Money Is Not the Root of All Evil

November 30, 2020February 9, 2021 / Jame A. Agapoff, MD, MS (she/they) / 2 Comments

It has been said the money is the root of all evil. This is not so. In the last two centuries free markets and globalization have led to better living conditions and a reduction in extreme poverty across the world. In China, capitalist policy changes have helped to lift 748.5 million people out of extreme poverty, dropping the country’s poverty rate from 66.3 percent to just 0.3 percent. This is a remarkable achievement.

As extreme poverty has increased so has extreme wealth. In the U.S., the total share of wealth of the top 1% expanded from 7% in 1975 to 23% in 2014. Another statistic indicates that in 2016, the top 20% of earners held 77% of total household wealth. This is more than triple what the middle class held (middle being 60% of the usual income distribution). This “hallowing” out of the “middle” class has followed decades of monetary deregulation, a student loan crisis, and the long decline of institutions that support middle-class democracy like public schools, unions, functioning legislatures, and non-partisan news sources.

In the cases of extreme wealth and extreme poverty, money is not the solution or the problem. Extreme libertarian or socialist arguments fail to correct the primary problem with money: the person using it. Purely free markets fail to protect the world from unfettered greed and destruction, while socialist systems fail to kindle the power of individual ingenuity and passion. The right path lies somewhere in-between where growth and sustainability can be balanced through consumer protections, banking/monetary regulations, and campaign finance reform. Let’s take money back from the looters of democracy.

Photo by Vladislav Reshetnyak on Pexels.com

A Time To Do Nothing

November 30, 2020February 9, 2021 / Jame A. Agapoff, MD, MS (she/they) / Leave a comment

Military service members have a saying, “Hurry and Wait.” This describes the condition of long periods of down time followed by abrupt bursts of action. For planners and Type A personalities like myself this waiting around can be difficult.

I would argue that all of us require a time to do nothing. First, I would say that it is possible to do something and do nothing at the same time. What? Say for instance, dinner. It is possible to cook, eat, and wash the dishes and be totally distracted the entire time. Therefore, doing nothing is simply being present with what you are actually doing. This is the essence of mindfulness.

In Buddhism, the idea of nothing (which is a something) is also referred to as sunyata, which is loosely translated as emptiness or voidness. This is not a thoughtless state. Rather, sunyata is a state of selfless awareness free of concepts.

The foundation of sunyata is impermanence. Everything in the world is impermanent. Even the body that supports our mind is impermanent. In this way, everything is conditioned: it changes. For example, the dinosaurs died millions of years ago, but their atoms exist in us today! The stable awareness of sunyata decreases our attachment to external phenomena and decreases our clinging to the external world.

As a practice, start by simply being present with what you’re doing. If thoughts arise, do not follow after or indulge in them. If the mind wanders, bring it back again-and-again to the task at hand. Our thoughts, like the outer universe, are conditioned and impermanent. They are like clouds mistaken for the sky. Let them go. In this same way, everything we hold dear, and everything we hope to contain is impermanent. This grasping creates so much suffering. Let it go! Holding to nothing, there is freedom in everything.

The Three Sacred Treasures: The Sword, the Gem, and the Mirror

November 28, 2020February 9, 2021 / Jame A. Agapoff, MD, MS (she/they) / Leave a comment

The Three Sacred Treasures are the imperial symbols of the Japanese monarchy. They represent the valor, wisdom, and benevolence that the emperor displays towards his people.

In the modern context, the sword, the gem, and the mirror represent power, wealth, and self-awareness, respectively. When the three jewels are in balance, virtue and prosperity follow. Problems arise when one jewel is held up as more sacred than the others. This is especially true of the sword and the jewel, which wielded without wisdom leads to internal and external destruction.

The Sword: The sword represents power and valor. In Japanese culture, the sword is associated with the warrior. The sword represents one’s actions. Without the balance of benevolence and wisdom, the power of the sword leads to destruction and corruption.

The Jewel: The jewel represents wealth, compassion, and benevolence. The jewel represents one’s resources. Wealth wielded without wisdom leads to greed and debauchery. Put another way, the jewel and the sword represent skillful means for directing the wisdom of the mirror.

The Mirror: The mirror represents self-knowledge, awareness, and wisdom. For this reason it is the most precious of the Three Treasures. Mastering the mirror is to master fear itself. Through the wisdom of the mirror, the sword and jewel are wielded with virtue and wrathful compassion.

Work or Play?

November 27, 2020February 11, 2021 / Jame A. Agapoff, MD, MS (she/they) / 2 Comments

Each day we face a number of decision points. These crossroads determine our productivity and ultimately our future. Some of these paths are flat and predictable, while others are steep and arduous. Like a journey to the top of a mountain, the fastest path is the one that goes straight up the side of the ridge.

Most crossroads in our day can be broken down into a basic choice of whether to work or play.

Work: Broadly defined, work is any activity that leads to growth (or should). Because the fundamental goal of work is growth, it is possible to work wisely or unwisely. Smart work is active, not passive. This kind of work pushes us outside our green zone of comfort into that yellow area that challenges us.

Play: The goal of play is to entertain and refresh. Video games, television, and other purely recreational activities can be considered play. Play decreases stress and stress hormones, and may help balance the physical and mental fatigue of work. In excess, play is a vice, and leads to sloth and gluttony. Therefore, pure play should be done in moderation.

Work-Play: This is the optimal kind of play. Work-play alleviates stress and also accomplishes a goal that potentiates future success. For example, exercise is good, exercise plus a podcast is better. Just like play, work-play reduces stress and improves physical and mental fatigue. Unlike pure play, work-play will not lead to the vices of sloth and gluttony.

Every day, we choose again-and-again whether to work or to play. Smart work coupled with healthy amounts of work-play creates the optimal opportunity for health and future success.

Make Every Day a Day of Thanksgiving

November 26, 2020February 11, 2021 / Jame A. Agapoff, MD, MS (she/they) / Leave a comment

On Oct 3rd, 1863, amidst the blood and despair of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation reminding the nation to be thankful for their “blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies.” In it, he named the last Thursday of November “as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise,” and created the national holiday known as Thanksgiving,

But why create a national holiday of thanks when the nation was in the middle of a war?

President Lincoln understood the healing power of gratitude. He knew that for the nation to heal, our gratitude would have to be stronger than our enmity. The nation would have to come together, not for one side or the other, but for the prosperity of each citizen now and future.

As I reflect on President Lincoln’s life on this national day of Thanksgiving, I wonder what words of wisdom he would offer our nation today. I believe he would tell us that the connections we share are greater than any idea that would divide us. I believe he would remind us of the terrible consequences of disunion and the price of accepting leaders who fail to compromise. I think he would tell us to take pride in our institutions and to work together to strengthen them whenever possible. I believe he would tell us to make every day a day of Thanksgiving, and be thankful for our health, our families, our community, and our nation.

That’s what I believe. I wish you all a happy Thanksgiving.

To view President Lincoln’s proclamation in its entirety visit:http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/thanks.htm

Acceptance, Gratitude, and Allowing Is All We Need

November 25, 2020February 9, 2021 / Jame A. Agapoff, MD, MS (she/they) / Leave a comment

Someone recently asked me how to stay happy and healthy during a military deployment. I told them acceptance, gratitude, and allowing is all we need.

Acceptance: Whatever conditions arise accept them unconditionally. Accept external and internal conditions equally. The past is past. The future is uncertain. Acceptance is about staying present. It is the cornerstone of contentment. Being grounded in acceptance allows us to be more flexible and work with ever changing impermanent conditions.

Gratitude: All of us have something or someone to be grateful for. This may be our family or friends, our job or co-workers, our health or physical abilities, or our many material possessions. The simple fact that you’re breathing is something to be grateful for. Starting and ending the day with a reflection on gratitude shifts our mindset to the positive.

Allowing: This is the moment to moment active form of acceptance. As we toil through our days, things will arise that challenge us. Allowing reminds us that nothing is permanent. When difficult conditions arise simply say, “This too shall pass,” or simply, “Allowing.”

If we master these three views, happiness and contentment are sure to follow.

What We Can Learn From the Psychology of Future Martians

November 24, 2020February 9, 2021 / Jame A. Agapoff, MD, MS (she/they) / Leave a comment

In 2018, five “analog astronauts” participated in a simulated Mars mission for four weeks in Oman. The goal of this study was to determine what kind of team-level personality traits predict mission success.

The challenges faced by Martian astronauts are myriad. They must live together in close quarters for long durations. The problems they face will be complex and possibly life-threatening requiring team-work and trust. These future Martians will not only need to be smart but also emotionally intelligent.

The personalities of the “analog astronauts” was evaluated six dimensions: Honesty-Humility, Emotionality, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, and Openness to Experience. This sample showed higher than average scores on Honesty-Humility and Conscientiousness, and lower than average scores on Emotionality. The implication of this finding is that effective teams consist of individuals who are honest, humble, and conscientious. In addition, low “emotionality” scores may predict fewer interpersonal problems and therefore disruptions.

These are interesting findings that a readily applicable to life here on earth. Creating effective and efficient teams supports personal and institutional health. It’s not just about what you know, it’s how you apply what you know in collaboration with others. I imagine the challenges faced by future Martians will be complex and diverse. It’s not too early for all of us to start thinking and acting like Martians.

McMenamin, Julia, Natalie J. Allen, and Melissa Battler. “Team Processes and Outcomes During the AMADEE-18 Mars Analog Mission.” Astrobiology 20.11 (2020): 1287-1294. https://doi.org/10.1089/ast.2019.2035

Nicotinamide Riboside — The One Supplement Everyone Should Take.

November 23, 2020February 9, 2021 / Jame A. Agapoff, MD, MS (she/they) / Leave a comment

Nutrition is challenging. All of us want to be healthier. It’s just so hard. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was one supplement that could make you healthy?

Sorry, there’s not. 🙂

There are so many supplements on the market it’s hard to make heads or tails of them. Many carry dubious claims of healing this or that, but when you actually look at the peer reviewed research there’s nothing to back up those claims!

As some of you know, I love nutrition. Before I went to medical school, I completed a Master of Science in Nutrition at Columbia University. I’ve always believed that the best medicine is preventative medicine, and the best preventative medicine is diet and exercise.

As I allude to above, most nutritional supplements don’t measure up to their claims. That doesn’t prevent the companies that produce them from raking in billions of dollars in revenue.

Are there any supplements with scientific backing that can actually improve my health?

The short answer is yes. Today, I’d like to tell you about one of them: Nicotinamide Riboside (NR).

NR is a precursor of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺), which is an essential co-factor in cellular metabolism. Basically, it helps cells stay young and healthy.

In their comprehensive review of the scientific literature, Mehmel and colleagues review the potential benefits of increasing NAD+ concentration. As the illustration below indicates, NAD+ has a role in every body system.

NR not only prevents metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases it can also treat them! This is a profound claim backed by equally profound research.

Supplementing NR at a dose of 1000 mg BID (twice daily) has been shown to increase blood levels of active NAD⁺ up to 2.7 fold and stimulate NAD⁺metabolism. Most importantly, studies at these doses resulted in no adverse effects.

It’s good to be healthy. It’s better to be healthy at the cellular level. Feed your cells with a daily dose of Nicotinamide Riboside (NR).

References:

Mehmel, Mario, Nina Jovanović, and Urs Spitz. “Nicotinamide Riboside—The Current State of Research and Therapeutic Uses.” Nutrients 12.6 (2020): 1616. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7352172/

Image Reference: https://botany.bio/blog/how-do-nad-nmn-and-nr-compare/

Lessons From Little League

November 22, 2020February 9, 2021 / Jame A. Agapoff, MD, MS (she/they) / Leave a comment

I was a terrible baseball player. I could catch and throw a ball, but hitting…let’s just say I recorded more walks than hits. Despite epically sucking at baseball, I really enjoyed it. There is something truly magical about the game that keeps you coming back for more.

One part of the game I will never forget, was not part of the game at all. It was the post game handshake. I distinctly remember it feeling different depending on whether you won or lost the game. Despite the animosity and competition experienced on the field, the players put their personal pride aside to honor the opposing team. This gesture of sportsmanship enshrined the integrity of the game.

The post game handshake also teaches young people a valuable life lesson about losing. Michael Jordon famously said, “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life.”

Michael Jordan is a good loser. That is part of his greatness. He learns from his losses and gets better. I’ve never heard of Michael Jordan say, “I refuse to concede this game,” or “I reject the outcome of this game.” I bet he hated to miss those 9,000 shots and lose those 300 games, but his respect for game and his fellow players meant more to him. This is why Michael Jordan will always be a winner. His sportsmanship exemplifies the lessons of the Little League post game handshake.

I think our political leaders could learn a lot from Michael Jordan.

The Ends Cannot Justify the Means

November 21, 2020February 9, 2021 / Jame A. Agapoff, MD, MS (she/they) / Leave a comment

What do you want more than anything else? What would you do to achieve it? The answer to these questions defines each of us.

Imagine, for a moment, that someone could grant your deepest wish. But there was a catch. To receive your heart’s desire, you must sacrifice your integrity and all that you stand for. Would you do it? Should you?

This is a Faustian or Devil’s bargain, which is a pact where someone “trades something of supreme moral or spiritual importance, such as personal values or the soul, for some worldly or material benefit, such as knowledge, power, or riches.”

Today, in America, we see political leaders willing to evade, mislead, and lie to retain their offices. These “leaders” have ignored their constitutional oaths for partisan sycophantism. They have made a Faustian bargain at the costs of thousands of lives and the fabric of our American democracy.

For all of us who have wished for power and influence, the ends cannot justify the means. Every choice, every word, every action, must be tempered with honesty and integrity. The single thing each one of us should want more than anything else is to be good. Nothing else is more important, and nothing else so easily lost.

The Writings of Jame Agapoff

Always. Ever. Dragon.

Month: November 2020