Living the Truth
The AMT 70th Annual Educational Program and National Meeting began with a flourish befitting the week following Independence Day, with a color guard presenting the flag and the singing of "The Star-Spangled Banner." Following a welcome from Christopher Damon, executive director; and an opening blessing, Keith Ablow, MD, took the podium.
Dr. Ablow, renowned psychologist, bestselling author and frequent guest of television programs such as "Oprah," "The Daily Show" and "Fox News," focuses on "living the truth."
According to Dr. Ablow, there are four areas in which we deceive ourselves:
- fiction about the self;
- fiction about the actions/intentions of others;
- fiction about the circumstances in which we were raised; and
- fictions about our mortality.
Only with introspection and reflection on the the events in our past, our backstories, can help us understand who we are and take down our barriers to success and happiness, Dr. Ablow advised. The same holds true for patients. He encouraged attendees to "do work you love and use your days and years to take this journey toward truth."