July 27, 2022 • 39 mins
Join the conversation! Send Magic a text here!
Today I will talk with author David Edwards, author of "New You! Who Knew?" In this episode we will go through my usual 3 questions:
What can your expertise do to accelerate health, be it physical, mental, or emotional?
What are your top 3 tips for creating wealth?
Have you ever battled your weight and what can you share with the listeners about that?
David and I will go on a few rants regarding your internal compass, your internal locus of control, and being true to yourself in all decisions you make.
From David's website biography:
"Hi, I am David R Edwards, author of “New You! Who Knew?”. A few years ago I was CEO of a Community Health Center creating the leading integrated, person focused, primary care center in the country. In my interaction with patients, advocates, professionals from different disciplines, and my own pondering and study I had an epiphany, you know a “WOW” moment. People are missing core skills that if they had would make their lives so much better. I left my well-paying job and embarked on researching and writing a book to help regular people learn the principles and skills needed to become the captain of their own life."
Connect with David:
https://www.davidredwards.com/
amazon.com/author/davidredwards
Connect with Magic:
A Magical Life Podcast on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amagicallifepodcast/
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wholisticnaturalhealth/
Online: https://wholisticnaturalhealth.com.au
A Subito Media production
Connect with Magic:
A Magical Life Podcast on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amagicallifepodcast/
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wholisticnaturalhealth/
Online: https://wholisticnaturalhealth.com.au
A Subito Media production
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Magic Barclay (01:00):
Welcome back to a magical life.
I'm your host magic Barclaytoday I'm joined by David R.
Edwards.
David worked his way throughschool, eventually achieving an
MBA in healthcareadministration.
He served mostly lower incomepeople on three continents over
the last 35 years and isfamiliar with the challenges and
(01:23):
unfairness of life in 2018,while working with doctors,
dentists, counselors, nurses,community health workers, and
others, he had an epiphany.
The core challenge most peoplehave is to generate the personal
drive, to direct their own lifeenduring principles, to guide
and the most current sciencebased tools to assist them
(01:46):
through a bumpy and messy life.
His first book knew you who knewis an attempt to put in writing
and easy to digest and implementguide that builds confidence
esteem.
Self-compassion I balance Davidlives in the Western us with
(02:07):
Linda, his wife of 36 years andtheir golden retriever, Jasper
David and Linda have two growndaughters.
Welcome David.
David Edwards (02:16):
Hi, welcome.
nice to meet you.
Magic Barclay (02:19):
Lovely to have you here.
Now tell us about Jasper
David Edwards (02:25):
So he's a four year old golden retriever.
My dear wife suffers from prettysevere chronic depression and
anxiety.
and he's a part of her therapyand he does a fantastic job.
Magic Barclay (02:40):
I have to say animals called Jasper have a
very large place in my heartbecause I rescued a kangaroo
Joey and named him Jasper andboys.
He just, a little being a littleso of energy.
He's just amazing.
Now how old?
Well, he's now grown.
(03:01):
He's now three years old andwild again, but wow.
Was he a pocket rocket when hewas in care?
David Edwards (03:10):
well, good for you.
That's wonderful.
Our Jasper, well, not a joy,but, uh, has a similar energy.
And he loves, we go for longwalks every day.
And, uh, oh my gosh.
I just love seeing him innature.
He's so connected to it.
You know, his nose is to theground.
I'd love to, you know, kind of apicture of what's going on in
(03:33):
his brain as he gets all thesesignals that I will never ever
experience in my life.
And he's just very engaged andcharged.
Magic Barclay (03:43):
And I think that's a sad thing about being
human.
We've lost that like aschildren, we have that and you
can see, you know, a baby takingall that information, even a
young child.
But as we get older, we losethat amazement for every little
thing in life and animals, bringit back to us.
And it's great to.
David Edwards (04:05):
It is it's wonderful.
I read a book a year or two agocalled uh, successful aging as
every one of us are grateful.
Right?
We get to live one more day, nomatter what our age is.
So that's a miracle, that's awonderful thing.
And as we get a few more ofthose days accumulated, he, this
(04:25):
book, he talks about that if youwant to remain vital and
creative and engaged in lifetill you know, the end of your
life, to try new things, right,try new food, try new
experiences, drive a differentway to the store, take a
different walking route,whatever it is because we really
(04:46):
benefit mentally and physicallyfrom these different
experiences.
And it helps us remain vitaland, cognitively exercised.
Magic Barclay (04:57):
Totally.
And hopefully this podcast issome cognitive exercise for
people listening.
So let's get straight into it.
David, I always ask the samethree questions of my guests and
every guest has a differentanswer and it's just amazing to
see how the human mind can be sodiverse.
(05:18):
So here comes your firstquestion.
What can your expertise do toaccelerate health?
Be it physical, emotional, orspiritual.
David Edwards (05:28):
Thank you.
And I love that you include kindof a broader kind of definition
of wealth.
And as we think of that in ourhealth in general, um, I think.
I think of three things first.
And I dunno if this is expertiseor not, but it's a perspective
that I, I strive for, is thebelief that I have, that every
(05:49):
single person is important.
Every single life is important.
Most of us won't be rich orfamous, well known any of that
kind of stuff.
And that seems to be a focus ofa lot of what we see in here,
but that's not the mostimportant things.
Right?
And so really every life, nomatter how common or challenged
(06:12):
you have abilities and, and itmatters what you do with your
life, what you do think, feelexperience that's important, cuz
it's your life.
And everybody can have asatisfying, happy.
Of accomplishment, you know,within their own circumstances.
And I think that's reallycritical.
I suppose a second is a systemsperspective.
(06:34):
We were chatting a little bitago about this idea of systems.
And so when I think of a systemsperspective of eyes, trying to
help somebody understand theidea, it's that everything that
we have, let's say we have agoal.
Um, it could be any kind of agoal, but there are things that
either reinforce accomplishmentof the goal or things that
(06:58):
balance, and they might, if youmight think of counterbalancing,
it works against accomplishingthe goal.
And so a really simple way tolook at life is this systems
perspective that says, if I wantto do this or become this.
Or achieve this, then these arethings that reinforce, and then
(07:18):
I wanna bolster those, right.
I wanna have more of thosethings that reinforce.
And then I, I look and say,these are the things that
balance that work against.
And I want to try to removethose or weaken those things
that work against me.
And if we do that, rather thanfocusing on the end, what we're
(07:39):
doing is aligning the systemsand those balancing and
supporting forces to move ustowards our goal.
And it becomes very natural.
It's not like I'm working harderto get this goal, right.
Um, that leads to burnout.
You know, I'm gonna work morehours or I'm gonna spend more
time on it.
It's really a matter of creatingmore reinforcing and reducing or
(08:04):
eliminating those balancingforces.
And then.
Kind of magically happened.
It's a very powerful perspectiveand it respects that everything
is connected.
And I really like that.
And I think it's very powerful.
Magic Barclay (08:17):
That is very powerful.
And yes, look off air.
We were talking about systemsand we're certainly going to
talk about it more coming up,but systems in life are so
important.
Listeners.
You not only have the systems inyour body, which, you know, I've
spoken about to no end, butsystems in life systems in
(08:39):
business, you know, there's thatold saying, if you fail to plan,
then you plan to.
That planning is systems puttingthem in place.
And whether you're looking atyour health at your wealth, at
your weight, loss, yourrelationships, no matter what it
is, you need those systems.
David Edwards (09:03):
It's exactly right.
And it, and it's empowering.
I think, to look at things thatway it gets us out of ruminating
on what my problems are, whichis generally not very
productive.
And it gets us out of our fears,you know, which is focused on
the past.
And it puts us squarely in thecaptain's chair of our life that
(09:25):
says, okay, there are systemsthat just exist.
I don't have to like it.
I don't have to believe in it.
I don't have to want it.
It just exists.
It is no matter what.
And so I can just have to try toinfluence those factors and then
I'm gonna see progress.
And I think it's, it's, uh, it'svery empowering, no matter what
(09:47):
your circumstances are, anybodycan do this at a very small
level.
If you have, you have quite alot of limitations in your
circumstances or at a largerlevel, if you have, have you
have fewer constraints,
Magic Barclay (10:01):
Agreed now, David, we talk about wealth
here.
So when we talk about wealth,it's not just the financial, but
also the emotional wealth,spiritual wealth, I guess you
could call wealth growth or,well, we know, I love the word
accelerate.
And so do you so acceleration offacets of life that all creates
(10:25):
wealth.
So what are your top three tipsto creating wealth?
David Edwards (10:31):
So I think my first tip is to try to avoid
external definitions of whatyour own personal goal using
that broader definition is.
So for example, if you, youknow, a lot, there's lots of
influences.
I, in some of my research, Ithink it was that we have about
(10:55):
3000 images that come across ourconsciousness or even not our
consciousness, oursubconsciousness, uh, they're in
front of us throughout the day.
and a lot of these areadvertising oriented that
somebody's trying to marketsomething to us, but the fact
that somebody markets somethingto us doesn't mean that that's
(11:17):
important to us or that itreally matters or that we would
care about it.
And unfortunately a lot ofpeople allow their focus to be
on these external measures orimages or perspectives of what
makes them wealthy, whether thatbe personal financial, emotional
(11:37):
health wise, whatever.
Um, and so I think to look atand understand an awareness of
if you will, of your ownindividual circumstances and
then trying to influence withinthat sphere.
So scientists or psychologistscall this an internal locus of
(12:00):
control.
And I kinda hate fancy wordsthat basically is this mental
model that says who's in chargeof my life, the outside world.
Now the outside world could beimportant.
People like your spouse or yourchildren or your parents, right.
But it could be some randommarketing person or some star
(12:22):
athlete or some, whatever, anyanybody from the outside.
So like, are they responsiblefor my life and my success, my
acceleration, my wealth, or am Iand evidence, you know, time and
time again, an endless studiesfor decades now have all shown
that if we recognize that we'rein charge of our own efforts,
(12:46):
our own focus, how we definewealth and how we pursue it,
then the better off we're gonnabe.
I think that's my number onetip.
That's a very long tip.
Sorry.
Magic Barclay (13:01):
Just on that.
So many people live going well,because that person did this.
Then I had to do this orbecause, okay, sorry, listeners,
you know my feelings ongovernment, but here comes
because the government saidthis, then I can't do this.
(13:22):
Or, you know, there's, there'salways a flow on effect kind of
rebound effect way of living.
And I really love that.
You've said that, you know, youhave to pay attention to your
individual circumstances becauseyou are an individual listeners.
It doesn't matter what thoseexternal influences do.
(13:43):
Say the message they put outthere.
It's how you respond and you arein charge of how you respond.
So someone could do something orthe government could say
something, but how you respondto it is what's important.
And we've certainly seen a lotof this recently, David, with
people going, I can't go and seemy Nana in the old aged home
(14:08):
because someone said so.
Okay.
But what about Nana she's alone?
You know, she has no idea thatthe TV told you something, so
you're not there.
She just knows you're not there.
Your response is your response.
Sorry, rant over
David Edwards (14:28):
that's okay.
It's, it's really, it'simportant to reinforce because
it's kind of a default.
Um, again, I don't wanna usefancy terms here.
Not that I'm particularly fancyperson, but, uh, there was some
brilliant scientist researchers,psychologists, in Israel who 20,
(14:49):
30 years ago published resultsand they talked about.
We have two systems, there'slike a default system.
And then there's a more kind ofthoughtful system.
And most of our lives are spentin this default system.
Uh, and you know, most of thetime it's okay.
Right.
It's a way that we preserveenergy in our body, in our
(15:12):
brain.
Um, as long as our defaults arein fact functional, the
challenge of the problem comesin is when those defaults are
not functional, they'redysfunctional or they work
against us and so then we needto, and those instances, we to
engage their brain in a morethoughtful process, they call'em
system one and system two.
(15:33):
As we go through, you know, ourlives, we are very wise and if
we, this is maybe the secondthing and I.
Is that we spend some time,every day being thoughtful, you
know, we can think about ourlives and think about maybe it,
I like a pattern of I'mintentional in the morning.
(15:55):
And I'm accountable in theevening.
So I have some intent about whatI wanna do, who I want to be
during the day in the evening.
I have some accountability.
So I spend a few minutes, thisisn't fancy are you're not
flogging yourself or anythinglike that mentally or
physically.
Um, but we say, well, how did Ido this was my intent this
(16:17):
morning.
And how did I do?
And we have a chance to thinkabout and really engage that
prefrontal cortex, thatexecutive center of our brain
and say, well, I did pretty goodin this and I didn't do so good
in that.
You know, I maybe lost my temperor maybe I, um, was unkind or
maybe I, you know, wonder if itis, you know, that you're
(16:37):
thinking about, um, I missed anopportunity, um, or I ate that.
I don't know if they have donutsin Australia.
I assume so, but I had a donutwhen I didn't really want to,
um, You know, there's anyway, soyou just kind of do that process
and it requires us to be in thatthinking mode at least for a few
minutes every day.
Magic Barclay (16:57):
Perfect.
And yes, we do have donuts herein Australia.
We have all the fattening foodsthat you guys have, and yes, we
ignore a lot of the healthy onestoo.
so of course.
Great.
So that's two tips.
What else would you say to thelisteners about creating wealth?
David Edwards (17:15):
I think the third one.
It kind of relates to the othertwo, but I think it's an
important, additional concept.
It is to live your lifeintentionally what I find in the
us.
Um, but it was similar in Africaand it was similar in Europe.
I've never been to Australiasomeday.
That would be a, a lovely thing.
(17:35):
But, uh, and maybe it's similarthere.
You can tell me, but, uh, oncewe leave high school, you know,
we're on our own.
Up until that point, we had ourparents, we had teachers, we had
counselors, we had all thesepeople kind of helping to guide
us, helping us hopefully topoint us in a good direction.
And, but once you graduatethough, it's like the world's
(17:57):
world has, you're an adult now,congratulations, you know,
you're on your own.
And all of a sudden.
Many of these supports kind ofdisappear and we have to figure
out what we're gonna do, whowe're gonna become.
What's important to us and, andwe have to be intentional about
it.
and the alternative of course isto drift, drifting leaves you
(18:17):
wherever the tide is going,which is not likely where you
really want to be, but withoutintent that's inevitably what
happens.
And so we see people that are intheir twenties and thirties and
forties and beyond who are justdrifting through life.
And so I think really criticalthat you spend some time being
(18:39):
intentional about, well, what doI wanna do?
And what do I want to become?
Which I think is probably themore important of those two
questions.
And then you start to live yourlife according to that, and you
apply that internal locus ofcontrol.
Um, and you apply systemsthinking to that intent and
(19:03):
voila.
Some really good things willhappen.
Magic Barclay (19:07):
True.
That I think Australia used tobe a country of drifters.
Like it was kind of the, she'llbe right, mate.
Let's go with the flow kind ofattitude.
It's become less like that sincethe eighties.
and certainly now we have peoplegoing, well, this is what I
(19:27):
believe in.
This is what I stand for.
And everyone seems shockedbecause that's not a
conversation that was hadbefore.
You know, it was like, go toschool, you might go to uni or
you might get a job.
You know, whatever happens,happens.
It's like, let's go with theflow.
And we are not that anymore.
And that monumental shift in thecollective ethos in Australia
(19:53):
has been quite strange toactually observe.
So, you know, very different tothe us in that respect.
David Edwards (20:01):
Interesting.
Well, and I, I don't know that,that, I mean, I see some of that
in the us.
I mean, from the eighties again,I was alive in the eighties.
and.
It's interesting.
There's good.
And there's bad with any ofthese kinds of trends that I
see.
I mean, you know, the bad of itis that I felt like in the us,
(20:24):
at least we, we really focusedon the material side of things.
So how much money you make, thekind of car you drive, the kind
job you've got your status insociety that became much more
pronounced.
And this idea of living anaverage, common life that's
satisfying and fulfilling andhappy, has been subsumed by this
(20:48):
obsession to be Beyonce.
And it's like, well, there'sonly one Bailon Beyonce though.
And if you have to be that to behappy and fulfilled and feel
like you're successful, well,I'm really sorry.
That's gonna be a tough road forvirtually almost everyone.
And so, I think the good side ofit is that people are saying, I
(21:09):
don't want to just fill in thismode, you know, this kind of
normal kind of society'spredetermined model of what's.
Okay.
And we're willing to questionsome things and I think
questioning is good.
Right?
And that's the good side ofthat.
Well, some things that havenever been good that we didn't
(21:29):
even talk about, you know, we'reable to talk about now and I
think that's really healthy, butwe need to do that in a way that
is.
Enabling that, is focused onthings that we can do and allows
us to make decisions in a moreeffective way so that we are
leading our own lives.
(21:51):
And there's a good side to that.
So, you know, there's always agood kind of a bad side to these
things.
It seems like.
Magic Barclay (21:58):
And I think that's where systems come into
play as well.
David.
So, you know, a lot of peoplehave lived without implementing
a system.
And so you were saying, youknow, people want to be Beyonce
or the rock or whoever theywanna be, but they never will
be.
But the system they try and liveby is the system that Beyonce or
(22:22):
the rock or whoever would liveby.
It's not a system that'ssuitable to them.
And certainly here in Australia,like I said, we had that, she'll
be right mate.
Kind of.
Attitude for so long with zerosystems in play whatsoever.
And so, you know, people justdid drift and, and now that
(22:46):
they're not, we do have a lot ofus influence.
So, you know, the kids, thesedays are saying, I wanna be
rich, like so and so, but theydon't have a system for it.
You know, I wanna be a famousmusician, but where's your
system?
(23:06):
What are you following?
What do you stand for?
And what things do you do everyday to get you there?
And the same goes for theirhealth.
We've become a very doctorreliant society here, much to my
dismay.
And you know, the doctors don'teven have a system they're run
by our Medicare, which is likeour government paid government
(23:31):
funded.
Health service, but they're runby Medicare to see, you know,
like someone every two and ahalf minutes.
So their system is to get paid,not necessarily to make you
healthy.
And you are thinking they'rerunning by a system to get you
(23:52):
healthy.
So there's no correlationbetween our needs and our wants,
and we are not putting the rightsystems in play.
We're not taking that, thatautonomy of our health or
autonomy of our wealth, evenautonomy of our family life.
Like there's just, there seemsto be nothing there.
(24:12):
That drifting is still a thing.
David Edwards (24:16):
There you go.
That's, that's interesting thatyou say.
I believe in transparency is oneof my core values.
And so you need to know that Iworked in that healthcare system
for 35 years.
Uh, and I was a part of that.
And as we think about systemsthinking of related concept is
something called our mentalmodels or, or, you know, and we
(24:39):
can think of how mental modelsrelate to our systems.
I don't wanna get too far.
I feel here.
So you reign me in cuz I tend todrift off sometimes.
But, uh, so we think about ourmental models.
I worked with a lot ofphysicians.
And what I discovered over timewas that for the most part is I
(25:00):
got to know them as individual.
These were caring, thoughtful,super bright people who had
sacrificed a tremendous amountof time and energy and their
lives for training.
So they could to help a scope ofskills to help people.
But once they graduated and evenas a part of their training,
(25:22):
they learn some mental models.
And so they feel constrained towork within this system.
We talk about, you know,balancing and reinforcing
structures, right.
Or systems.
So they feel, and most of'emdon't even think about it this
way, but they are in fact,operating within this mental
(25:43):
model.
This is in order for me to makea living.
In the us, it's kind of like payoff my school debts and be able
to, you know, make a good livingand save for retirement and all
those things.
This is what I've gotta do, cuzthat's what the system is set up
to do.
So if it's a five minute visitand I gotta see 40 of those in a
day, then that's what I'm gonnado.
And I'll, I'll do my best withinthat.
(26:06):
But of course they never quiteget beyond the idea of wait a
minute, this is not producingthe results that I would hope
for that I desire for thesepatients who come to me for help
and what I gonna do about it,you know, how do I change the
system so that we in fact do getthe results that we all want,
(26:28):
which is to be a healthier, morecapable, group of people.
I finished working at a heartInstitute, so specialty and
subspecialty care, um, which Iloved, however, um, because we
were very focused on our missionand the prevention and research
side of things, as well as thekind of care processes.
(26:51):
But when I left, I thought Iwanna be a part of something
that's more holistic.
And I actually over time aftergoing to Africa for a while, I
went to work for a tribalhealth.
So an indigenous governmentsponsored, so native American, a
tribal health group in Alaska,which is, you know, in the
(27:12):
Northern above Canada there.
and, it was a wonderfulexperience for me because they
really tried to look at a personas a whole person.
There is a social context,there's a cultural context,
there's the physical and themental context.
And within those, you know,there's all the little subgroups
(27:33):
Western medicine.
We love reductionism, right?
So one person looks at the eyes.
Another one looks at the brain.
Another one looks at the, thearms or the legs or the heart or
whatever.
So we love this kind ofreductionist model, but in the
pursuit of that, which has some,a marvelous advantages, we've
forgotten that everything isconnected, right?
(27:54):
The body is in fact a system.
And anytime we touch one thing,it affects the others.
And we've kind of lost that.
And I felt like this group wasmoving us or trying to practice.
In that allopathic medical modelwith an expanded lens.
And so we had things like asweat lodge, there's nothing
allopathic, you know, kind ofWestern medicine model it really
(28:16):
about addressing kind of thecultural aspect of our health,
our wellness of our wealth, ifyou will.
and so we are trying toincorporate more of that and
look at how all these thingswere intertwined.
And then I spent the rest of mycareer really trying to pursue
this model of whole person,integrated, coordinated,
(28:38):
systemic care that engages withthe individual patient.
We talked about that internallocus of control or being your
own captain, you know, thattried to put the person, the
individual as a captain of theirlife.
And so if it is.
What we would in America callsome alternative medicine.
(28:59):
It might be herbals.
It might be, um, energy therapy,or it might, you know, whatever
else, as well as maybe somethings with drugs, you know, or
with, um, physical exercise ormental exercise or therapy or
you're right.
We wanna have them coordinatingand being in charge of all these
(29:21):
things.
Cause nobody knows them likethey do.
And we should respect that andhonor that and engage with them
in that way to put them incharge and treat them in that
way, which is a huge challenge.
Cuz our traditional model is thedoctor's in charge and you're a
good patient.
If you do what they tell you to.
(29:42):
and there's wisdom in that way.
And we need to respect whatdoctor or the nurse or the
holistic therapist or the mentalhealth therapist or whatever
advises us to do.
But we need to then think aboutwhat they do and say, does this
work in my life, in mycircumstances, knowing all the
other things that are going on,cuz I guarantee if you go to
(30:05):
multiple people, they don't knowwhat the other people are
suggesting or talking about ordoing really you do.
You're the only one thatunderstands that maybe that was
a ranch on my side.
Magic Barclay (30:19):
No, I love that rant.
And I'm just going to wrap thatrant up with, by saying I see a
lot of patients in my clinicthat have been to multiple other
professionals.
And for me to start eventhinking about working with a
patient, they have to fill out a12 page intake.
(30:42):
And I get the whole truth onthat form.
And then some, because there'sstuff they don't put on that
form that with them, when we doour intake consult, they go, oh,
I dunno if it's important.
But when I was three, thishappened, I didn't put it on my
form.
So I'll say everything'simportant, but I can see who
they've worked with because Iask them.
(31:04):
And when I'm talking to theclient, even before I started
working with them, I'll say, so,did this doctor know that you
then went to that doctor?
And then you took thismedication cuz you know, three
of those medicationscontraindicate each other.
And that might be why you are.
Feeling so awful.
And they're like, no, it wasn'ttheir business for me to tell
(31:25):
them, well, where's youraccountability.
You know, you have to takepersonal accountability.
If you're going to doctor shopprofessional, shop nurse, shop,
medication, shop, whatever youare doing, where's your
accountability and yourtransparency, as you said
before.
And then where is your personallevel of belief?
(31:47):
And you mentioned values before.
We'll talk more about that inour next episode, but are you
not valuing yourself as theclient, as the patient, as the
subject, whatever you wanna, youknow, see yourself as to be
transparent and accountableanyway, there's my ran on that.
(32:09):
Yeah.
David Edwards (32:10):
And I guess, and I think about, you know, we
think about, you know, we wantto be helpful to people.
I mean, and I really think thatis.
Maybe that as we think about ourhealth and our wealth broadly,
this idea that I'm in charge ofmy life is so fundamental.
And we don't think about it.
(32:30):
And there are very few peoplethat encourage us to think about
it because it's not a road tomake them more money or to have,
have, have more influence overus.
But it's so fundamentallyimportant to every other good
thing we wanna do.
And for me, you know, I'mthinking about our audience,
(32:50):
which I know you care deeplyabout.
Um, it's this idea that you arein charge of your life and it is
important.
And if they can just get a senseof that and, and feel like, I
think that's right, right.
This glimmer of hope that wow,if they haven't thought about it
(33:11):
before, you know that like, wow,I think that's true.
So then what can I start to dodifferent.
And I think that would be amarvelous, amazing, powerful,
accelerating idea for people
Magic Barclay (33:29):
could not agree more.
Now, David, I have one finalquestion for this episode and
that is around weight loss.
If you have ever battled yourweight, what was a trigger to
lose it?
Or what can you offer thelisteners around this subject?
David Edwards (33:46):
so it's funny as you say that we talk about
battling.
Um, I've never in a way battledmy weight or like gained a bunch
of weight than lost back.
That kind of CSAW, I've beenmuch more consistent, which is
typical of us as we age.
Um, I'm 61 and what happens overour lives is unless we take
(34:10):
specific steps to maintain, uh,healthy.
Active productive weight.
Um, we will continue to gainweight throughout our lives, um,
because we, especially after, Idon't remember exactly, I'd say
mid thirties or so, you know,the normal way the human body
(34:31):
works is that barring any otherinterventions we will in fact
put on weight.
That's the normal thing.
If we don't change anything.
And so how do I say this?
So two things, I guess one isthat my weight is not correlated
to my self esteem and I thinkthat's so important.
(34:56):
Um, even as I have gainedweight, I don't think I'm a
terrible person because of it.
And I don't pay a lot ofattention to all the dieting ads
I dunno about in Australia, butin the United States, there is a
like, 200 billion industry onweight loss, which is a total
(35:16):
fixed game.
I'm gonna stop there cuz I wouldgo on a rant for myself, what
I've realized, trying to thinkof this as a system is that in
my life, if I don't changethings, as I get older, then my
inevitable result is what hashappened is to gain.
Now I've not gained so muchweight that I'm dysfunctional,
(35:38):
I'm quite functional, active,energetic, and quite happy.
Thank you very much, but I waymore than I think I should not
because somebody told me I'moverweight or fat or whatever,
but because I know that formyself, given my values and my
goals, I want to remain viableand of service until the day I
(36:00):
die.
Ideally, which I hope isn't along time from now.
And so how do I manage thesystems in my life so that I can
maintain that?
And at this point I would liketo lose some weight, not a lot
of weight, but I'm, I mean, somelike maybe 20 pounds not to meet
a goal that's artificial orsomebody else set for me, but to
(36:23):
a weight that I think I can bethat viable, sustainable person
of service.
Until the day I die.
And so I'm starting to changethings.
So for example, I'm walkingevery day for 40 minutes to an
hour.
I think that's something I cando hopefully for the rest of my
life.
And it's, it does all kinds ofbenefits, which I'm sure you
(36:45):
could illuminate, um, much morethan I could.
Um, but it's a systemic.
Response, if you will, me tryingto be intentional to say, this
is something that I enjoy doingthat I can do.
I said, cues that I'm remindedto do it.
Um, and it's going to help memaintain a more healthy weight
(37:05):
and physical and mental statusthroughout my life.
I've changed, for example, fromwhole milk to 2%, to 1% to now I
only ever drink skim when Idrink milk.
And so I'm, again, we look atthis from a systems perspective,
there's balancing andreinforcing factors.
Now I'm trying to addressindividual factors and where I'm
(37:27):
in a point of trying to lose alittle weight to manage a
healthier, sustainable weight.
I'm having to do a few morethings.
For example, I dramaticallyreduced amount of meat that I'm
needing, especially any kind ofprocessed meat, because of all
kinds of, I guess, fairlyobvious reasons.
So it's a matter of looking atsystems and, you know, I've
(37:47):
stopped gaining weight.
I've lost, I think about eightpounds over the last several
months.
and I'll continue to look atsystemic solutions or systemic
influences to try to balance andget to a point where I can, you
know, sustain and keep movingforward.
And that's kind of how I look atit.
Magic Barclay (38:06):
Fantastic.
Now, David people can findyou@wwwdotdavidredwards.com.
You're also on Facebook.
You have a YouTube you're on andyour book, which we'll talk more
about in our next episode isavailable on Amazon.
(38:27):
So amazon.com/author/ David R.
Edwards.
Now.
In 1 26 listeners.
So in our next episode, Davidwill rejoin us.
We will talk about his fantasticbook and yes, we will talk a
little bit more about systemsbecause we love them so much and
(38:49):
really wanna share that, thatwealth of knowledge with you.
So listeners thank you again foryour time today.
Go forth and create your magicallife.
Welcome back to a magical life.
I'm your host magic Barclaytoday I'm joined by David R.
Edwards.
David worked his way throughschool, eventually achieving an
MBA in healthcareadministration.
He served mostly lower incomepeople on three continents over
the last 35 years and isfamiliar with the challenges and
(01:23):
unfairness of life in 2018,while working with doctors,
dentists, counselors, nurses,community health workers, and
others, he had an epiphany.
The core challenge most peoplehave is to generate the personal
drive, to direct their own lifeenduring principles, to guide
and the most current sciencebased tools to assist them
(01:46):
through a bumpy and messy life.
His first book knew you who knewis an attempt to put in writing
and easy to digest and implementguide that builds confidence
esteem.
Self-compassion I balance Davidlives in the Western us with
(02:07):
Linda, his wife of 36 years andtheir golden retriever, Jasper
David and Linda have two growndaughters.
Welcome David.
David Edwards (02:16):
Hi, welcome.
nice to meet you.
Magic Barclay (02:19):
Lovely to have you here.
Now tell us about Jasper
David Edwards (02:25):
So he's a four year old golden retriever.
My dear wife suffers from prettysevere chronic depression and
anxiety.
and he's a part of her therapyand he does a fantastic job.
Magic Barclay (02:40):
I have to say animals called Jasper have a
very large place in my heartbecause I rescued a kangaroo
Joey and named him Jasper andboys.
He just, a little being a littleso of energy.
He's just amazing.
Now how old?
Well, he's now grown.
(03:01):
He's now three years old andwild again, but wow.
Was he a pocket rocket when hewas in care?
David Edwards (03:10):
well, good for you.
That's wonderful.
Our Jasper, well, not a joy,but, uh, has a similar energy.
And he loves, we go for longwalks every day.
And, uh, oh my gosh.
I just love seeing him innature.
He's so connected to it.
You know, his nose is to theground.
I'd love to, you know, kind of apicture of what's going on in
(03:33):
his brain as he gets all thesesignals that I will never ever
experience in my life.
And he's just very engaged andcharged.
Magic Barclay (03:43):
And I think that's a sad thing about being
human.
We've lost that like aschildren, we have that and you
can see, you know, a baby takingall that information, even a
young child.
But as we get older, we losethat amazement for every little
thing in life and animals, bringit back to us.
And it's great to.
David Edwards (04:05):
It is it's wonderful.
I read a book a year or two agocalled uh, successful aging as
every one of us are grateful.
Right?
We get to live one more day, nomatter what our age is.
So that's a miracle, that's awonderful thing.
And as we get a few more ofthose days accumulated, he, this
(04:25):
book, he talks about that if youwant to remain vital and
creative and engaged in lifetill you know, the end of your
life, to try new things, right,try new food, try new
experiences, drive a differentway to the store, take a
different walking route,whatever it is because we really
(04:46):
benefit mentally and physicallyfrom these different
experiences.
And it helps us remain vitaland, cognitively exercised.
Magic Barclay (04:57):
Totally.
And hopefully this podcast issome cognitive exercise for
people listening.
So let's get straight into it.
David, I always ask the samethree questions of my guests and
every guest has a differentanswer and it's just amazing to
see how the human mind can be sodiverse.
(05:18):
So here comes your firstquestion.
What can your expertise do toaccelerate health?
Be it physical, emotional, orspiritual.
David Edwards (05:28):
Thank you.
And I love that you include kindof a broader kind of definition
of wealth.
And as we think of that in ourhealth in general, um, I think.
I think of three things first.
And I dunno if this is expertiseor not, but it's a perspective
that I, I strive for, is thebelief that I have, that every
(05:49):
single person is important.
Every single life is important.
Most of us won't be rich orfamous, well known any of that
kind of stuff.
And that seems to be a focus ofa lot of what we see in here,
but that's not the mostimportant things.
Right?
And so really every life, nomatter how common or challenged
(06:12):
you have abilities and, and itmatters what you do with your
life, what you do think, feelexperience that's important, cuz
it's your life.
And everybody can have asatisfying, happy.
Of accomplishment, you know,within their own circumstances.
And I think that's reallycritical.
I suppose a second is a systemsperspective.
(06:34):
We were chatting a little bitago about this idea of systems.
And so when I think of a systemsperspective of eyes, trying to
help somebody understand theidea, it's that everything that
we have, let's say we have agoal.
Um, it could be any kind of agoal, but there are things that
either reinforce accomplishmentof the goal or things that
(06:58):
balance, and they might, if youmight think of counterbalancing,
it works against accomplishingthe goal.
And so a really simple way tolook at life is this systems
perspective that says, if I wantto do this or become this.
Or achieve this, then these arethings that reinforce, and then
(07:18):
I wanna bolster those, right.
I wanna have more of thosethings that reinforce.
And then I, I look and say,these are the things that
balance that work against.
And I want to try to removethose or weaken those things
that work against me.
And if we do that, rather thanfocusing on the end, what we're
(07:39):
doing is aligning the systemsand those balancing and
supporting forces to move ustowards our goal.
And it becomes very natural.
It's not like I'm working harderto get this goal, right.
Um, that leads to burnout.
You know, I'm gonna work morehours or I'm gonna spend more
time on it.
It's really a matter of creatingmore reinforcing and reducing or
(08:04):
eliminating those balancingforces.
And then.
Kind of magically happened.
It's a very powerful perspectiveand it respects that everything
is connected.
And I really like that.
And I think it's very powerful.
Magic Barclay (08:17):
That is very powerful.
And yes, look off air.
We were talking about systemsand we're certainly going to
talk about it more coming up,but systems in life are so
important.
Listeners.
You not only have the systems inyour body, which, you know, I've
spoken about to no end, butsystems in life systems in
(08:39):
business, you know, there's thatold saying, if you fail to plan,
then you plan to.
That planning is systems puttingthem in place.
And whether you're looking atyour health at your wealth, at
your weight, loss, yourrelationships, no matter what it
is, you need those systems.
David Edwards (09:03):
It's exactly right.
And it, and it's empowering.
I think, to look at things thatway it gets us out of ruminating
on what my problems are, whichis generally not very
productive.
And it gets us out of our fears,you know, which is focused on
the past.
And it puts us squarely in thecaptain's chair of our life that
(09:25):
says, okay, there are systemsthat just exist.
I don't have to like it.
I don't have to believe in it.
I don't have to want it.
It just exists.
It is no matter what.
And so I can just have to try toinfluence those factors and then
I'm gonna see progress.
And I think it's, it's, uh, it'svery empowering, no matter what
(09:47):
your circumstances are, anybodycan do this at a very small
level.
If you have, you have quite alot of limitations in your
circumstances or at a largerlevel, if you have, have you
have fewer constraints,
Magic Barclay (10:01):
Agreed now, David, we talk about wealth
here.
So when we talk about wealth,it's not just the financial, but
also the emotional wealth,spiritual wealth, I guess you
could call wealth growth or,well, we know, I love the word
accelerate.
And so do you so acceleration offacets of life that all creates
(10:25):
wealth.
So what are your top three tipsto creating wealth?
David Edwards (10:31):
So I think my first tip is to try to avoid
external definitions of whatyour own personal goal using
that broader definition is.
So for example, if you, youknow, a lot, there's lots of
influences.
I, in some of my research, Ithink it was that we have about
(10:55):
3000 images that come across ourconsciousness or even not our
consciousness, oursubconsciousness, uh, they're in
front of us throughout the day.
and a lot of these areadvertising oriented that
somebody's trying to marketsomething to us, but the fact
that somebody markets somethingto us doesn't mean that that's
(11:17):
important to us or that itreally matters or that we would
care about it.
And unfortunately a lot ofpeople allow their focus to be
on these external measures orimages or perspectives of what
makes them wealthy, whether thatbe personal financial, emotional
(11:37):
health wise, whatever.
Um, and so I think to look atand understand an awareness of
if you will, of your ownindividual circumstances and
then trying to influence withinthat sphere.
So scientists or psychologistscall this an internal locus of
(12:00):
control.
And I kinda hate fancy wordsthat basically is this mental
model that says who's in chargeof my life, the outside world.
Now the outside world could beimportant.
People like your spouse or yourchildren or your parents, right.
But it could be some randommarketing person or some star
(12:22):
athlete or some, whatever, anyanybody from the outside.
So like, are they responsiblefor my life and my success, my
acceleration, my wealth, or am Iand evidence, you know, time and
time again, an endless studiesfor decades now have all shown
that if we recognize that we'rein charge of our own efforts,
(12:46):
our own focus, how we definewealth and how we pursue it,
then the better off we're gonnabe.
I think that's my number onetip.
That's a very long tip.
Sorry.
Magic Barclay (13:01):
Just on that.
So many people live going well,because that person did this.
Then I had to do this orbecause, okay, sorry, listeners,
you know my feelings ongovernment, but here comes
because the government saidthis, then I can't do this.
(13:22):
Or, you know, there's, there'salways a flow on effect kind of
rebound effect way of living.
And I really love that.
You've said that, you know, youhave to pay attention to your
individual circumstances becauseyou are an individual listeners.
It doesn't matter what thoseexternal influences do.
(13:43):
Say the message they put outthere.
It's how you respond and you arein charge of how you respond.
So someone could do something orthe government could say
something, but how you respondto it is what's important.
And we've certainly seen a lotof this recently, David, with
people going, I can't go and seemy Nana in the old aged home
(14:08):
because someone said so.
Okay.
But what about Nana she's alone?
You know, she has no idea thatthe TV told you something, so
you're not there.
She just knows you're not there.
Your response is your response.
Sorry, rant over
David Edwards (14:28):
that's okay.
It's, it's really, it'simportant to reinforce because
it's kind of a default.
Um, again, I don't wanna usefancy terms here.
Not that I'm particularly fancyperson, but, uh, there was some
brilliant scientist researchers,psychologists, in Israel who 20,
(14:49):
30 years ago published resultsand they talked about.
We have two systems, there'slike a default system.
And then there's a more kind ofthoughtful system.
And most of our lives are spentin this default system.
Uh, and you know, most of thetime it's okay.
Right.
It's a way that we preserveenergy in our body, in our
(15:12):
brain.
Um, as long as our defaults arein fact functional, the
challenge of the problem comesin is when those defaults are
not functional, they'redysfunctional or they work
against us and so then we needto, and those instances, we to
engage their brain in a morethoughtful process, they call'em
system one and system two.
(15:33):
As we go through, you know, ourlives, we are very wise and if
we, this is maybe the secondthing and I.
Is that we spend some time,every day being thoughtful, you
know, we can think about ourlives and think about maybe it,
I like a pattern of I'mintentional in the morning.
(15:55):
And I'm accountable in theevening.
So I have some intent about whatI wanna do, who I want to be
during the day in the evening.
I have some accountability.
So I spend a few minutes, thisisn't fancy are you're not
flogging yourself or anythinglike that mentally or
physically.
Um, but we say, well, how did Ido this was my intent this
(16:17):
morning.
And how did I do?
And we have a chance to thinkabout and really engage that
prefrontal cortex, thatexecutive center of our brain
and say, well, I did pretty goodin this and I didn't do so good
in that.
You know, I maybe lost my temperor maybe I, um, was unkind or
maybe I, you know, wonder if itis, you know, that you're
(16:37):
thinking about, um, I missed anopportunity, um, or I ate that.
I don't know if they have donutsin Australia.
I assume so, but I had a donutwhen I didn't really want to,
um, You know, there's anyway, soyou just kind of do that process
and it requires us to be in thatthinking mode at least for a few
minutes every day.
Magic Barclay (16:57):
Perfect.
And yes, we do have donuts herein Australia.
We have all the fattening foodsthat you guys have, and yes, we
ignore a lot of the healthy onestoo.
so of course.
Great.
So that's two tips.
What else would you say to thelisteners about creating wealth?
David Edwards (17:15):
I think the third one.
It kind of relates to the othertwo, but I think it's an
important, additional concept.
It is to live your lifeintentionally what I find in the
us.
Um, but it was similar in Africaand it was similar in Europe.
I've never been to Australiasomeday.
That would be a, a lovely thing.
(17:35):
But, uh, and maybe it's similarthere.
You can tell me, but, uh, oncewe leave high school, you know,
we're on our own.
Up until that point, we had ourparents, we had teachers, we had
counselors, we had all thesepeople kind of helping to guide
us, helping us hopefully topoint us in a good direction.
And, but once you graduatethough, it's like the world's
(17:57):
world has, you're an adult now,congratulations, you know,
you're on your own.
And all of a sudden.
Many of these supports kind ofdisappear and we have to figure
out what we're gonna do, whowe're gonna become.
What's important to us and, andwe have to be intentional about
it.
and the alternative of course isto drift, drifting leaves you
(18:17):
wherever the tide is going,which is not likely where you
really want to be, but withoutintent that's inevitably what
happens.
And so we see people that are intheir twenties and thirties and
forties and beyond who are justdrifting through life.
And so I think really criticalthat you spend some time being
(18:39):
intentional about, well, what doI wanna do?
And what do I want to become?
Which I think is probably themore important of those two
questions.
And then you start to live yourlife according to that, and you
apply that internal locus ofcontrol.
Um, and you apply systemsthinking to that intent and
(19:03):
voila.
Some really good things willhappen.
Magic Barclay (19:07):
True.
That I think Australia used tobe a country of drifters.
Like it was kind of the, she'llbe right, mate.
Let's go with the flow kind ofattitude.
It's become less like that sincethe eighties.
and certainly now we have peoplegoing, well, this is what I
(19:27):
believe in.
This is what I stand for.
And everyone seems shockedbecause that's not a
conversation that was hadbefore.
You know, it was like, go toschool, you might go to uni or
you might get a job.
You know, whatever happens,happens.
It's like, let's go with theflow.
And we are not that anymore.
And that monumental shift in thecollective ethos in Australia
(19:53):
has been quite strange toactually observe.
So, you know, very different tothe us in that respect.
David Edwards (20:01):
Interesting.
Well, and I, I don't know that,that, I mean, I see some of that
in the us.
I mean, from the eighties again,I was alive in the eighties.
and.
It's interesting.
There's good.
And there's bad with any ofthese kinds of trends that I
see.
I mean, you know, the bad of itis that I felt like in the us,
(20:24):
at least we, we really focusedon the material side of things.
So how much money you make, thekind of car you drive, the kind
job you've got your status insociety that became much more
pronounced.
And this idea of living anaverage, common life that's
satisfying and fulfilling andhappy, has been subsumed by this
(20:48):
obsession to be Beyonce.
And it's like, well, there'sonly one Bailon Beyonce though.
And if you have to be that to behappy and fulfilled and feel
like you're successful, well,I'm really sorry.
That's gonna be a tough road forvirtually almost everyone.
And so, I think the good side ofit is that people are saying, I
(21:09):
don't want to just fill in thismode, you know, this kind of
normal kind of society'spredetermined model of what's.
Okay.
And we're willing to questionsome things and I think
questioning is good.
Right?
And that's the good side ofthat.
Well, some things that havenever been good that we didn't
(21:29):
even talk about, you know, we'reable to talk about now and I
think that's really healthy, butwe need to do that in a way that
is.
Enabling that, is focused onthings that we can do and allows
us to make decisions in a moreeffective way so that we are
leading our own lives.
(21:51):
And there's a good side to that.
So, you know, there's always agood kind of a bad side to these
things.
It seems like.
Magic Barclay (21:58):
And I think that's where systems come into
play as well.
David.
So, you know, a lot of peoplehave lived without implementing
a system.
And so you were saying, youknow, people want to be Beyonce
or the rock or whoever theywanna be, but they never will
be.
But the system they try and liveby is the system that Beyonce or
(22:22):
the rock or whoever would liveby.
It's not a system that'ssuitable to them.
And certainly here in Australia,like I said, we had that, she'll
be right mate.
Kind of.
Attitude for so long with zerosystems in play whatsoever.
And so, you know, people justdid drift and, and now that
(22:46):
they're not, we do have a lot ofus influence.
So, you know, the kids, thesedays are saying, I wanna be
rich, like so and so, but theydon't have a system for it.
You know, I wanna be a famousmusician, but where's your
system?
(23:06):
What are you following?
What do you stand for?
And what things do you do everyday to get you there?
And the same goes for theirhealth.
We've become a very doctorreliant society here, much to my
dismay.
And you know, the doctors don'teven have a system they're run
by our Medicare, which is likeour government paid government
(23:31):
funded.
Health service, but they're runby Medicare to see, you know,
like someone every two and ahalf minutes.
So their system is to get paid,not necessarily to make you
healthy.
And you are thinking they'rerunning by a system to get you
(23:52):
healthy.
So there's no correlationbetween our needs and our wants,
and we are not putting the rightsystems in play.
We're not taking that, thatautonomy of our health or
autonomy of our wealth, evenautonomy of our family life.
Like there's just, there seemsto be nothing there.
(24:12):
That drifting is still a thing.
David Edwards (24:16):
There you go.
That's, that's interesting thatyou say.
I believe in transparency is oneof my core values.
And so you need to know that Iworked in that healthcare system
for 35 years.
Uh, and I was a part of that.
And as we think about systemsthinking of related concept is
something called our mentalmodels or, or, you know, and we
(24:39):
can think of how mental modelsrelate to our systems.
I don't wanna get too far.
I feel here.
So you reign me in cuz I tend todrift off sometimes.
But, uh, so we think about ourmental models.
I worked with a lot ofphysicians.
And what I discovered over timewas that for the most part is I
(25:00):
got to know them as individual.
These were caring, thoughtful,super bright people who had
sacrificed a tremendous amountof time and energy and their
lives for training.
So they could to help a scope ofskills to help people.
But once they graduated and evenas a part of their training,
(25:22):
they learn some mental models.
And so they feel constrained towork within this system.
We talk about, you know,balancing and reinforcing
structures, right.
Or systems.
So they feel, and most of'emdon't even think about it this
way, but they are in fact,operating within this mental
(25:43):
model.
This is in order for me to makea living.
In the us, it's kind of like payoff my school debts and be able
to, you know, make a good livingand save for retirement and all
those things.
This is what I've gotta do, cuzthat's what the system is set up
to do.
So if it's a five minute visitand I gotta see 40 of those in a
day, then that's what I'm gonnado.
And I'll, I'll do my best withinthat.
(26:06):
But of course they never quiteget beyond the idea of wait a
minute, this is not producingthe results that I would hope
for that I desire for thesepatients who come to me for help
and what I gonna do about it,you know, how do I change the
system so that we in fact do getthe results that we all want,
(26:28):
which is to be a healthier, morecapable, group of people.
I finished working at a heartInstitute, so specialty and
subspecialty care, um, which Iloved, however, um, because we
were very focused on our missionand the prevention and research
side of things, as well as thekind of care processes.
(26:51):
But when I left, I thought Iwanna be a part of something
that's more holistic.
And I actually over time aftergoing to Africa for a while, I
went to work for a tribalhealth.
So an indigenous governmentsponsored, so native American, a
tribal health group in Alaska,which is, you know, in the
(27:12):
Northern above Canada there.
and, it was a wonderfulexperience for me because they
really tried to look at a personas a whole person.
There is a social context,there's a cultural context,
there's the physical and themental context.
And within those, you know,there's all the little subgroups
(27:33):
Western medicine.
We love reductionism, right?
So one person looks at the eyes.
Another one looks at the brain.
Another one looks at the, thearms or the legs or the heart or
whatever.
So we love this kind ofreductionist model, but in the
pursuit of that, which has some,a marvelous advantages, we've
forgotten that everything isconnected, right?
(27:54):
The body is in fact a system.
And anytime we touch one thing,it affects the others.
And we've kind of lost that.
And I felt like this group wasmoving us or trying to practice.
In that allopathic medical modelwith an expanded lens.
And so we had things like asweat lodge, there's nothing
allopathic, you know, kind ofWestern medicine model it really
(28:16):
about addressing kind of thecultural aspect of our health,
our wellness of our wealth, ifyou will.
and so we are trying toincorporate more of that and
look at how all these thingswere intertwined.
And then I spent the rest of mycareer really trying to pursue
this model of whole person,integrated, coordinated,
(28:38):
systemic care that engages withthe individual patient.
We talked about that internallocus of control or being your
own captain, you know, thattried to put the person, the
individual as a captain of theirlife.
And so if it is.
What we would in America callsome alternative medicine.
(28:59):
It might be herbals.
It might be, um, energy therapy,or it might, you know, whatever
else, as well as maybe somethings with drugs, you know, or
with, um, physical exercise ormental exercise or therapy or
you're right.
We wanna have them coordinatingand being in charge of all these
(29:21):
things.
Cause nobody knows them likethey do.
And we should respect that andhonor that and engage with them
in that way to put them incharge and treat them in that
way, which is a huge challenge.
Cuz our traditional model is thedoctor's in charge and you're a
good patient.
If you do what they tell you to.
(29:42):
and there's wisdom in that way.
And we need to respect whatdoctor or the nurse or the
holistic therapist or the mentalhealth therapist or whatever
advises us to do.
But we need to then think aboutwhat they do and say, does this
work in my life, in mycircumstances, knowing all the
other things that are going on,cuz I guarantee if you go to
(30:05):
multiple people, they don't knowwhat the other people are
suggesting or talking about ordoing really you do.
You're the only one thatunderstands that maybe that was
a ranch on my side.
Magic Barclay (30:19):
No, I love that rant.
And I'm just going to wrap thatrant up with, by saying I see a
lot of patients in my clinicthat have been to multiple other
professionals.
And for me to start eventhinking about working with a
patient, they have to fill out a12 page intake.
(30:42):
And I get the whole truth onthat form.
And then some, because there'sstuff they don't put on that
form that with them, when we doour intake consult, they go, oh,
I dunno if it's important.
But when I was three, thishappened, I didn't put it on my
form.
So I'll say everything'simportant, but I can see who
they've worked with because Iask them.
(31:04):
And when I'm talking to theclient, even before I started
working with them, I'll say, so,did this doctor know that you
then went to that doctor?
And then you took thismedication cuz you know, three
of those medicationscontraindicate each other.
And that might be why you are.
Feeling so awful.
And they're like, no, it wasn'ttheir business for me to tell
(31:25):
them, well, where's youraccountability.
You know, you have to takepersonal accountability.
If you're going to doctor shopprofessional, shop nurse, shop,
medication, shop, whatever youare doing, where's your
accountability and yourtransparency, as you said
before.
And then where is your personallevel of belief?
(31:47):
And you mentioned values before.
We'll talk more about that inour next episode, but are you
not valuing yourself as theclient, as the patient, as the
subject, whatever you wanna, youknow, see yourself as to be
transparent and accountableanyway, there's my ran on that.
(32:09):
Yeah.
David Edwards (32:10):
And I guess, and I think about, you know, we
think about, you know, we wantto be helpful to people.
I mean, and I really think thatis.
Maybe that as we think about ourhealth and our wealth broadly,
this idea that I'm in charge ofmy life is so fundamental.
And we don't think about it.
(32:30):
And there are very few peoplethat encourage us to think about
it because it's not a road tomake them more money or to have,
have, have more influence overus.
But it's so fundamentallyimportant to every other good
thing we wanna do.
And for me, you know, I'mthinking about our audience,
(32:50):
which I know you care deeplyabout.
Um, it's this idea that you arein charge of your life and it is
important.
And if they can just get a senseof that and, and feel like, I
think that's right, right.
This glimmer of hope that wow,if they haven't thought about it
(33:11):
before, you know that like, wow,I think that's true.
So then what can I start to dodifferent.
And I think that would be amarvelous, amazing, powerful,
accelerating idea for people
Magic Barclay (33:29):
could not agree more.
Now, David, I have one finalquestion for this episode and
that is around weight loss.
If you have ever battled yourweight, what was a trigger to
lose it?
Or what can you offer thelisteners around this subject?
David Edwards (33:46):
so it's funny as you say that we talk about
battling.
Um, I've never in a way battledmy weight or like gained a bunch
of weight than lost back.
That kind of CSAW, I've beenmuch more consistent, which is
typical of us as we age.
Um, I'm 61 and what happens overour lives is unless we take
(34:10):
specific steps to maintain, uh,healthy.
Active productive weight.
Um, we will continue to gainweight throughout our lives, um,
because we, especially after, Idon't remember exactly, I'd say
mid thirties or so, you know,the normal way the human body
(34:31):
works is that barring any otherinterventions we will in fact
put on weight.
That's the normal thing.
If we don't change anything.
And so how do I say this?
So two things, I guess one isthat my weight is not correlated
to my self esteem and I thinkthat's so important.
(34:56):
Um, even as I have gainedweight, I don't think I'm a
terrible person because of it.
And I don't pay a lot ofattention to all the dieting ads
I dunno about in Australia, butin the United States, there is a
like, 200 billion industry onweight loss, which is a total
(35:16):
fixed game.
I'm gonna stop there cuz I wouldgo on a rant for myself, what
I've realized, trying to thinkof this as a system is that in
my life, if I don't changethings, as I get older, then my
inevitable result is what hashappened is to gain.
Now I've not gained so muchweight that I'm dysfunctional,
(35:38):
I'm quite functional, active,energetic, and quite happy.
Thank you very much, but I waymore than I think I should not
because somebody told me I'moverweight or fat or whatever,
but because I know that formyself, given my values and my
goals, I want to remain viableand of service until the day I
(36:00):
die.
Ideally, which I hope isn't along time from now.
And so how do I manage thesystems in my life so that I can
maintain that?
And at this point I would liketo lose some weight, not a lot
of weight, but I'm, I mean, somelike maybe 20 pounds not to meet
a goal that's artificial orsomebody else set for me, but to
(36:23):
a weight that I think I can bethat viable, sustainable person
of service.
Until the day I die.
And so I'm starting to changethings.
So for example, I'm walkingevery day for 40 minutes to an
hour.
I think that's something I cando hopefully for the rest of my
life.
And it's, it does all kinds ofbenefits, which I'm sure you
(36:45):
could illuminate, um, much morethan I could.
Um, but it's a systemic.
Response, if you will, me tryingto be intentional to say, this
is something that I enjoy doingthat I can do.
I said, cues that I'm remindedto do it.
Um, and it's going to help memaintain a more healthy weight
(37:05):
and physical and mental statusthroughout my life.
I've changed, for example, fromwhole milk to 2%, to 1% to now I
only ever drink skim when Idrink milk.
And so I'm, again, we look atthis from a systems perspective,
there's balancing andreinforcing factors.
Now I'm trying to addressindividual factors and where I'm
(37:27):
in a point of trying to lose alittle weight to manage a
healthier, sustainable weight.
I'm having to do a few morethings.
For example, I dramaticallyreduced amount of meat that I'm
needing, especially any kind ofprocessed meat, because of all
kinds of, I guess, fairlyobvious reasons.
So it's a matter of looking atsystems and, you know, I've
(37:47):
stopped gaining weight.
I've lost, I think about eightpounds over the last several
months.
and I'll continue to look atsystemic solutions or systemic
influences to try to balance andget to a point where I can, you
know, sustain and keep movingforward.
And that's kind of how I look atit.
Magic Barclay (38:06):
Fantastic.
Now, David people can findyou@wwwdotdavidredwards.com.
You're also on Facebook.
You have a YouTube you're on andyour book, which we'll talk more
about in our next episode isavailable on Amazon.
(38:27):
So amazon.com/author/ David R.
Edwards.
Now.
In 1 26 listeners.
So in our next episode, Davidwill rejoin us.
We will talk about his fantasticbook and yes, we will talk a
little bit more about systemsbecause we love them so much and
(38:49):
really wanna share that, thatwealth of knowledge with you.
So listeners thank you again foryour time today.
Go forth and create your magicallife.
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com