Two years back, I was asked to present a seminar on stress management to employees of a large insurance company. I often structure my talks around an acronym (current favourites are - D.A.M. Mothers Against Dyslexia; T.R.U.S.T. Tomorrow's Results Ultimately Start Today). (Click here for more ACRONYMS)

In looking for a low stress word whose initials could be springboards for my topics I stumbled onto MELLOW. As I worked with the word, I found it was not just a good formula for stress management, but also a wonderful way at looking how the human mind/body influences personal and professional performance.

The 6 letters reflect fundamental needs, reflexes, and attributes of the human machine and in the next 6 issues of WELL, we'll take a look at each in some detail. To me, the word MELLOW has a beautiful symetry.

On the extremities, bracketing the word are M - Magic of the Mind, and W - Wonder. These reflect our power to think and our power to dream. We are told that "as you think, so shall you be" and few people would dispute the truth of that. We don't see with the eyes, but through the eyes. There's always the Magic of the Mind interpreting every image. It is our sense of wonder and ability to dream, that enables our species to dominate the planet and shape our future survival or demise. There is no lack of wonders in our universe, but sometimes there's a lack of wonder.

Moving towards the centre we find the two fundamental physical needs for us to operate effectively: E - Exercise, and O - Optimal Nutrition. Hundreds of books have been written about both topics and I will present my summaries in future issues of WELL. If we look at two of the major problems associated with chronic and degenerative disease, they are lack of exercise and poor nutrition. Any lifestyle or therapy that neglects exercise and good nutrition is probably incomplete. The key is M.M.E.W., Move More, Eat Well!

In the centre of the word are the two wonderful L's that make life worth living: L - Laughter, and L - Love. Laughter is a reflex, that has existed in our species for eons, and like most reflexes it has survival value. It is only in recent years that we are beginning to understand the positive biochemistry of laughter. (Although in biblical times it was understood that "A merry heart maketh like good medicine"). On one level love is associated with the reproduction of the species, but, of course, it is so much more. Love is transformational, and inspirational and the ability to give and receive love is perhaps the greatest gift of all.

So there you have it, 6 facets of the human mind/body connection and human wellness. Once you really understand the MELLOW formula, once you are able to "get" MELLOW, then you can get MELLOW.