Mind Wise Videos and Podcasts on holistic mental health, healthcare, & well-being

Updates on holistic mental health, healthcare, wellness, neuroscience, philosophy, and spirituality
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Mind Wise videos & podcasts offers perspective and wisdom on holistic mental health, health care, wellness, neuroscience, philosophy, and spirituality, hosted by Ron Parks, M.P.H., M.D., writer, teacher, and consultant. www.inmindwise.com

  1. 4d ago

    Audio Podcast - Finding alignment and living with AI

    Caption for the above collage photo cover: Nine windows into one story: AI, fear, misalignment, and the human element, finding balance—Lumo-generated image; Voice-over with Rowan from Speechify Studio Welcome to Mind Wise, an audio podcast that embodies holistic perspectives on holistic mental healthcare, psychology, neuroscience, spirituality, and wellness. I am your host, Dr. Ron Parks—a writer, teacher, and physician. Today, I’m talking about: Finding alignment and living with artificial intelligence, and what a hospital ward taught me about AI, fear, and misleading reasoning. The remembrance of a scary moment early in my training When I was a resident in internal medicine on a specialty service, I was supervised by a physician faculty member whom I looked up to and from whom I frequently sought guidance. It was our custom to be on the medical unit every early morning, and we were responsible for all the patients there. For several days, I noticed an unfamiliar face in a short white coat worn by interns and residents. This unknown person followed us around the unit and into the rooms while we interviewed and examined patients. I assumed the person was a resident in training from another unit, but I became increasingly suspicious. I asked the physician who supervised me and was in charge of the unit if he knew who this person was. My supervisor suddenly got very upset to the point of yelling at me. I was a little taken aback because I thought he was in charge and would know everything happening on the unit. He said this could be a very precarious and dangerous situation. The person could be anybody: a lunatic, a paranoid psychotic person with delusions. At that time, I had not trained in mental health or psychiatry, and it was very unnerving to me to think that somebody might have a paranoid delusional psychosis or that this person might have somehow gotten involved, disguised, and infiltrated our confidential setting. Like most people in the community—and even as a young, inexperienced resident in training—I found the thought of somebody being delusional, psychotic, or paranoid terrifying. I also had a sleepless night worrying about the situation, especially after I presented it to our unit head and attending physician, and he yelled at me. He said, “You have to confront him and tell him to leave at once and ask him to explain why he’s here.” So again I summoned all my courage, and the first chance I got the next day, I pulled the stranger in a white coat aside and asked him who he was and what he was doing here. As it turns out, he was an applicant for a student position in our program. He told me that if he put on a white coat and went around with us, he’d get a better feel for the program and hoped that his presence would help him get accepted. I told him that this was unacceptable and that he would have to leave. When I shared the situation again with the attending physician, he still wasn’t very happy, and I felt he blamed me for what had happened and its potential consequences. I thought he would be pleased that I had stepped in for him, since I thought he would be the responsible one to handle the situation and model for me how to handle these awkward and potentially risky situations. This incident involved three people: me, the medical attending faculty member, and a person who was apparently a student applicant who thought he had the right to enter any inpatient hospital setting without proper permission and authorization. These days, I don’t think something like this is very likely, since hospitals, medical schools, and so on take extensive security precautions to protect people, patients, and confidentiality—but of course, having recounted this story, I don’t remember whether this person in a short white coat might have had a stethoscope hanging from his neck or maybe even a name tag. Each person involved, including me, was caught up in their own mental story or narration about their beliefs and, in this situation, what they felt entitled to do or how they could rationalize certain actions and behaviors. In other words, each person had their own reality and was so caught up in it that they weren’t receptive or open to correcting their course of action based on what was happening or what they observed in the moment-to-moment changes and nuances they needed to consider, to modify their inner guiding narrative and strongly held beliefs that led to preordained actions. In this incident, each of us was, in a sense, operating like a programmed robot on a set of inner programs—out of touch, unable to adapt to changing circumstances, or to stay aligned with the dynamic, ever-changing reality we exist in. This incident came up in my memory as I was piecing together a new article in my mind about concerns about artificial intelligence and the scary risks associated with it, especially how AI aligns with and intertwines with our normative mental processing and cognition. As it develops, these new smart technologies can act not only as an extension of the cognitive, computer-like part of our intelligence, but also reinforce and contribute to mental models in our own neural networks that shape our beliefs, actions, and behaviors. Today’s enormous anxiety and loss of alignment The big worry now, with the rapid, exponential growth of machine learning, is that, as the pattern of human thinking, as recorded in huge libraries of research data, becomes available for data-driven intelligence systems to draw on, to an extent never possible before, it can find the patterns of action and thought that the human mind uses and replicate them. The outcome has been to extend our reach beyond our usual human limitations exponentially. Developers and programmers can build sophisticated systems that carry out or replicate much of what an individual mind can do. These advances can not only parallel and influence the human mind but also allow its workings to replace or take over many functions that, in the past, a person had to perform within their limitations—the ceiling of their possibilities. These novel smart technologies are near the point, or possibly already there, where they can self-improve and better model themselves to perform and think like the human mind, including making independent decisions and, in a sense, rapidly moving toward autonomy. In artificial intelligence development, alignment is a critical concept that is now taking center stage. Alignment refers to the goal of ensuring that these systems’ use of machine learning, intelligent algorithms, and neural networks matches human values, intentions, and safety rules. It means making these data-driven, algorithmically intelligent systems function as intended by their developers while staying aligned with humanity’s best values, rules, and intentions—rather than causing harm or pursuing literal goals in dangerous ways. Without proper alignment, a smart system might solve problems by taking unintended shortcuts, such as a machine intelligence system that shortens hospital stays by putting patients at higher risk. For example, if you reward a cleaning robot only for removing dirt from floors, it might learn to hide dirt under rugs (which satisfies the literal rule) rather than actually cleaning properly. AI alignment is a real goal; however, when it falls short, risk and danger ensue, such as when alignment serves the malevolent work of malicious people or groups. Without ethical oversight and regulation, developers or groups of developers may work for an entity such as a gigantic business that is taking over an entire market, where antitrust or competition laws are not in place or enforced. Of equal or greater concern are combative countries under authoritarian rule, or a terrorist group whose goals might be dominance, profit, or defeating a competitive entity considered an enemy, with the goal of destroying it. Unintended harm and the mind’s misleading reasoning These developments could cause widespread harm to vulnerable people or unintended victims. The technology could self-develop along the lines of its inherent human input and go rogue, as misguided or radicalized individuals were capable of doing, even before the advent of these smart innovations and media influence, when susceptible to propaganda and misinformation. When such a developed product moves away from the originators’ intended use and goals, there is a remote possibility of developing destructive biological warfare or deadly military weaponry. A misguided, maybe not-so-smart agent could, if not properly developed and regulated, shut down large parts of our energy, food, or water distribution networks vital to populations’ basic survival needs. The term artificial intelligence makes me think of the interplay between our inner mentation and cognitive processing—our human intelligence at work—which creates patterned beliefs and narratives from gathered experiences and learned knowledge. This is necessary to guide our self-image or identity and to separate our functioning presence from the environment around us, so we can carefully choose actions and plans to survive by avoiding identified toxic or life-threatening items, or by building survival behaviors to obtain basics like food, water, and shelter. This then moves toward higher levels, such as accumulating gratifying surroundings or possessions, or things associated with power and security. These scaffolded ideas, plans, and thought structures clearly shape how we figure things out and are a necessary part of our consciousness and drive for survival and accomplishment rather than extinction. All that is built up in the mind, as for the benefits it provides, as it is distinct from the ebb and flow of true reality, can also be thought of as our personal, artificial mind intelligence. I often allude to, as observed in dream journaling, how our minds build elaborate narratives that seem real in t

    Audio Podcast - Finding alignment and living with AI

  2. Sep 2

    Audio Podcast - The Menace of the Unexpected: Artificial Intelligence and Stinking Thinking

    Welcome to Mind Wise, an audio and video podcast that embodies holistic perspectives on holistic mental health care, psychology, neuroscience, spirituality, and wellness. I am your host, Dr. Ron Parks—a writer, teacher, and physician.  Today, I’m talking about my recent article: The Menace of the Unexpected: Artificial Intelligence and Stinking Thinking and Is the AI Threat Real, or a Mirror of Our Own Deceptive Beliefs and Thinking? Reality speaks—can you adapt—bend without breaking—and again be upright, moving, or swimming with the current, existing in a changed place, or moving in the flow toward a new trajectory? It has been almost two years since the traumatic experience of living through the devastating Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Western North Carolina has taken time to heal. The bridge outside the River Knoll development entrance has been repaired, allowing traffic to reach the main highway again. Though most families from the 20-plus homes nearest the river have relocated, they are largely awaiting the government’s promised buyout funds, which remain held up and have not been released by local and federal governments. This FEMA emergency aid, based on pre-storm home evaluations, will hopefully come soon, after over two years, to help the people with the greatest loss begin anew. All severely damaged properties are now considered in the floodplain, and county, state, and federal authorities are supporting buyouts to level the homes and replace them with green space to reduce future flood risk. The road in the development sustained significant damage but has remained passable with extreme caution, avoiding the riverbank edge and carefully navigating around oncoming cars and trucks. The 18 homes at higher elevations from the river remain intact, including ours, which stayed out of reach of the ravaging floodwaters. But there is a sense of loneliness and lingering despair, with many of our friends and neighbors gone—the ones we huddled with for days and weeks. We waited for the waters to recede immediately after the storm’s fury, for roads to be repaired so we could get out, and for water and electricity to be restored. Now nature’s greenery and wildlife flourish, as though nothing major happened; life goes on for the trees, forests, squirrels, birds, and bears, who often make their presence known. We are deeply grateful to all the local and national organizations that sent teams and supplies while roads, infrastructure, water, and electricity were being restored. For us, it took a matter of weeks; for others in nearby communities, much longer. We also feel deep gratitude for friends and family who stepped up to provide critical support amid the emotional and financial stress. Best-laid plans and blindness to guidance from the true reality Before the hurricane, we felt the need to downsize to a smaller living space in a community we thought was better suited to our life stage. A place with more amenities and structured social activities. I realized this more as I had concerns about an older family member and began researching places that might fit his interests and needs. I realized it might be time for my wife and me to consider some of these well-designed settings for ourselves, too. There was also the appeal of returning to the area where I grew up and did most of my medical training. We would be near the family members who mostly stayed in this area. The more my wife and I talked about it, the more a plan took shape, gaining momentum, scaffolding, emotional overtones, details, and even a timeline. As Asheville, at the time, remained a popular place to move for its beautiful mountains and natural setting, with many recreational opportunities, arts, crafts, and culture, in a Western North Carolina university town, we also thought it was a great time to assess the value of our property and its current worth. We also rationalized that it would be a good time to take on the hard work and stress of downsizing and to go through the demands of putting our house on the market. The growing narrative in our minds became a top priority, and we set action steps in place with what felt like solid grounding, especially as we researched all the options and consulted people we usually turned to for wise counsel and advice. To show how caught up we were in all that was involved with selling our house and planning a move, my wife, who has periodic bouts of atrial fibrillation, an irregular heart rhythm problem, had a serious recurrence that led to hospitalization for treatment and correction of the arrhythmia. Even with all that, we weren’t deterred and became even more focused on our plans. We rationalized that the area and city we planned to move to had some of the best hospitals and medical care in the country. A buyer came along, loved our house, and signed a contract to buy it. Things were moving along well; we had finished getting rid of stuff and downsizing—a major, stressful project. We were ready to vacate the house and move into an attractive rental apartment, and we had even signed a lease. A week or so before closing, we received the shocking news that the buyer wanted to drop out of the contract. They were concerned that an adjacent property might be developed. Then, two weeks later, Hurricane Helene devastated the lower part of our community, making the sale of our property unlikely until our area’s infrastructure, including roads and bridges, could be repaired. See my article about the hurricane and its aftermath. It was a gigantic wake-up call that the best-laid plans might be incongruent with reality and with our miscalculations and perceptions. It reminded me of a 70s poster I found and put on my wall months before my mother’s sudden death. It was the first major loss in my life, bringing the taste and sting of deep grief that gripped me for weeks and months, and intermittently through the years, showing up in my thoughts and dreams. The words on the poster rang true: “People plan, God laughs.” I didn’t fully grasp its meaning then, but perhaps it was like the statue of a smiling Buddha. I remembered that one of these statues adorned my mother’s table of special gifts. An older brother who had traveled to exotic foreign places gave it to her. Now I see that the laugh or smile ascribed to the spiritual master, or the nameless one with boundless wisdom, perhaps signifies awareness of human folly, of getting distracted or caught up in our deceptive thinking or silly foibles. It is a reminder not to be so tightly bound to our inner beliefs, expectations, and well-laid plans. Perhaps the smile of the Buddha signifies awareness of this human folly. It is a reminder to be more aware and adaptable, to make necessary adjustments to our self-structured, patterned road map of the future—to have the resilience to survive change and loss, to adjust one’s course, or, as in this case, to rewrite one’s script and make discerning choices for a now-realized, less predictable future. The realization reveals the wisdom of being ever mindful of the ever-present potential for dramatic change or loss. Flexibility, acceptance, and the release of tightly held plans, especially the unrealistic ones, are needed, as the dramatic, unanticipated climatic disruption of the usual lovely nature and natural setting we had taken for granted in the picturesque mountains and river valley of Asheville became clear. What struck me most about this experience was not just that the plan failed, but how completely my mind had constructed an entire world around it — with timeline, emotional investment, and a sense of inevitability that felt like destiny rather than speculation. My wife’s hospitalization didn’t slow us down. The research, the consultations, the lease signing — each step reinforced the narrative until it felt less like a choice and more like reality itself. This is the mind’s great talent and its great vulnerability: it builds futures with such conviction that we forget we are the architects, not the occupants. And I have come to see that this same tendency — to construct, to project, to believe in our own scaffolding — runs straight into the territory of artificial intelligence, which mirrors and amplifies this very human capacity. The mind tends to get caught up in reasoning and constructing, creating a sense of reality about ourselves and a speculative framework for anticipating a safer, more secure future. Our cognitions form a story or narrative about how things work and the paths we ought to take, as if we were scripted characters in a movie. We see this in dreams, where elaborate fictional stories sometimes spin off from loose, available ruminations or residues of our waking activities, thoughts, and emotions. Likewise, our mind during wakeful states, if you observe it, is always scheming and constructing elaborate plans or self-pictures of reality, reflecting what we believe or wish for. This parallels pervasive worry and concern about the rapid proliferation and development of AI. It has been developed using technology that, as the developers figured out, mirrors how the mind reasons and builds narratives by finding and reproducing patterns that simulate mental processing. These patterns can influence people’s reasoning and affect behavior, as we see in marketing, advertising, propaganda, and in the development of destructive military weapons that destroy human life and the environment. Artificial intelligence (AI) is destined in the minds of many to be a threat or spoiler of the future, as it is rapidly being developed with untold influence, taking over jobs or manipulating naïve users, leading to dangerous dependence on its use and on information or direction that leads the uninformed or the vulnerable. Receptive audiences are used to serve others’ self-interests and their need for dominance and control. AI has the capacity to shape belief patterns

    Audio Podcast - The Menace of the Unexpected: Artificial Intelligence and Stinking Thinking

  3. Jul 23

    Audio Podcast - Don't Push the River: On Losing and Finding Perspective**

    Don’t Push the River: On Losing and Finding Perspective Dr. Ron Parks explores a universal struggle: how we over-plan, over-control, and lose ourselves in mental architectures of our own making. Drawing from a vivid dream, Daoist philosophy, Gestalt therapy pioneer Barry Stevens, and a personal experience surviving Hurricane Helene in Asheville, he weaves together several threads: The core insight: Plans and projects start with genuine purpose, but we tend to pile on layers of secondary concerns — deadlines nobody asked us to set, perfectionist details, emotional investments in completion for its own sake — until the original purpose is buried and we’re exhausted by the weight of our own construction. The dream as mirror: Dr. Parks dreamed of building a robotic arm that was nearly finished and functional, only to become paralyzed by peripheral details — naming it, choosing a color, saving it in the right format. He realized the dream reflected his waking life perfectly: getting lost in minutiae until the bigger picture disappears. Two awakenings: A friend’s concerned phone call served as his waking-life interruption, much like dawn breaks a frustrating dream. Both carried the same quiet message: you’ve drifted somewhere without realizing it — reconnect. The river metaphor: Borrowed from Barry Stevens’ 1970 book, “Don’t push the river — it flows by itself.” You can float in it, walk alongside it, or exhaust yourself trying to force its flow. The invitation is to hold plans loosely, stay present, and adapt to what actually unfolds rather than insisting reality match your blueprint. The Daoist thread: Wu Wei — effortless action — isn’t passivity. It’s staying responsive to what’s happening rather than clinging to what you assumed would happen. Adaptability is intelligence in action. The lived reality: Dr. Parks ties the metaphor to the devastating 2024 hurricane that flooded the Swannanoa River near his Asheville home. The river reclaimed its floodplain; one person who went back for belongings was lost, while those who moved to higher ground survived. Nature doesn’t negotiate — it adapts, and so must we. The bottom line for listeners: Completing the project isn’t the goal. The true mission is to stay aware of the larger reality beyond our mental clutter, loosen the grip of over-control, simplify, and remain open to change with adaptability and acceptance. The hand that grasps must stay open enough to receive. ** The voiceover for this podcast was generated by Speechify using the Alex GB voice. Speechify converts written content into natural-sounding audio. The program has been very popular among people who consume academic and business content, as well as among individuals with dyslexia and ADHD seeking better reading alternatives. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.inmindwise.com

    Audio Podcast - Don't Push the River: On Losing and Finding Perspective**

  4. May 13

    Audio Podcast: Rapid AI Growth, the Human Edge, and Resilience

    Welcome to Mind Wise, an audio and video podcast exploring holistic perspectives on mental health care, psychology, neuroscience, spirituality, and wellness. I am your host, Dr. Ron Parks—a writer, teacher, and physician. Today, we’re going to explore how: Rapid AI growth is fueling real anxiety about careers, economic security, and social well-being—especially for people early in their professional lives. There are practical resilience strategies (mindfulness, relationships, healthy routines) and alternatives for ethical, human-centered AI development to protect dignity and opportunity. There is a rise in anxieties and challenges faced by individuals entering their careers amid rapid societal and technological change, particularly the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). The story of a young couple highlights concerns about job security, financial stability, and the potential for AI-driven economic upheaval. The narrative delves into fears of a dystopian future in which automation and concentrated corporate power could create a permanent underclass, drawing on both personal anecdotes and broader societal debates. Toxic work environments exact a psychological toll. Mindfulness and immediate, positive activities can counterbalance the stress and uncertainty these changes bring. Listen to the entire podcast, and for the full article and references, go to: https://parksmd.com/rapid-ai-growth-the-human-edge-and-resilience/ For inquiries, go to: https://parksmd.com/scheduling/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.inmindwise.com

    Audio Podcast: Rapid AI Growth, the Human Edge, and Resilience

  5. Feb 26

    Unlocking Wellness: Mindset, Healing, and Personal Transformation with Eric Stoller

    The podcast “Mind Wise,” hosted by Dr. Ron Parks, explores holistic perspectives on emotional and mental health, psychology, neuroscience, spirituality, and wellness. In this episode, Dr. Parks welcomes Eric Stoller, a wellness media entrepreneur and motivational strategist known as the “Brand Whisperer.” Stoller shares his journey, which spans a background in education and motivational seminars and led him to become an advocate for regenerative medicine, anti-aging treatments, and personal transformation. His story highlights the influence of family, the power of mentorship, and his evolution from traditional business ventures to a focus on health and longevity. A key theme in the episode is the importance of mindset in achieving lasting wellness and well-being. Both Dr. Parks and Stoller emphasize that genuine change requires more than physical transformation; it also involves shifting one’s narrative and mental patterns. They cite motivational figures such as Zig Ziglar, Albert Ellis, and Les Brown to show how fixed mindsets and “stinking thinking” can hinder progress, while flexible thinking and storytelling can help individuals rewrite their personal journeys. According to the speakers, this process is essential for breaking free from limiting beliefs and embracing growth. The conversation also examines the role of innovative therapies and community-based healing. Stoller shares his experiences with stem cells, peptides, and alternative modalities, including hyperbaric and red light therapy. He discusses the impact of group events focused on wellness and longevity that he has successfully promoted. These gatherings provide a relaxed, supportive environment for exploring new wellness practices and underscore the importance of collaboration among participants and advocates in the wellness field. Dr. Parks The podcast concludes with reflections on purpose and passion. Stoller explains that rediscovering his love for performance and music—and integrating them into his brand—reinforced his motivation and confidence. Both hosts agree that sustaining health and happiness means aligning one’s goals with core values, staying open to new experiences, and supporting others through teaching, collaboration, and sharing authentic stories. Overall, the message is that wellness is a continuous, individualized journey driven by internal motivation and external support. Dr. Parks supports the work now underway in holistic medicine and lifestyle psychiatry, which relies on evidence-based research and science. #HolisticWellness #PersonalTransformation #MindsetMatters #Longevity #EmotionalHealth #Wellbeing The caption for the collage of photos is: Wellness and Longevity—RRP Design with Canva and stock photos I appreciate your interest. Please share with others. Thanks to Shan Parks, editor and project manager, for his valuable contributions and editing. All content is created and published for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical services or guidance. Always consult a healthcare provider for care related to medical or mental health conditions. This communication does not provide medical diagnoses, recommendations, treatment, or endorsements. Thank you! For inquiries, go to: Parksmd.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.inmindwise.com

    Unlocking Wellness: Mindset, Healing, and Personal Transformation with Eric Stoller

  6. Feb 19

    Audio Podcast: Breaking Free from Stinking Thinking and Emotional Distress

    Welcome to Mind Wise, an audio and video podcast exploring holistic perspectives on mental health care, psychology, neuroscience, spirituality, and wellness. I am your host, Dr. Ron Parks—a writer, teacher, and physician. Today, we’re going to explore: Stinking Thinking Revealed and Getting Unstuck from Ideas and Beliefs—with Mindfulness, CBT, and Holistic Strategies for Lasting Mental Wellness The chill of winter, the news, and politics It was midwinter, with a chill in the air and sleet and snow steadily falling, coating the roads enough to form a treacherous layer of black ice and making travel precarious. Those of us caught indoors often turned on the TV to get the latest weather report, searching for how long our forced winter hibernation would last. On TV, news reports featured recurring stories about outlandish things the president or his party representatives were doing to upset the applecart of democracy. The more dramatic the reporting of threatening changes to the status quo of established institutions and our way of life, the greater the weight on our minds and emotions. Our emotions balanced between worry, fear, and some anger. As the final reports grew more ominous, they predicted more frigid weather, icy rain and sleet, impassable roads, and the closing of businesses and events. My wife lingered to catch the final news and reports. Still, I scurried away to enjoy my nighttime herbal tea and routine of yoga and meditation to shake off the negativity and emotional burden of my earlier exposure to network news, some articles I’d read, and the reported climatic changes, both environmental and political. A dream of arrogance, deceit, and deception My pre-bed sleep-enhancing routine worked, and I drifted into a night of peaceful slumber until early morning, when my mind began transitioning toward wakefulness. A realistic dream appeared, drawing on residues of the prior day’s images and unsettled emotions, as if to bring them to a settled, completed state within an ensembled narrative to file away in the depths of memory, perhaps for wisdom or future retrieval. In the dream, I was part of a group at a large event center in a fancy high-rise in the middle of Manhattan. I had responsibilities as a senior facilitator and offered to organize and lead an activity in several large adjoining rooms with open floor space. It was to be a workshop on mindfulness and pickleball mastery. Each person had a tennis ball and a smaller hard rubber ball used for racquetball or handball, as in some of the city’s gyms and spas with small, enclosed courts. To my surprise, one of the best-known public figures, whose personality and behavior often offended many, was participating in the event, possibly because it was his building. He seemed pleased to take part and exuded a casual confidence that fit his image as more nonchalant. It was hoped that he would see it as a fun way to get a little away from his worries and win over some admirers at the same time. To my surprise, I was supposed to team up with this famous public figure, whose arrogant, dismissive, or bullying behavior often offended others and was considered unforgivably offensive. My job was to pair the other participants and have them practice together as a collaborative team. Each pair was to find a line in the room that would act as a net. I intended to use the activity and movement of a pickleball competition between the two, along with practiced focus and concentration on the ball, as an exercise in mindfulness. My goal was for the realization to occur with the release from the usual background thought chatter, bringing peaceful flow and connectedness through the coordinated flow of the activity and the fun game. I was hoping my very public celebrity partner could let go of some of the entrapment in his own worries, pressures, and self-defeating personality traits, as well as in his tightly woven beliefs about himself, since I sensed he wanted to. I questioned how to address each other in our interconnected pair activity to encourage us to let go of some of our tightly held mental preoccupations and distractions that keep us from being fully present in the moment. Because my attachments to my sense of self and titles, including my moniker as doctor, seemed to be a potential problem or distraction for others, I told my partner and the group they were free to call me by first name or by my career title, whichever was comfortable for them, and that it was not something I was overly attached to. As for my partner, it would be his choice to let go of his closely held public identifiers and image. The exercise felt a little awkward for everyone, including my partner, but there was a glimmer of hope that he and I could relax and enjoy the meant-to-be therapeutic activity. I awoke and noted my related thoughts for later recording in my dream and insight journal, which I came to value as a helpful tool for mental and emotional health on our journey toward understanding and, perhaps, wisdom. My reported dream and insights from it are presented to heighten understanding of the danger of entrapment or fixation in the mind’s thoughts, interpretations, and beliefs, whether firmly fixed or, for most, hopefully flexible and adaptable to changing circumstances. The figures in the dream are not meant to represent any public figure or anyone I know. Most likely, the representations are projections of aspects of myself for my self-understanding and self-improvement work, possibly highlighting some of my inflexibility or arrogance in self-perception and behavior. It is a hidden gem to know oneself as more fluid and adaptable rather than set and immutable. All this underscores the importance and benefits of healthy practices such as journaling, mindfulness, meditation, and other sensible lifestyle choices. Constant attention to when our thoughts and beliefs are tied to strong emotions, over-identification, and attachment is an important way to avoid mental imbalance, emotional distress, and unhappiness, as the Buddha’s spiritual teachings on our thoughts, mind, and attachments emphasize. The importance of keeping your focus on the ball in the game of pickleball is a metaphor that appeared in the dream segment above. It is a reminder of the ancient wisdom and spiritual teachings that, by allowing the mind to focus, reduce its hectic activities and mental preoccupations, and relax, it can enter a restorative, healing state. Stinking thinking and the roots of cognitive behavioral therapy “Stinking Thinking” became a popular expression, popularized by Zig Ziglar,1 an American motivational speaker, in his self-help, personal, and career development talks. Albert Ellis, a psychologist who founded Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), used the phrase to describe the kinds of negative, self-sabotaging thoughts that can make people feel emotionally distressed and dissatisfied. Some core cognitive beliefs or distortions that lead to emotional distress can be characterized as rigid, absolutist thinking; irrational beliefs that rarely align with reality; and what we may call “stinking thinking.” Some examples from Ellis’s work of distortions in thinking that can become so well set in the mind that they influence thinking, emotions, and behavior in ways others see as irrational include: feeling you must excel at everything, which breeds fear of failure and self-criticism, leading to over-striving for perfectionism and competence; believing and being convinced that you must be universally liked or approved of, making your self-worth dependent on others and making you overly needy for others’ love and approval; catastrophizing, exaggerating problems and discomfort, and viewing setbacks as unbearable disasters; obsessive worrying about dangers and believing that the constant worry is protective, when it actually leads to avoidance and paralysis; and feeling that you must always be dependent on others and rely on someone stronger and more competent, undermining independence and self-confidence.2 The idea that adverse thoughts influence emotions and behavior has deep historical roots in ancient wisdom—such as the Stoic philosophy of Epictetus, who taught that people are disturbed not by events but by their interpretations (thoughts) of them, and the Buddhist understanding of the impact of the mind and its thinking on life and well-being. It is therefore understandable how stinking thinking, as an expression, found its way into popular culture. Modern psychology, psychiatry, and therapies have likewise evolved from the fascination with the operations of the mind and mental activity, from ancient times through the times that followed, up to the present: philosophers, scientists, researchers, psychologists, psychiatrists, and healthcare workers. Aaron Beck, MD, is considered the father of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). This psychotherapy has become mainstream in mental health care and treatment, as well as in addiction recovery and personal development. Cognitive-behavioral therapy challenges and seeks to modify problem-causing thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes, along with associated behaviors, to aid emotional regulation and foster better ways of coping with and addressing problems. Beck expanded the idea of schemas as core beliefs that strongly affect emotional responses and behavioral patterns, and he identified negative schemas as significant contributors to depression and anxiety. CBT has evolved into a range of valued psychological and behavioral psychotherapeutic treatments that focus on clearly delineated medical, psychological, and emotional difficulties, based on carefully conducted and validated research: dialectical behavior therapy, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, spirituality-based CBT, acceptance and commitment therapy (a specialist branch of CBT that uses mindfulness and acceptance interventions), and EMDR. CBT has demonstrated effectivenes

    Audio Podcast: Breaking Free from Stinking Thinking and Emotional Distress

  7. Jan 31

    Audio Podcast: Vigilance and Memory: Safeguarding Humanity After the Holocaust

    Welcome to Mind Wise, an audio and video podcast exploring holistic perspectives on mental health care, psychology, neuroscience, spirituality, and wellness. I am your host, Dr. Ron Parks—a writer, teacher, and physician. Today, we’re going to explore: Vigilance and Memory: Safeguarding Humanity After the Holocaust A call to remembrance and words from a survivor, the poet Iren Steier, that bring the reality of the past to inform the present My Family’s Journey Through Loss, Reunion, and Remembrance I recall a poignant personal story I wrote about my reunion with an aged cousin of my mother during a visit to Israel, who was believed lost in a Nazi death camp. Her location was revealed through a letter my mother gave me before her death. The realization now is that it was the deepest and darkest proximity I’ve experienced to the heart of tragedy, human cruelty, and the depravity of others toward humanity, the evilest side of humankind, inflicted on vulnerable people by one of the most sinister forces in the history of our civilization. It also shows the resilience and the beaming forth of the human spirit, and our greatest strength and power to reach the highest state of enlightenment and pure spirit. As a child in the late 1940s, my mother took me to a local shoe repair shop on Upshur Street in Washington, DC. The shop was near the row-house community where we lived. The struggling shoemaker, amid his buzzing machines, appeared to be a quiet, humble man, his face worn by years of hardship. He had an unfamiliar accent. My mother knew he was from Hungary, where her parents had lived before migrating to this country in the late 1800s. My mother showed him letters she had recently received from a cousin, Iren, her age, whom she had visited as a small child with her mother while seeing their family in Hungary before the war years. I understood that a terrible war had occurred in Eastern Europe, and it was over with the German defeat. As a child, I only knew that horrible things had happened to the unfortunate people living there, including my mother’s cousin and her family. Her cousin, Iren, was now a refugee from her destroyed home and community, having lost family members. With a voice of despair, the shoemaker in the store translated and read the letters to my mother. He helped write and address my mother’s letters in Hungarian to my mother’s cousin, along with whatever money or goods my mother could send. My mother was never sure her letters or anything she sent would reach her or get past the authorities or the people providing her refuge. She received the last letter from her cousin after the war had ended, which included her new address in Israel, where she had successfully migrated. The letter expressed hope of seeing my mother in the future. The cousin could reach Israel after her release from a Nazi concentration camp and a brief stay at a refugee center, as one of the few family survivors. The Germans had invaded her hometown in Transylvania near the Hungarian border, destroyed her community, and left her without a place to return to. No further attempts to make contact were successful. Years later, when my mother could finally travel to Israel, she was terribly disappointed not to find her cousin. Before my mother died, she gave me the well-kept last letter from Iren, now worn, hoping I would reconnect with her one day. In the mid-eighties, my wife and I traveled to Israel, taking with us the old, worn letter from Iren that my mother had given me before her death. It was my quest to find her, hoping she was still alive. What transpired when we arrived in Israel was a blessing and an inspiration beyond my belief and expectations. On a sunny, warm day in 1985, in the arid, desert-like landscape, my wife and I walked into the modest hotel lobby near Jerusalem. We were to meet a newfound niece of my mother’s dear cousin. We were young and full of wonder, adventure, excitement, and anticipation that something profound would soon happen. My mother hoped I would find her beloved cousin and complete the connection she had hoped for since her childhood visit to their European family and their occasional letters thereafter. Now, Iren’s niece drove us to the rustic lodge where Iren and her husband were staying. I had found Iren’s niece by taking the envelope my mother had given me, with the old address and family name, to a multilingual shop owner. He took time out from his work in his small, stall-like shop to phone twenty or so people with a family name similar to the one on my mother’s envelope. He kept telling our story until Iren’s niece recognized it on one of the calls. The shopkeeper was so sweet to help us, and of course, we bought a few gifts to remember him and his colorful shop. When we walked into the room, Iren, now in her eighties, appeared slightly frail, with a concentration number tattooed on her arm, beaming with such warmth and a smile that melted our hearts. We all cried and hugged. A profound sense of meaning came with the joining of our hearts and the family’s past. The occasion was also profoundly moving, as we had visited the Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem the day before. There were many reminders of that era’s horrific events, including an exhibit of thousands of children’s shoes belonging to those sent to the crematoriums at the death camps. Some of these children were from my mother’s and Iren’s families. It was profound to meet Iren, a survivor of one of the worst tragedies in modern history. Iren had not only survived but, as I perceived, had moved to a much higher place of spirituality and love, though she still carried the deep scars of her losses and sacrifices. She had also become an accomplished poet and gave me poems about her Holocaust experience, written in her native Hungarian, in search of meaning in suffering and loss. When I returned to the States, I found a Hungarian professor who translated her poems. January 27: International Holocaust Remembrance Day In 2005, the United Nations General Assembly designated January 27th as the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust, marking the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. This annual observance serves as a worldwide reminder of the dangers posed by the drift towards rogue and extremist authoritarian rule, hatred, bigotry, and antisemitism. People across the globe are called to remember, reflect, and act to prevent history from repeating itself, with commemorative events held at United Nations Headquarters and offices worldwide. What becomes startlingly clear is that the worst of history can repeat itself. A warning to maintain vigilance is evident in the persistence of less visible undercurrents that can build toward a potential recurrence. It is more worrisome when individuals and groups develop a lack of public responsibility and respect for diversity, and show behaviors that suggest a need to control, gain power, and accumulate wealth at the public’s expense. Drift in this direction is clear from both the ideological extremes of the right and the left. The perpetrators of fear and division gain traction by stoking basic human fears of losing essentials such as livelihoods, economic security, and food and shelter, and of being overrun or replaced by others. Ideologically polarized political parties achieve dominance by espousing disinformation that foments hatred, fear, and division. Today’s technological advances in communications make it easier for entities seeking an advantage to influence and control, to the point of becoming destructive forces against public welfare. Technology also makes it easier for ill-intentioned people to take advantage of others by manipulating human frailties through deception, rhetoric, and propaganda. The reality is that what occurred in the past can gain momentum and again lead to the degradation of the social fabric, democracy, and the environment essential to health and well-being. The Enduring Lessons and Warnings from History’s Darkest Chapter Iren was one of the few in her village and family to survive the Holocaust and the Nazi concentration camps, and live to write about the ordeal. Her poems were written from 1944 to 1945, during her last days in her native town of Nagyvarad and as a prisoner at Auschwitz. As Iren wished, her poems are shared to remind everyone never to forget and to watch for any movement toward hatred, division, or a recurrence of the tragic history she had experienced. Her poems offer a poignant reminder of the fate of a democracy that evolves into a brutal, totalitarian, fascist government. A Haunting Poem from Iren Steier: A Survivor of Auschwitz’s Journey and the Gripping Reality of her Tragic Experience A translated poem by my mother’s cousin is below: a warning that the poem in its entirety is harsh, graphic, and shocking, but shared because of Iren’s wish to keep people aware that, without vigilance and remembrance of this tragic history, recurrence can become a future reality. AUSCHWITZ by Iren W. Steier, In a far, strange country, very—very far,Where maybe the star in the sky is even different,Where there is no friend, not even the grass,From where even the flying bird has no message… A train rumbles into the hell of Polish earth,It brings wounded, deprived prisoners.Its doors open, and ten thousand Jews.are driven into rows — some alive, some dead.And thousands of Jews are coming, and fall, and fall on and on,Their unsteady eyes are searching for life.The prisoners whisper: “ Give them your child!”Is it possible? — That you save your own life thereby!I will not give up my child! Never, never, never!And her two embracing arms clasp it to her bosom.So they line up, mothers with childrenTo the great “executioner” — with throbbing hearts.And the spouses come hand in hand.But not even a minute—their lives are divided.I go to the right; he goe

    Audio Podcast: Vigilance and Memory: Safeguarding Humanity After the Holocaust

  8. Jan 12

    Podcast: Lifestyle Psychiatry: A New Paradigm for a Holistic Approach to Mental Health and Well-Being

    This narrative traces a journey from traditional psychiatric training to a more holistic, experiential approach to mental health, highlighting the transformative impact of integrating practices like yoga, mindfulness, and community engagement. Early medical education emphasized memorization and established treatment protocols, but personal exploration opened doors to broader philosophies and healing traditions. Lifestyle psychiatry emerges as a new paradigm, advocating for prevention and healing by focusing on core lifestyle pillars such as physical activity, nutrition, restorative sleep, and, crucially, connectedness—with oneself, others, and the wider world. The approach expands traditional medical boundaries by incorporating happiness, purpose, empathy, and spirituality as essential elements of well-being. Central to this model is embodiment: the process of deeply internalizing and sustaining positive changes through lived experiences, emotional engagement, and supportive communities. By moving beyond purely intellectual understanding, individuals can cultivate resilience, flexibility, and meaningful transformation, ultimately achieving long-term mental, physical, and spiritual health. ·         #Embodiment ·         #Connectedness ·         #LifestylePsychiatry ·         #HolisticWellbeing ·         #TransformativeChange This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.inmindwise.com

    Podcast: Lifestyle Psychiatry: A New Paradigm for a Holistic Approach to Mental Health and Well-Being
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Mind Wise videos & podcasts offers perspective and wisdom on holistic mental health, health care, wellness, neuroscience, philosophy, and spirituality, hosted by Ron Parks, M.P.H., M.D., writer, teacher, and consultant. www.inmindwise.com

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