Is Your Placebo Working Well Enough?

As a child, I vividly remember the dreaded yellow syrup my mom would give me during cold and cough season – Robitussin. It was a “Miss Jackson if you’re nasty” spoonful that made me cringe, but somehow, I believed it worked better because it tasted so bad. Sure enough, I miraculously recovered within a few days after taking it. 

 

Fast forward to my executive career, where I worked on medicines for cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. In one pivotal clinical trial, 68% of patients given a simple sugar pill showed objective improvements. 

 

But placebos aren’t just confined to the medical realm- they’re everywhere. We’ve all heard stories of friends extolling the virtues of cold showers, the magic of applying ice after an injury, or the transformative effects of a “power pose” before a critical speech or meeting.

 

Hey, placebos work, and they can go viral, especially when presented by a charismatic “guru” who exudes confidence and charm. We seek status, belonging, and betterment, and we’re inclined to believe in anything that promises to fulfill these needs. Plus, we are all channeling a little Veruca Salt. We want things to be better now and are willing to invest our money or emotional capital to pursue it. 

 

Who needs a study??? The influencers say it works, so why not???

 

Buying a firearm can provide a sense of security, especially when listening to folks who say the world is dangerous. Swallowing a supplement claiming to pack the nutritional punch of fruits and veggies into a tiny capsule seems legitimate because its ads have a folksy “people like us” and appear on all your favorite shows. The guru who preaches the power of manifestation seems trustworthy because she embodies all your desired success markers. So, we say, “Sign me up!” 

 

Placebos can shape our mindset, alter our behaviors, and sometimes even yield real results – until they don’t. 

 

Recently, the key ingredient, phenylephrine, in my awful-tasting cold syrup was proven ineffective. It’s never worked! The patients in the clinical trial exhibited initial improvements due to the extra attention they received during the study but eventually declined. 

 

Only one study regarding sick day requests sparked the hot trend of cold showers, and the creator of the post-injury protocol of R.I.C.E. has since revised his stance, believing that ice may delay recovery. And the power pose data crumbled under the weight of more rigorous scrutiny.

 

As it turns out, handguns don’t make anyone safer (imagine that?), thus proving that not all placebos are good. That supplement that seems “too good to be true” probably is. Hey, the best way to get fruits and veggies is to eat real fruits and veggies. And if manifestation works for someone flaunting the “filtered life” on social media, why doesn’t it end poverty, violence, and disease worldwide?

 

Don’t get me wrong; in the short run, I love placebos because they might help us overcome resistance to change by reframing how we want to see the world. In other words, they can get us going.

 

I have a few I reach for daily, like AG1, Apollo Therapy, and those tasty elderberry gummies (they’re so yummy) I have each morning, but I don’t know if they are doing anything besides helping me believe that I’m starting my day with a healthy ripple. 

 

As I shared last week, during the first few weeks of October, I like to check in with how I’m living and working, which includes understanding my habits and recognizing the placebos in my life. I use my 4A Method from my executive coaching practice: Awareness, Acceptance, Action, and Adjustment. 

 

Awareness: What are the placebos in my life? Are they effective? Are there any side effects? Do they align with my values? 

Acceptance: Accept what is. Review the data; listen to my intuition.  

Action: Decide what to continue, modify, or stop.

Adjustment: Determine what’s required for incremental gains. 

 

What about you? 

What role do placebos play in your life? 

And are they working? 

 

Until next week, have fun storming the castle! 

But ask Miracle Max for a placebo first. 

Michael 

p.s., Remember to download my Pause Breathe Reflect meditation app today for free and see why mindfulness has stood the test of time. It’s so much more than a placebo. It’s backed by science. 

 

p.s.s., And speaking of time, it’s time to R.S.V.P. for our next online gathering on October 26th. Our last one received a 9.9 out of 10 rating. It was a great evening of community and belonging. Plus, people left with swag. How cool is that?!? You can save your spot by clicking HERE.As a child, I vividly remember the dreaded yellow syrup my mom would give me during cold and cough season – Robitussin. It was a “Miss Jackson if you’re nasty” spoonful that made me cringe, but somehow, I believed it worked better because it tasted so bad. Sure enough, I miraculously recovered within a few days after taking it. 

 

Fast forward to my executive career, where I worked on medicines for cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. In one pivotal clinical trial, 68% of patients given a simple sugar pill showed objective improvements. 

 

But placebos aren’t just confined to the medical realm- they’re everywhere. We’ve all heard stories of friends extolling the virtues of cold showers, the magic of applying ice after an injury, or the transformative effects of a “power pose” before a critical speech or meeting.

 

Hey, placebos work, and they can go viral, especially when presented by a charismatic “guru” who exudes confidence and charm. We seek status, belonging, and betterment, and we’re inclined to believe in anything that promises to fulfill these needs. Plus, we are all channeling a little Veruca Salt. We want things to be better now and are willing to invest our money or emotional capital to pursue it. 

 

Who needs a study??? The influencers say it works, so why not???

 

Buying a firearm can provide a sense of security, especially when listening to folks who say the world is dangerous. Swallowing a supplement claiming to pack the nutritional punch of fruits and veggies into a tiny capsule seems legitimate because its ads have a folksy “people like us” and appear on all your favorite shows. The guru who preaches the power of manifestation seems trustworthy because she embodies all your desired success markers. So, we say, “Sign me up!” 

 

Placebos can shape our mindset, alter our behaviors, and sometimes even yield real results – until they don’t. 

 

Recently, the key ingredient, phenylephrine, in my awful-tasting cold syrup was proven ineffective. It’s never worked! The patients in the clinical trial exhibited initial improvements due to the extra attention they received during the study but eventually declined. 

 

Only one study regarding sick day requests sparked the hot trend of cold showers, and the creator of the post-injury protocol of R.I.C.E. has since revised his stance, believing that ice may delay recovery. And the power pose data crumbled under the weight of more rigorous scrutiny.

 

As it turns out, handguns don’t make anyone safer (imagine that?), thus proving that not all placebos are good. That supplement that seems “too good to be true” probably is. Hey, the best way to get fruits and veggies is to eat real fruits and veggies. And if manifestation works for someone flaunting the “filtered life” on social media, why doesn’t it end poverty, violence, and disease worldwide?

 

Don’t get me wrong; in the short run, I love placebos because they might help us overcome resistance to change by reframing how we want to see the world. In other words, they can get us going.

 

I have a few I reach for daily, like AG1, Apollo Therapy, and those tasty elderberry gummies (they’re so yummy) I have each morning, but I don’t know if they are doing anything besides helping me believe that I’m starting my day with a healthy ripple. 

 

As I shared last week, during the first few weeks of October, I like to check in with how I’m living and working, which includes understanding my habits and recognizing the placebos in my life. I use my 4A Method from my executive coaching practice: Awareness, Acceptance, Action, and Adjustment. 

 

Awareness: What are the placebos in my life? Are they effective? Are there any side effects? Do they align with my values? 

Acceptance: Accept what is. Review the data; listen to my intuition.  

Action: Decide what to continue, modify, or stop.

Adjustment: Determine what’s required for incremental gains. 

 

What about you? 

What role do placebos play in your life? 

And are they working? 

 

Until next week, have fun storming the castle! 

But ask Miracle Max for a placebo first. 

Michael 

p.s., Remember to download my Pause Breathe Reflect meditation app today for free and see why mindfulness has stood the test of time. It’s so much more than a placebo. It’s backed by science. 

 

p.s.s., And speaking of time, it’s time to R.S.V.P. for our next online gathering on October 26th. Our last one received a 9.9 out of 10 rating. It was a great evening of community and belonging. Plus, people left with swag. How cool is that?!? You can save your spot by clicking HERE.