What is the opposite of faith?

The opposite of faith is the same as the opposite of love, it's fear and doubt.

Faith is love in action.

Faith, nothing doubting is how I got through school. It's how I found a job with the exact techniques and values that I wanted, it's how I surrounded myself with the people and the circumstances that could help me grow like I knew I needed to. It's how we went on vacation with no money and no job, and came home to the promise of a new life. It's seeing the end from the beginning. And it's amazing.

When Natalie and I came together with only 3 months of school left and saw the mountain that we would have to climb, it was indeed scary. But, we put our heads together and really focused our intent on the circumstances that we wanted to create. We saw the end so clearly. We could see graduation. We prayed fervently, we doubled our efforts, we increased our faithfulness. We had no idea HOW it would happen, the only thing we knew was that it would. And we succeeded, right on time--something that looked virtually impossible ony a few short months before. They say seeing is believing. I say--having vision creates the ability to see AFTER believing. That's love in action. When you have the vision and proper motivation, you find the resources and skills to make it happen. You find the power you need to draw upon to accomplish the desire of your soul.

Encouragement and Permission

Encouragement and Permission.

This topic is one that's very close to my heart, it's something I've done for a long time, but I never had a name for until I met Dr. Brooks. As a parent, a mentor, a role model, a teacher, a coach, and a doctor, I can't think of any other concept that is more universal in inspiring others to achieve more and to reach higher than that of Encouragement and Permission.

Encouragement - supporting someone in their decision after they have been informed of the consequences of making a choice.

Permission - allowing the consequences to be owned by the individual - for better or for worse - without judgement.

Using this simple approach to parenting as well as patient care, I have seen amazing things in terms of an individual's growth and responsibility and happiness and freedom. It is very encouraging to see people achieving new heights by making decisions on their own with increased knowledge.

My three-year-old daughter shows that she understands this concept when she gets down on her little sister's level, looks her in the eye, and informs her about different options she has while they play together. Often, after informing her of playing options, Sophie will give Ivy permission to make a choice and finally, followup with encouragement about that choice. It's such a fun experiences to witness such a small person helping another in a simple yet profound way.

All playing aside, Encouragement and Permission is about responsibility -- something corporations, societies, and governments tend to shy away from.

The opposite of Encouragement and Permission is Coercion without information. Coercion without information is forced obedience of a person who lacks the knowledge necessary to make decisions with no attempt to educate them.

Although necessary when dealing with very young children, this is an inferior way of upbringing and is very prevalent in today's society and in government. Using this method of behavior change produces a state of dependence and ignorance where people feel no need to take responsibility for their own actions. This is a state where the government, corporation, doctor, or care provider runs every aspect of a person's life and tells them what they must do. People brought up with this mentality aren't interested in increasing their knowledge about their choices and actually seek a parent or government who uses Coercion without information to make decisions for them. By doing this they remove from themselves the need to take responsibility. This philosophy is extremely disempowering and very prevalent.

This mentality is everything I fought against in Afghanistan and what I continue to fight against now. During my tour of Afghanistan I witnessed the first EVER free election of the Afghan people, what a humbling day. Here in America, I blog and teach others about changing their health status through their choices. I teach others how to take responsibility for their lives and their health, to allow them to make mistakes but to be happy in the fact that they made the decision on their own and know that tomorrow is another opportunity to make a good decision.

This is freedom. The use of Encouragement and Permission is how we transmit freedom from ourselves to others.

Reconnecting you to a life of freedom through informed choices.


- (Very-soon-to-be-Dr.) Steve