Michael569

A Life of Purpose

246 posts in this topic

During my studies, I used to absolutely hate digestive health. I found it boring, complicated and disorganized. I never wanted to work with digestive problems. All of this changed when I started to get the first couple of clients and I realised that gut is in the absolute centre of everything. 90% of all conditions regardless of symptoms start and end in the gut and the more people I see the more convinced I am that without becoming a gut health expert I won't be able to help anyone. I've now spent probably 200 hours researching on all aspects of gut health all the way from dental health to haemorrhoids. It is such a fascinating area of study that I never had any appreciation of and from what I can see many people in health don't either...even the more experienced ones. I became convinced of this when I saw how much gut work can alter a person's mood even depression. The more I read about this the more I believe that all the allergies, asthma, sensitivities, autoimmunities, thyroid and intolerances are just dysfunctional digestion. Sometimes not but mostly right so. 

I've bought an incredible book from a leading gut health expert in my country and am now digging deeper than ever. There is so much gold & diamonds buried deep in the US Institute of Medicine. Research papers that have never seen the daylight carrying hope & cure for a lot of people. One could spend lifetime reading those and it would not be a wasted life. 


“If you find yourself acting to impress others, or avoiding action out of fear of what they might think, you have left the path.” ― Epictetus

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@Michael569 

8 minutes ago, Michael569 said:

I've bought an incredible book from a leading gut health expert in my country

Could you share the book? I would be interested in learning more about it too. 

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3 minutes ago, Average Investor said:

Could you share the book? I would be interested in learning more about it too. 

It is a Slovak book in my native language sorry, it has never been translated. The guy's name is Igor Bukovsky. He is a Phd MD who also (I believe) did few English interviews maybe you can find some information on that. He is a great health authority in my home country and his knowledge of digestive system is admirable 


“If you find yourself acting to impress others, or avoiding action out of fear of what they might think, you have left the path.” ― Epictetus

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2 minutes ago, Average Investor said:

His youtube is in not in English either lol

Yeah I know, sorry :D He is a gem of our teeny tiny country. I've sent you pm 


“If you find yourself acting to impress others, or avoiding action out of fear of what they might think, you have left the path.” ― Epictetus

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Having my year-end review with my boss this week. Oh boy if I could only be honest about my thoughts of the company's vision, focus, and devilry and not get fired over it, that would be glorious. I accept that I am part of this devilry and actively contributing to it. We are monopolising markets and contributing to unequal distribution of resources. It disgusts me but it is my fault for having followed a low consciousness type of education in my youth and never thinking for myself until only few years ago. Thank you Leo for being my compass in the darkness of materialism. My 9-5 work is nothing but means to an end, I've never felt a particular connection to it .I still am very grateful that I have been able to fund my education, business setup and just normal life but I honestly can't wait to the day I'll be able to say "thank you and goodbye". Ain't gonna happen anytime soon. Heard some companies in London were offering 12-month redundancy packages, that would be awesome, I'd be first to stand in the line. 

Ok less whining and back to work...........Nearly finished my first ebook, hope to be done this week. Exciting times, I've never published anything ever before. All my limiting beliefs are screaming "How dare you try to sell such rubbish" but I'm pushing through anyways. Even if zero copies are sold I'll still consider it an achievement.  


“If you find yourself acting to impress others, or avoiding action out of fear of what they might think, you have left the path.” ― Epictetus

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Signed up for a series of 10 lectures discussing medical & functional testing with one of my schools' lecturers. Had first 3 hour session today. Such an incredible investment. He talked about so many mistakes that practitioners make when collecting information, interpreting, reaching out to doctors and trying to interpret. I've definitely been guilty of making many of these mistakes. Really looking forward on further 9 sessions as we get to gut testing, hormonal testing, neurological etc, such fascinating stuff. Functional testing is definitely a topic I am not confident in and there are so many bullshit tests out there with no evidence and literally no background just ripping people off. 

This week was all about finishing my first ebook. So excited to have finally finished. Next step is adding it my website and creating a decent landing page. Should be fun but I've learned so much doing this. At the same time, it feels scary as I've never really produced anything relevant or meaningful before. 


“If you find yourself acting to impress others, or avoiding action out of fear of what they might think, you have left the path.” ― Epictetus

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I never knew that part of my work as a nutritionist would become a life coaching. Sometimes with some clients it just doesn't matter what we do, they won't get better. I took me a while to realise that this client I have been seeing since August does not heave any biochemical imbalances per see but she is lost in life which is what drives her symptoms.  It takes some time for people to open up but once they do new stuff comes out that opens completely new therapeutic dimension. Seems like for the first time we are heading the right way by focusing on her values, her desires and what is meaningful in her life. I've been thinking about CBT course for some time but maybe that and life coaching course both would be even more beneficial especially in clients with mental health problems. This is a new territory for me but I am optimistic that finally I found what my second area of development should be, thought it would be getting masters in nutritional sciences but that was only to serve ego to get a title. Exciting times, seems like 2021 will be a year of coaching education :)


“If you find yourself acting to impress others, or avoiding action out of fear of what they might think, you have left the path.” ― Epictetus

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@Loving Radiance thanks :)

1 hour ago, Loving Radiance said:

Asking for a friend of mine, the combination of coffee & migrane... what is that about?

I think in this lady the migraines were a combination of her taking loads of painkillers, caffeine, being nutritionally deprived and stressed. So we had to work on several levels starting with the diet but then helping hear clean her liver and kidneys as well from all the toxic residue from painkillers. 

But there is a connection. Caffeine increases blood pressure and heart rate so it can give some people a headache for sure. That being said if your friend is addicted and goes off caffeine she needs to expect headaches as well :D 


“If you find yourself acting to impress others, or avoiding action out of fear of what they might think, you have left the path.” ― Epictetus

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3 hours ago, Michael569 said:

The feeling and sense of contribution is a more powerful driver

I'm so happy for you, Michael. You are a kind-hearted, extremely committed individual, and you deserve this.

Your health advice has helped me immensely, and I am thankful for that. 

I genuinely pray that you are able to change more such lives for the best!

Best wishes, 

 

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“If you find yourself acting to impress others, or avoiding action out of fear of what they might think, you have left the path.” ― Epictetus

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The mood of this evening is slow and nostalgic.

Back home for Christmas. I love this place where I grew up. A small village in western Slovakia, probably no more than 3.5k inhabitants. Spending a lot of time walking around the local stream, across fields and countryside, meeting 1-2 people per hour. The tranquility of the place is even more profound now that everybody is locked up in their homes. The solitude helps me contemplate. I think a lot about which way to take my clinic business next year. So many areas which I am not sure if I'm doing right. Will definitely need to put more effort into marketing and just being comfortable showing my face on the camera....but that's not important for the rest of this year. Nothing else will come out of it till mid January but that's fine, I've pretty much reached my goal for 2020 by finishing school, setting up the thing and officially launching. 

 Back to basics, my small gym in the basement of my parents' house I created as a teenager for myself still has the magic, the body & the mind cannot be allowed to become complacent. Bunch of bars, a kettlebell, 2 dumbells and an ancient set is all a man needs. I am indulging in a lot of food that I usually wouldn't have. Traditional Slovak food is not very healthy but damn it is good!  My sleep is usually good but now it is even deeper and with better quality. Nights here are pitch black, peaceful and really freaking cold. I really miss the snow thou, we used to have half a meter every year but haven't had any for past 5 years. So much for sustainable growth......

Decided to add a blog to my website. Spending my evening reading loads of research papers so may as well dump some of that stuff in a blog, maybe someone somewhere will find it useful. Been reading loads on vitamin D lately, fascinating stuff. 


“If you find yourself acting to impress others, or avoiding action out of fear of what they might think, you have left the path.” ― Epictetus

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Nights are getting colder over here in eastern Europe, the land of my forefathers and the land where I currently spend the Christmas. Might be we'll get to experience that first snow, after all, fingers crossed.  The spirit of Christmas is still high. Despite all the minor family disagreements, I feel I am regaining my mental energy and mustering mental resources to dedicate to my practice and my clients from 2021 onwards. I have no idea how the next year will turn out and what will happen in my 9-5 job, with the clinic, with my second line of professional education and how all of this will be impacted by Brexit. The dream to move closer to the coast is more powerful than ever. Pembrokeshire in Wales is the most desired locations although rents are not abundant in there so we'll see. I'd absolutely love to change the vibe of the big city for the thundering of the sea into the coastal rocks, pitch black nights and a salt in the wind in the ancient welsh landscape. We will start planning for it in January. Maybe even a whole year if it goes well. 


“If you find yourself acting to impress others, or avoiding action out of fear of what they might think, you have left the path.” ― Epictetus

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Out to nature a bit. Not much snow compared to previous years but I am grateful for the tiny bit there was up in the Carpathian mountains. It is moments like these when I feel the freest at the core of my soul. Time in nature cannot be replaced by anything. Helps me to recharge my mental batteries like nothing else out there. 

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“If you find yourself acting to impress others, or avoiding action out of fear of what they might think, you have left the path.” ― Epictetus

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REFLECTION ON 2020

Things that went well: 

  • Finishing naturopathic school with merit during covid 
  • Putting all bits and pieces in place and launching my clinical business before end of 2020. 
  • Building my website on my own
  • Making a difference to the health of a few amazing people
  • Climbing the 3rd highest peak in Slovakia
  • Only missing around 18 meditations this year
  • Spending over 1,400 hours on academic development this year
  • Adopting cold-shower morning routine since summer
  • Spending much less than the year before (covid helped that too :D)
  • Making my first video in FB group (super awkward and lame but still published)

Things I feel I failed at 

  • leaving my 9-5 -> may not happen for another year
  • helping a few of my clients as much as I'd like due to the complexity of their problems and lack of my experience in many areas especially digestive therapy and mental health 
  • reading 2 books a month that are not health-related. 
  • fasting for 24 hours once a week
  • catching up with my family at least once a week

Things that need more work

  • socialising 
  • vlogging and creating more videos 
  • health coaching and motivating clients better
  • definitely more reading
  • less procrastination

“If you find yourself acting to impress others, or avoiding action out of fear of what they might think, you have left the path.” ― Epictetus

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46 minutes ago, Michael569 said:
  • Making my first video in FB group (super awkward and lame but still published)

I loved it! Keep 'em coming, brother.:D 

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You are a rare human :D

It seems that you crushed your last year's resolutions! Keep it up. 

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@BlackMaze @fridjonk cheers boys ?


“If you find yourself acting to impress others, or avoiding action out of fear of what they might think, you have left the path.” ― Epictetus

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Caught up with a former classmate of mine for a nice late-morning run around the old town where I grew up and spent the majority of my life till 25 when I moved to UK. These days the town has a sort of post-apocalyptic vibe to it. Hardly any people around, streets are deserted, damp and gloomy. 

I'm starting my research on BDNF as a key factor in neuroplasticity. I have been interested in exploring this phenomenon for quite a bit but the papers are so technical that I got discouraged. I think I now have enough mental energy to go for it. I think this could be an essential thing for my clients with mental health problems, motivation problems and all sorts of sleep issues so looking forward to what I'll find in the archives of the medical library. 

I'm preparing for the option that our flight may be cancelled due to Covid so I may end up in Slovakia for another month. I can't say that would be a bad thing. I like how my life has slowed down in here and I have much more time to retrospect and plan. Let's see what happens. 

 

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“If you find yourself acting to impress others, or avoiding action out of fear of what they might think, you have left the path.” ― Epictetus

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