Home | Lifestyles & Personal Development | Lifestyle

The Secret to a Long and Happy Life

By: John Hayes Jr Click author's name for more of his/her articles

This past weekend, I finally got to unwind after our months-long SuperConference buildup. It was a great event. The majority of doctor attendees were ecstatic with the content and opportunities despite the very harsh realities of private practice today. It was great to be with all my special friends who helped make this event so powerful.

In any event, another very special friend, Dennis, invited me on the water all day Friday. And Patti and I to his Yacht Club on Friday night. (Turns out, we'll be joining!)

Friday morning, the fishing was great just off the Boston Harbor hotels and airport runways. It's a fabulous place, with tons of revolutionary war and pre-war history, forts, burial grounds, etc.

Friday night, we cruised the inner harbor, went back on land for some drinks, and had a nice dinner back at the club. All these interspersed with lots and lots of laughter.

Then Dennis asked me if I wanted to smoke a cigar with him. I must have seemed stunned, because then he immediately started telling me about all these studies that were done on cigar smoking and longevity.

Huh? I read research every morning, but I sure missed that one!

So Dennis tells me, "It's stress that is the killer. Those people that socialize, have fun, smoke cigars and sip Scotch, laugh, stay engaged with each other, live far longer, healthier, and happier lives."

So don't you know it, I look up the studies on centenarians in Cuba and other countries too.

My take after reading the studies? They live simply, stay engaged in life fully for the moment only, and have moderate habits, nothing to excess. Interestingly, in Cuba, they smoke cigars, drink coffee, and still enjoy sex.

Most important, they ENJOY the entirety of life. Especially simple pleasures, friends and family, most every day.

And that's it.

Boy, did we screw this one up, big time.

Look at the craziness some of us see every day. Overstressed people, never without their cell phones and TV, complaining about everything, living sedentary lives, staying inside the house most of the time.

Or some doctors who are continually stressed. They never disengage long enough to really figure out who's in charge of their lives and practices; who they care or work for. They have no good systems or organization that really serves them and their goals and dreams.

What a mess we are capable of creating!

But there is an antidote. And it's the primary step I often implement with new clients.

That is to develop, work on, and truly develop the essence of Practice by Design.

But if it's really this simple, why do so many of us, very intelligent doctors especially, struggle with our practice on a daily basis?

I'm not really sure, but I can tell you a few things.

First, YOU have got to have complete design control in practice. This is really the most valuable part for me personally while working with my doctors.

Next, your staff requires a firm but otherwise fun environment as well as goals. It's a very easy systems that still work (by design) where we have those "no brain" days. However, the government has made this one a little bit harder.

Three, patients need guidance. And the choice is to accept or reject advice. Also, when you can see them, and what your game rules are. This must, of course, include finances. And if they chose to reject your advice, why would you ever keep them under your care?

And the thing is it can be as simple as implementing these three basic rules!

But you must have the certainty, intestinal fortitude, and the underlying tools to pull this all off.

To that end, as Mr. Spock admonished me 40+ years ago, "Live long and prosper."

Article Source: ABC Article Directory

About The Author: Dr. John Hayes, Jr. is an Evvy Award Nominee and author of Living and Practicing by Design. To know more about his unique approaches to private practice success, visit perfectpracticeweb.com/ and register for a FREE CD and Info Pack.