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    Edward T. Creagan, M.D.

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  • Stress blog

  • Nov. 1, 2011

    Look inward to find fulfillment

    By Edward T. Creagan, M.D.

9 comments posted

While on a long distance flight, I had an opportunity to read and reflect about a number of prominent individuals:

Need more help?

If the stress in your life is more than you can cope with, get help right away.

  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
    1-800-273-TALK (8255)
  • Go to the nearest hospital or emergency room
  • Call your physician, health provider or clergy
  • National Alliance on Mental Illness
    www.nami.org
    1-800-950-NAMI (6264)
  • An iconic entertainer who was a household name in the entertainment industry.
  • A 67-year-old former world-class athlete who carved out an incredibly successful second career as a general manager for a professional team.
  • Another famous American athlete who was revered by colleagues and peers for his athletic prowess.

But the article did not stress their strengths and their accomplishments. The article peered into the souls of these individuals, and each was beset with demons of loneliness, self-doubt, depression and anxiety. Their fire for competition was an attempt to fill a void in their souls that could never be filled by the spotlight or the applause.

They realized early in their careers that glory in the entertainment and sports arenas fades very quickly. None achieved peace in their post-performance years. We can draw a few lessons from their experiences:

  • We need to be who we are and to be faithful to our own values and truths.
  • We need to recognize that accomplishments and acquisitions are important but can't fill the void that's created when we lack inner peace and serenity.
  • We are all, by virtue of our humanity, troubled by the issues of recognition and validation.

May we spend each of our days in peace, comfort, and security.

9 comments posted

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  • April 18, 2012 11:44 p.m.

    take an aspirin a day just to feel ouengyr, so if that is true then it has double effects. Hard for me to imagine that it could make u feel ouengyr, but for sure it decreases blood clotting (which causes many heart attacks). But I'am under the impression that a shot of brandy (or any alcohol for that matter) also thins the blood, so if u have no aspirin handy, a shot is better than death. I whole heartly agree if our best medical facilities r unwilling to pass on safe health practices, where does that leave us?

    - Hamid

  • December 7, 2011 3:33 p.m.

    Very true. And hard to find support when your that withdrawn. ..people need to reach out and show there love. For all beings! Good info.

    - Lori

  • November 23, 2011 4:06 p.m.

    Thanks Dr. Creagan for your fresh thoughts and simplistic manner. I enjoy reading.

    - Mary

  • November 17, 2011 6:45 p.m.

    I need to BE free to DO if I am to live in harmony. When I seek to bless rather than impress I am BLESSED. Bless you!

    - Candace

  • November 17, 2011 1:01 p.m.

    Stress is being emposed or thought by society to us in our life. Just like the fish in the aquarium or the new-comer monkey in the zoo cage hit by others to prevent the cold water splash when touching bananas. Therefore, Stress will prevail till the time the Salieri-like people loose their ambitions. Otherwise Mozart(s) will die in stress and pain. Long live Justin Kruger and David Dunning.

    - Lee

  • November 8, 2011 12:26 p.m.

    Thank you for noting the universality of some sources of stress, and for re-directing towards serenity from within.

    - Mary Ann

  • November 2, 2011 9:00 p.m.

    Wasn't it Mother Theresa of Calcutta who said God doesn't care if we are successful, only faithful?

    - Carol

  • November 1, 2011 9:19 p.m.

    Stress Reducers,relieving stress,stress buster Stress is a permanent feature of our lives, but it really seems to explode at work. More than two-thirds of American workers report that there work stress is a problem in there lives.

    - jim

  • November 1, 2011 2:42 p.m.

    Hi there - thanks for this post. Early on in life my brain became "wired" to value myself through accomplishments. I'm trying to make a change in that respect and focus on inner satisfaction, but making that change isn't always easy. This post reminded me why getting off the accomplishment-value treadmill is important!

    - Leah

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