Latest news with #HarryCohen
Epoch Times
28-05-2025
- Health
- Epoch Times
‘Sunny Over Salty': Psychologist Harry Cohen's Mission to Promote Positive Energy
As May, Mental Health Awareness Month, draws to a close, spending a few minutes with the 'Be the Sun, Not the Salt' podcast is what psychologist Harry Cohen hopes everyone will do. 'The choice exists in each moment for us to be uplifting, like the sun on the leaves of the plant, or we can be depleting like the salt on the roots of that plant,' Dr. Cohen said in a recent interview with The Epoch Times. An Ann Arbor, Michigan-based psychologist, coach, husband, father, restaurateur, and self-described 'seeker of wisdom,' Cohen said his a-ha moment—this simple way to be, rooted in the heliotropic phenomenon where plants turn toward the sun for their energy—didn't happen all at once, but came after decades of listening and learning. In fact, Cohen, 70, himself didn't realize that spreading this one idea would become his lifelong mission—until it did. 'The light bulb was the simplicity of the metaphor,' he said. Finishing up his TEDx Talk in March, it crystallized for him: He realized, 'I don't need to do anything other than hone the articulation of the point.' Related Stories 8/21/2024 8/5/2024 The principles shared in the TEDx talk—which outlined the concept of heliotropic leadership, the scientific understanding that all living systems are drawn toward life-sustaining energy, including our own—were so well-received that Cohen was inspired to write his second book, 'Be the Sun, Not the Salt,' and eventually launch his podcast of the same name. Focus on Your Own Behavior 'I read a chapter a day, every single day, and then write a note, 'Here's how I intend to practice today's lesson', so that it's more real, and it's never ending in terms of information and wisdom that I collect and go,' Cohen said, explaining how people, including himself, can use the book as a blueprint to living a healthier life. Unlike many other self-help manifestations, it doesn't matter what your background or family history is, or how you've been living your life up to this point. Growing up in Buffalo, New York, Cohen said his own family was not a force of positivity. 'My father was glass half empty. My mother was more glass half full,' he said. 'They weren't abusive but angry. They were not aware of the power of emotional regulation, the power of leaning into being a better human being.' All it takes to start your path of positivity is 'the tiniest of things,' Cohen said. 'What I keep learning about is, the little-er the better.' What does that 'smallest thing' look like for someone wanting to put positivity at the forefront? 'Showing up on time; taking a breath; asking someone how they're doing,' Cohen said. 'I didn't say to you this morning for example, 'How are you? How can I help you?' I mean that's little. I could go on and on about the little stuff—conversations you get into, words we use, how the words I use can be more effective, more heliotropic. They're endless.' For Cohen, this has now become his life's work. He doesn't see the need to do anything else but keep spreading it. 'This is a lifelong noble effort,' he said. 'The lifelong piece is, 'We'll never be done with this.' I know my motive. I know why we're doing this. And I know it's good. And that's why I'm doing this until I die.' Courtesy of Harry Cohen Don't 'Eat' Everything In today's social media-obsessed world, the challenge is greater, Cohen said. He regards choosing the social media we follow as a metaphor for choosing the food we put into our bodies. 'Monitor your media intake, watch what you ingest, be mindful of the stuff that is put on the buffet before us,' he said. 'We won't get to eat anything we want. There's a million things on a buffet and I look at it and go, No. No, No, No. That's decent. No, no, no, no. Oh, I guess I can eat this, this, and this because I know enough to know that this, this, and this is good.' Research consistently links optimism to better well-being, something Cohen taps into with his 'sunny over salty' philosophy. 'It's every single thing that I do, and more importantly, don't do,' Cohen said about walking the walk. 'It took decades for the establishment and for the mass media to go: 'Yeah, I guess smoking is not good for you.' And they're just starting now with sugar and processed food and alcohol. And maybe decades from now ... but that's what we are up against. 'It's OK for me. It's a noble fight. I'm not going to get dissuaded by the avalanche of negativity.'
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Forest Hills community still recovering from Hurricane Milton 4 months later
The Brief Elected leaders discussed continued recovery for a Tampa community hit hard by Hurricane Milton. In the days after the storm, pump stations failed, causing several feet of water and sewage to flood dozens of homes in Forest Hills. Many of those families are still out of their homes and some will never be able to return. TAMPA, Fla. - Members of a Tampa community hit hard by flooding following Hurricane Milton joined a pair of elected leaders Friday to mark four months since the storm and discuss how to continue their recovery. Big picture view During a news conference in the Forest Hills area, Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera and Hillsborough County Commissioner Harry Cohen updated neighbors on efforts to respond to the issues that contributed to flooding. READ: Tropicana Field repairs: St. Pete approves $950K in funds for next preconstruction phase "They're still living with the pain and the anguish of what they've gone through in Milton," said Viera. The backstory In the days after Milton, pump stations failed, causing several feet of water and sewage to flood dozens of homes in Forest Hills. A community leader told council members this week she counted at least 60 houses impacted by floods. Many of those families are still out of their homes and some will never be able to return, including Gwendolyn Torres, who had to move into a new home despite her financial struggles due to the storm. Follow FOX 13 on YouTube What they're saying "There was nothing salvageable. I lost my car. I lost my home, all our belongings," said Torres, who said FEMA provided her $6,000 to help with her recovery and other families are in similar situations. "The need is so great in this area, so it's a waiting game and then even what they do offer doesn't touch what we lost. Six grand is what got me into my [new] place, so it didn't pay for furniture, didn't pay for anything else. So battling [FEMA] and just trying to rebuild." What's next Cohen said he hopes a report ordered by the county will address neighbors' concerns, including potential upgrades to pump stations, stormwater systems and canals. He also said the federal government promised to make more than $700 million available to the county to help with post-storm upgrades. "Things that we can do to either help individuals or organizations or our own infrastructure to withstand these types of events in the future," Cohen explained, adding the report should be finished in the coming months. Viera said the city hopes to make funding available to impacted families as well. The Source The information in this story was gathered during a news conference held Friday with Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera amid Hillsborough County Commissioner Harry Cohen. WATCH FOX 13 NEWS: STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app:Apple |Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
