Dr. Mark Rowe has a background as a Family Physician based in Waterford City and is a thought leader in the emergent area of health, happiness and high performance in life. He talks to us about his upcoming talk ‘A Prescription for Happiness’ on Thursday 11th September at Civic Theatre.
You are a family GP. Can you tell us more about yourself?
I went to college in UCD and have been a GP for 20 years. My main interest is in improving health; I was recently appointed to the Healthy Ireland Council. I wrote my first book 5 years ago “The Men’s Health Book” with all royalties going to men’s cancer charity. I am a long supporter of Liverpool FC and Waterford Hurlers!
How did you end up becoming an expert in happiness?
Back in 2008 when the economic downturn hit, I was seeing so many people suffering from negative stress, struggling to survive, searching for meaning. More than Prozac or pills, they needed new possibilities…which sent me on a deep dive of exploration to find some new answers and I’ve taken the timeless truths of philosophy and integrated them with this new exciting field called positive psychology to come up with some real and practical ways to do that; not only does being happier feel good; it’s really good for your health!
Tell us more about the Waterford Health Park?
I developed this in 2009 as a new model to support long term improvements in health in my community where I grew up. It’s a beautiful building, a former Presentation Convent, originally built in the 1840s and designed by Pugin (the architect who also designed Big Ben). As well as having all the primary care services under one roof, we also have a welcoming cafe and beautiful healing garden on site. (see whp.ie for a virtual tour).
Can you tell us more about hedonic adaption?
This means that we tend to adapt to our life circumstances; that the “newness” of new things wears off after a few weeks ..that only 10 per cent of our happiness comes from our life circumstances. The journey to enhance your happiness and wellbeing is the journey within.
What is the power of a gratitude journal?
Writing down 3 things that you feel good about and genuinely grateful for a couple of times a week (and describing one of those things in more detail..a few lines or so) is a great way to build your emotional positivity and happiness. Because what you express in your journal you impress in your mind.
How important is exercise to our overall wellbeing?
It’s the greatest pill of all! It helps prevent heart disease, cancer, diabetes, stroke etc but is also anti-ageing and so good for your psychological fitness, relationships and happiness. And it’s never to late to start to reap the game changing benefits.
What can audiences expect from your talk at The Civic on the 11th September?
A great night; learning about the power of your thoughts and beliefs; why negative emotion (I call the 7 poison dwarfs) can be so bad and why we need positive emotion (the happy dwarfs); Many practical tips to expand your happiness. Hope to see you there!
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A Prescription for Happiness takes place at 8pm on Thursday, 11th September 2014 at The Civic. Tickets can be booked by phoning 01 4627477 or online here.
