I suspect everyone who reads this note has felt stress.  In fact I am sure of it.  The trick is to distinguish between healthy stress and the overboard state of distress.  Hans Selye, MD, made this point many years ago.

Stress within limits can motivate us, make us alert, and increase our performance in many ways.  Athletes, actors, and many others use this to advantage.  But there is a window, out of which excessive stress is counter productive.  Distress is the result.

And chronic distress is a danger to all areas of health.  There is again ancient wisdom to help each of us deal with distress.  It is called letting go.  In recent years the Sedona Method has become popular as a pragmatic series of steps to reduce chronic stress.

The boundaries we often construct semantically between our minds and our bodies can be a conversational convenience, but underneath - the distinctions we make between mind and body are artificial.  In an essential sense mind and body are two interlocked sides of the same coin:  Human life.

This simple fact is critical to our health.  When our minds become distressed the body follows in distress.  We all know this.  Our stomachs churn under mental stress, our brains (minds) jam into ruts that block effective action, and a myriad of physiological ramifications follow.  Some of these ramifications are not that well known to the public.  For example, did you know that chronic stress can actually kill brain cells?  Well, it can - and does.  That is not healthy.

*This is an exciting time to be in health coaching.  I thought I would share a brief exchange between a lovely woman who is involved in health coaching from a perspective that complements ETHOLIFE.  It also includes the wonderful lady who helped me set up my website.  I have changed names to honor privacy.  The exception is LUPEY, the timber wolf I had so many wonderful years working with. 

ENJOY

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Our brains reflect and control all aspects of our lives.  A major challenge to current health awareness is how our brains connect to feelings of stress under a variety of circumstances.  

HI FOLKS...MOST NEWSLETTERS CAN BE FOUND UNDER "BRANCHES AND ROOTS"

ETHOLIFE IS ALL ABOUT THE ROOTS OR FOUNDATIONS OF OUR WELL-BEING, AND HOW THESE ROOTS NOURISH THE BRANCHES WE TAKE IN OUR LIFE JOURNEYS.

JOIN THE EXPLORATION:

BRANCHES AND ROOTS

Hope to hear from you soon.

Enjoy

John C. Fentress, PhD

Founder: ETHOLIFE HEALTH COACHING

Hi Folks.

My website has now changed from etholife.com to etholife.net.  This should provide a more efficient channel for us to talk.  So, lets talk!

ETHOLIFE HEALTH COACHING is based upon open and cofidential dialogue between client and coach.  Its a framework of trust and mutual exploration.

Together we explore the roots, foundations and basic character of our lives.  This is the reason the Greek term "ethos" has been used to establish the offerings of ETHOLIFE.  Ethos basically means roots, foundations and basic character...the core being from which you live your life.

Drop me a note or give me a call...541-513-4531.

I look forward to working with you.

John Fentress, PhD

Why Nutrition?

Nutrition is what fuels our minds and bodies.  The growing epidemic in obesity (affecting 1/3 of the US population!), is an example where nutritional needs are often replaced by psychological needs.  Over eating gives us comfort.

Over eating gives us temporary comfort.  

Overeating also leads to heart disease, diabetes, and various forms of cancer - to mention a few.

Here is a fact not often understood.  If we go onto "junk food" binges our bodies are often crying out for the nutritional elements that remain missing.  A balanced diet, aided by sensitive coaching, can be a powerful way to get our weight back into balance.

Its not so much dieting per se as allowing our bodies to feel nourished.  Weight loss follows.  Health returns.

This, of course, must be combined with other health habits such as exercise, rest, stress relief, and FUN.

Addictions can be a sensitive topic.  Some of us get caught up in substance abuse; some get addicted to love affairs or work.  There is a common thread.

In addictions we get caught up in a whirlwind of emotion, and feel a loss of control.  We DO have a loss of control.  There is alcohol; there are various drugs.  There is an uncomfortable feeling if we are not working at our desks, or seeking another affair.  Rarely do addictions lead to a happy space.

I have looked into this more, and realized that addictions permeate many parts of our lives that we consider normal.  Think about falling in love.  We cannot shake the thought of the person we love.  We suffer withdrawal when out of contact.

It turns out that brain circuits in each of these cases are similar.  Similar parts of the brain, and similar neural signals are operating.  So, addictions can be "normal".  But they can get us stuck.

In today's health coaching fad, there are many claims that are made which have no scientific foundations.  Conversely, a "pure science" approach can be limited for two reasons: a) one symptom is treated without understanding broader implications, and b) we are dealing with real humans, with real lives and with real needs.

That is why ETHOLIFE is so unusual.  Its founder has a strong background in both the behavioral and biological sciences (primarily brain and behavior) and has been involved in a variety of health related services.

RELIEF FROM BRAIN STRESS / BODY STRESS!
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STRESS IS ONE OF THE MAJOR HEALTH ISSUES OF OUR TIME!
STRESS IS LITERALLY A KILLER!
STRESS AFFECTS EVERY ASPECT OF OUR PSYCHOLOGICAL AND BIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS WE NEED FOR HEALTH
STRESS JAMS UP BODILY FUNCTIONS AND LEADS TO MULTIPLE ILLNESSES, FATIGUE AND DEPRESSION
STRESS WRECKS OUR IMMUNE AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY SYSTEMS
STRESS KILLS BRAIN CELLS!!
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ETHOLIFE HEALTH COACHING OFFERS PROVEN WAYS TO CONTROL STRESS AND TO GAIN HEALTH!
Founded in Eugene by Dr. John C. Fentress, professional researcher in the brain and behavioral sciences, ETHOLIFE HEALTH COACHING is here to help YOU – Your family, your friends, and your employees.
HEALTH PAYS!
FREE initial presentations and appointments available.  FREE metabolic and body condition scans (value $60), and FREE initial profile / goal planning and action plans.