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Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
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Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
Edward Creagan, M.D.
"The magic of the electronic village is transforming health information. The mouse and keyboard have extended the stethoscope to the 500 million people now online." — Dr. Edward Creagan
The power of the medium inspires Dr. Edward Creagan as he searches for ways to share Mayo Clinic's vast resources with the general public.
Dr. Creagan, a Newark, N.J., native, is board certified in internal medicine, medical oncology, and hospice medicine and palliative care. He has been with Mayo Clinic since 1973 and in 1999 was president of the staff of Mayo Clinic.
Dr. Creagan, a professor of medical oncology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, was honored in 1995 with the John and Roma Rouse Professor of Humanism in Medicine Award and in 1992 with the Distinguished Mayo Clinician Award, Mayo's highest recognition. He has been recognized with the American Cancer Society Professorship of Clinical Oncology.
He describes his areas of special interest as "wellness as a bio-psycho-social-spiritual-financial model" and fitness, mind-body connection, aging and burnout.
Dr. Creagan has been an associate medical editor with Mayo Clinic's health information websites and has edited publications and CD-ROMs and reviewed articles.
"We the team of (the website) provide reliable, easy-to-understand health and wellness information so that each of us can have productive, meaningful lives," he says.
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Stress blog
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July 18, 2008
On the path to finding happiness
By Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
There is real merit in disengaging from our environment if at all possible; taking a few days respite away from the stress of the places in which we live and work to nurture a new perspective.
On a recent trip to visit family, we had a marvelous experience of a leisurely several hours in a small bookstore nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. What a gift!
OK, I will admit it. I went to the health and wellness section and was skimming books on happiness — an elusive goal that all humans seek. Let me share a quick overview of a textbook from California based on years of solid research among "happy people."
The studies focused on identical twins that were separated at birth. Obviously, this is a natural experiment and here was the take-home message after approximately 600 pages:
- About 50 percent of our happiness is genetically determined. We have a "happiness set point" from 0 to 10 which is driven by our DNA, our genetic endowment from our parents. Whether we win or lose the lottery, whether we get married or divorced, whether we have fame and fortune, or embarrassment and ridicule, we will eventually return to that set point.
However, there were two startling findings.
- About 40 percent of our happiness is directly determined by how we relate to setbacks, a recurrent theme in our blog. It is not the setbacks that kill us; it is how we relate to them.
- Only 10 percent of our happiness according to this particular textbook is directly related to the environment. Whether we drove a $100,000 car or a $350 car, whether we lived in a condo off of Central Park in New York City or in a shack in an urban ghetto, or whether we made a lot of money or little money, these environmental factors had virtually nothing to do with our happiness.
So, a message that I took from a wonderful afternoon in a bookstore was real simple:
Our attitude determines our happiness (no big surprise), and where we live and what we do contribute very little to our happiness.
For those "happy people" out there in cyberland, please share with us seekers of happiness one or two tips, tactics or perspectives that we can use as we seek the elusive goal of the happy camper.
39 comments posted
July 23, 2008 10:19 a.m.
I wonder if this is more tripe from "La-La Land"? The better-off are happier in ways that a poor person can not be and on the other hand, the poor person does not have the same "tension" as the better-off. The genetic factor is interesting but I do not quite buy that either. While it is true that one's concept of things is a factor on the happiness scale, it takes more than "Don't Worry, Be Happy" to function in a ever increasing pressure-cooker called Modern Times. Also, the yoga practitioner as a symbol of aging Baby Boomers does not get it for me either. Not all of us want or can practice Yoga and there are more ways to skin the happiness cat. As has been mentioned before, Know Thyself and take it from there. Take two aspirin and one granola bar and call in the morning!
- Edward R.
July 23, 2008 10:00 a.m.
I think one of the tricks to being happy is to really LIKE yourself.
- Tess
July 23, 2008 9:48 a.m.
I had a boss who overheard a friend and I talking about something not being fair. He made the statement, "Who told you life would be fair". It really stuck with me and I decided to not spend my time expecting life to be fair and just be pleastanly surprised when it is.
- Gail G.
July 23, 2008 6:37 a.m.
A quote from Abraham Lincoln: "A person is as happy as they want to be"
- Don D
July 23, 2008 6:17 a.m.
What is the name of this textbook from Caliornia that you mentioned in this article? Is it available and from what source?
- Mary Brunskill
July 23, 2008 5:48 a.m.
do not worry about things you cannot change. Only try to change the things that you have a chance of changing. Worry is a wasted emotion. Look into a flower petel. Think of all the worries you have had, did they come to fruition? I bet non did, if any not as bad as you expected.
- gill.bassett@tiscali.co.uk
July 22, 2008 11:48 p.m.
I try to think that the glass is always half full rather than half empty. Also as I get older I'm grateful that I wake up, which in my opinion I get another chance to be happy. I don't want to change the world anymore, I'm just glad to be part of it.
- samx
July 22, 2008 8:14 p.m.
Would you please tell that to all the poor homeless people in the USA? And also explain why the longer Hispanic people are in this country, the higher rate of depression that they get according to recent research?
- ArtByAlida
July 22, 2008 6:02 p.m.
Just BE happy. Let yourself be happy. It is a loving, accepting, playfully stance in this world and of this world. It is a clear thought, honest, brave stance as well. Just BE happy.
- CG
July 22, 2008 4:58 p.m.
Cultivate gratitude! Expand your attitude of gratitude each night by counting blessings instead of sheep. Insist on finding 3 'gifts' even on your 'worst' day and watch what happens...just a ripple effect throughout your entire life!
- Perception.1
July 22, 2008 4:05 p.m.
Know yourself, know what makes you happy and fill your time with those things as much as possible. We have more choice in how we live our lives than most people realize.
- N. California
July 22, 2008 3:15 p.m.
Frequently reinforcing a positive outlook greatly helps. Be happy once, it's a novelty. Be happy a thousand times, it's normal.
- vicnbobbi
July 22, 2008 3:15 p.m.
Try not to depend on others to bring you happiness. We can promote our happiness by being involved in a hobby which gives satisfaction, and contentment which ultimately contributes to our happiness.
- J. C.
July 22, 2008 3:03 p.m.
Tips / Tactics / Perspectives? Be grateful for what we are given - which is so much more than we usually realize. Money buys security and necessity; happiness comes from within.
- Nancy G.
39 comments posted