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INTEGRATIVE + ONLINE PSYCHIATRY + HOLISTIC HEALTH

Category: Personal Growth

Rapid AI Growth, the Human Edge, and Resilience

Anxiety and Adaptation to Artificial Intelligence

A Future in Flux: Careers and Fears

I encounter many people who are beginning or entering their careers and who face very different societal and economic issues than I did when I started mine. I was just in conversation with a couple in their early thirties. They were thinking of getting married but were grappling with the insecurities of finding the right careers and achieving financial security. They had both trained in tech and information-related technologies as undergraduates and then earned graduate degrees. Each had interned at different companies heavily invested in artificial intelligence to expand their customer base and grow their businesses, helping them remain competitive and sustainable. Sometimes people approach me for collaboration or to talk about career choices. In this situation, I was glad it was just a casual conversation, and I expected it would be quite challenging for them, given the current developments and rapid changes in our society, to plan or make the optimal choice. This couple had the same sort of interests and goals that I perhaps had when I was first dating my wife and preparing for my career in the medical field, which also involved a lot of insecurity for me. From our discussions, what came to mind was that in the past, there was also a time of great worry when major societal changes, including wars and other catastrophic events, threatened to destabilize society and basic security.

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Stinking Thinking Revealed and Getting Unstuck

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.

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Don’t Push the River: A Father’s Awakening to Nature’s Reality

Embracing Life’s Ebb and Flow

               A Father’s Journey Back to Himself

My father, then in his seventies, was sitting a short way off from me on the sandy, gravel-like beach that bounded a wide, rapid-flowing river that ran from the mountains through the bottom of the national park where we were staying. The impressive, mighty flowing river absorbed all your thoughts into its splendid displays of power, freedom, nature’s natural beauty, and almighty presence. The morning light emanating from the sky, awakening the senses to the river’s enormity and nature’s presence, seemed to softly filter through curtains of mental fog and preoccupations, like a whisper. He appeared for the first time in weeks to release his tension and despair, the sense of loss, and hopelessness. Now he radiated the spirit of someone who had found his soul and regained his footing and sense of purpose.

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Don’t Underestimate Exercise: Life-Changing Benefits for Body, Brain, and Spirit

Active Lifestyle, Healthier Life: Science-Backed Reasons to Keep Moving

Nov 24, 2025

The talk and the article

I had an interesting talk with my son about the benefits of physical activity, as he works with me on many projects that sometimes involve research or editing. He is very skilled with technology and usually gets to the core of things after spending a lot of screen time on the computer. Our conversation focused on the many advantages of being more physically active and exercising. It occurred to me to write a compelling article to support my case, backed by research literature. I also thought this would be a grand strategy since my son often does the final edit on many of my articles. Since he would likely read it, I might get some validation that I am convincing in my advocacy for a healthy lifestyle and exercise.

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Keeping Health and Balance in Difficult Times

An Interview with the astonishing former French Buddhist Monk, teacher, and creator of Mental Health Revolution on Substack. For full audio and video podcast click on link below: https://www.inmindwise.com/p/keeping-health-and-balance-in-difficult

Welcome to Mind Wise, a video podcast and newsletter which presents holistic mental health, healthcare, and wellness perspectives and information.

I am your host, Ron Parks, MD, writer, teacher, and consultant. The following is a transcript of a video podcast interview with Promise of Substack’s Mental Health Revolution: mentalhealthrevolution.org. An astonishing former Buddhist Monk, a teacher, and according to himself, a meditation nerd, a lifestyle medicine advocate, and a misunderstood comedy genius. He has thoroughly studied ancient wisdom, scientific research, psychology, and personal experiments into simple wellness practices for busy people.

He is also a student of positive self-help psychology, and he talks about the programs he has developed, as well as some about Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. I want to have him introduce himself, say a bit about his journey, and say where he is now. He developed an outstanding, helpful program that I want him to discuss: the Daily Wellness Empowerment Program, DWEP, and CSM. So, go ahead, Promise.

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Collaboration: friend or foe in making critical choices?

What is the cure for indecisiveness in personal, business, or political matters?

Mentoring or biased advice? 

Recently, in a conversation with my adult son, I wanted to better understand the benefits versus the risks of collaboration with others during times of challenge and indecision. My son was in throngs of indecision about whether to return to graduate school.

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Finding the Art of Life and the Spirit – video podcast

An interview with the accomplished and talented Evie Lindemann, author, teacher, and art therapist.

View or listen to a fantastic interview with the illustrious Evie Lindemann, LMFT, ATR-BC, author, writer, and accomplished art therapist. Evie is an art therapist and a marriage and family therapist licensed in North Carolina, Connecticut, and California, specializing in training for mental health professionals and community groups. She’s interactive, a Jungian-oriented trainer, and a holistic therapist. She provides support and practical feedback to help individuals effectively address life challenges. Evie presents a life story to inspire all to meet life’s challenges and surmount significant obstacles to find meaning, purpose, love, and happiness, as well as an exceptional career that has benefited many. Edie also discusses her soon-to-be-published book and her recent book about grief and loss, including some of her most recent published work.

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An “Ensurance Plan” for healthy aging, productivity, and vitality.

How can a practical and sensible plan be structured to maintain or enhance physical and mental health, longevity, and well-being?

There are reasonable choices for promoting health and longevity and preventing future disease and disability.

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Surmounting dilemmas and conflicts to free productivity and flow

Indecision and fear are the roadblocks to success and well-being!


Getting stuck in a dilemma

A dilemma is when one gets stymied in choosing between two unsuitable alternatives. It is frustrating to be stuck and unable to move forward to completing a project or task. The desirable ending might be as significant as survival or as minor as making a healthy decision for something that will be positive or sustaining for one’s health and well-being.

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