Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Soy and Ikigai by Robyn Mayer - NAMIC Blogger

The luncheon honoring CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta was the perfect culmination of an informative and exciting 23rd Annual NAMIC Conference. NAMIC presented Dr. Gupta with its Mickey Leland Humanitarian Achievement Award to honor his work in promoting global health and diversity throughout his career.

Not only was Dr. Gupta patient, friendly and accommodating in person, but his genuine warmth came through when he received his award and had to stop twice because he was choked up over the video his friends -- who included Bill Clinton and Lance Armstrong -- had made for him in celebration of his honor.

I was impressed with Dr. Gupta’s accomplishments as doctor, journalist and humanitarian, and struck by the fact that as one of today’s leading neurosurgeons, Dr. Gupta was also open to considering holistic approaches to health and wellness. He said that when he visited Asia he noticed two things that seemed to add to the longevity of certain populations there.

One of those things was that they eat a lot of soybeans. Another was that they spend a certain amount of time meditating every evening on what they perceive as their life’s purpose, or Ikigai (Japanese). This purposeful centering, he suggests, is a key component in their long lives.

I think this is a great reminder to all of us, in a world full of information overload, to remember why we are here and what we can do to improve our world in our own individual way. We all have that ability, and I was refreshed to hear such wisdom.

It was the ideal ending to the conference, which showcased an abundance of purposeful individuals and teams. Every individual can focus positive energy toward making a difference in his or her company, home and lives. This way, the world will be a healthier place in many ways.

Not all of us will travel the world to help less fortunate people, as Dr. Gupta has done, but he reminds us that it’s all about attitude and purpose. We can all make a difference. And, I have seen many champions of diversity at the NAMIC conference that have made – and continue to make a difference.

Thank you, Dr. Gupta. Thanks, also, to those in this industry who continue to foster multi-ethnic inclusion through their work and their passion.

Robyn Mayer - NAMIC Blogger