for 10 minutes and you’re then at work and there’s a crazy situation … you can be breathing and it’s there for you.”