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Words Are
Like Drugs
By Mr. Per
The
USA TODAY recently reported on the medical community's interest in the
placebo effect. As you may know, the "placebo effect"
describes a patient's belief in how a medicine will affect him and how
that, in turn, influences the medicine's impact on his body. In other
words, when a patient is given a pill that he believes is going to help
him, he will feel better, even if the pill contained nothing more than
ordinary sugar.
A
doctor's opinion can have a placebo-like effect upon the patient as
well. This influence is called "narcebo." Studies have found
that the less time a doctor spends with a patient, the more likely the
patient is to sue that doctor. And, the more time a doctor spends with a
patient, the faster the patient will recover.
 The
USA TODAY article reported on research involving patients with
obsessive-compulsive disorders. In the study, the patients were divided
into two groups. One group received only group therapy, while the other
group received an antidepressant drug. After their treatments, the
patients had images taken of the activities in their brains. The images
showed that the exact same post-treatment changes took place in each
group! As it was reported, "The words were acting like drugs."
Those patients who only received the time, support, and encouragement of
others had the same chemical changes in their brains as those who
actually took the drug. As we as a society spend less time supporting
and encouraging others, is it any wonder that more and more disorders,
diseases, and ailments are discovered?
An
important element in this study was that every patient in the support
group appeared to have been helped. This means that when you offer
others support and encouragement, it helps them at the same time that it
is helping you! When you take the time to offer someone a word of
encouragement, everybody gains from it. After all, what is the downside
to a kind word?
When
I was in elementary school, we used to say, "Sticks and stones may
break my bones, but words will never hurt me." I know this is a
nice retort for a verbal attack, however now I also realize that broken
bones can often heal faster than a wound from a cutting remark.
Can
you remember a time when you received an unexpected word of
encouragement? If you have received this "gift," I bet you
remember it well. It is meaningful to you because it is rare that
someone takes the time to use their words to build you up.
Today,
take the time to encourage others. Write a letter, send an email, make a
phone call, or stop someone in the hall. The method you use is up to
you. Just take a minute (possibly with everyone you meet) to give him or
her a sincere word of encouragement. Just imagine, years from now when
someone asks that person if he or she had ever received a word of
encouragement when they really needed it, that person will think of you!
As
you do this, you will notice two results. One is that for every person
you encourage, their day will immediately be changed for the better. And
two, your day will be changed for the better as well. Regardless of the
day you are having, encouraging someone else will always make your day
just a little better.
Make the most of your
journey through life by being a source of encouragement for those you
meet along the way.
To
receive iztek's weekly email, send an email to m4@iztek.com. iztek
provides keynote speaking and corporate training programs that are
original, relevant and inspiring. iztek's presenter, Mr. Per, has been
called "an ordinary guy with an extraordinary message." He can be reached at
www.iztek.com or 407-210-3666.
Copyright Ó2000 iztEk
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