Love and Health is a classic account of good triumphing over evil, of being given a lemon and making lemonade. It is an intimate sharing of a success story that started with anger and ended in love. Indeed, it is the tale of a personal defeat that developed into a program of love so timely and unique that for one bright shining moment it profoundly changed a university and a hospital and the people who worked there.
Dr. Jerry Ainsworth was an administrator at his university when he became embroiled in a conflict with his administration. The battle became so intense and hostile that he was relieved of his administrative post and assigned a menial, punitive position. This dismissal angered him to such a degree that he started a movement to oust the president, or, if not to get rid of him, at least to embarrass him or weaken him politically.
After months of seething with anger, he developed a life-threatening medical condition that doctors told him was a direct result of anger and could soon cause his death. Astonished, he delved into existing research literature to determine if anger could actually kill. Not only did he learn that it could, he was equally surprised to discover evidence confirming the healing effects of love and of similar positive emotions.
Dr. Ainsworth immediately incorporated these findings into his own life, alleviating all symptoms of anger and pioneering the development of an undergraduate college course on love and health. Although colleagues were initially apprehensive, apathetic, and even pessimistic toward such an idea, student reactions were exactly the opposite. His classes were so successful that he started a graduate course along similar lines.
His classes quickly became two of the most popular ones on campus and were the first to fill up during registration. After teaching these for ten years and observing their positive effect, Dr. Ainsworth created the International Love and Health Congress, held yearly on his own campus. Many nationally known figures participated and it became an immense success. People from thirty-eight states and thirteen countries attended.
Present at the first congress were the administrators of a local hospital. They offered to co-sponsor a second congress the following year. They also hired Dr. Ainsworth as a consultant to instruct all 1,200 employees at the hospital and its healthcare providers in the concepts of love and health. Coupled with improvements that were already underway, this hospital soon became one of the most unique healing institutions in America.
Healthcare executives came from other hospitals and from many countries to view the policies being implemented. In fact, the demand for hospital tours became so high that administrators had to limit them to two per day. They finally charged $2,000.00 per tour in order to make the demand manageable. Within a few years, Newsweek ranked Griffin Hospital one of the most desirable environments in America in which to work.
To aid the task of explaining health-related concepts to students, professionals, and other groups, Dr. Ainsworth developed a model called "The Twelve Primary Ingredients of Health." Using the four fundamentals of physical health as a jumping-off point, he applied these analogously to mental and spiritual health, showing the interdependence of all three in assessing personal wellbeing and in determining treatment.
While giving presentations on love and health around the country, Dr. Ainsworth was bombarded by demands to publish all in book form. People wanted explanations of the twelve ingredients of health suited to their needs. Others suggested he develop a workbook or manual similar to Steven Covey's Seven Habits of Highly Successful People. On retiring from academia he finally commenced work on the manuscript.
The uniqueness of this book is that it transcends the theoretical. It leads one through a workable process in overcoming the harmful effects of anger. It teaches how to implement love, how to distinguish it from love's counterfeits, and how to improve one's overall wellbeing. This will be an attractive guidebook to those struggling with the effects of anger and with the depression of being unjustly fired, divorced, or injured.
Healthcare consumers and professionals will be an important market for this book. Besides its personal appeal and simple application it also contains ample data and incentive for effecting change at the organizational level. Improving an institution is difficult under the best of circumstances. This book documents how a few dedicated individuals made profound organizational changes against almost overwhelming odds.
Dr. Ainsworth's model of health continues to be used to great effect in training health educators throughout the Northeast, where his students permeate the school system. Many inquire when his book will become available. While other such works exist, most are academic or theoretical. This book presents a simple, proven, and practical way of assessing and upgrading one's personal physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing.
Several existing publications embody similar practical aspects of health. Bernie Siegel's Love, Medicine and Miracles, and Peace, Love and Healing, published in 1986 and 1989, have sold well over a million copies. However, Love and Health, written for the same audience, is also a success story. While Bernie is a physician, Jerry is an educator who has himself applied the principles he espouses and recorded their remarkable effect.
