Ralph: What is the dream or vision that sets the course of your life?
Dr. Michael Borkin, NMD: To define what one’s dream one has to realize that in order to function on this level one has to have a variety of dreams to guide them. They need specific aspects that will nurture each aspect and their interests in business, from a personal and a moral standpoint. What makes you feel complete! I think that’s the most important aspect to always retain.
Ralph: What is your perspective on goodness, ethics and moral behavior?
Dr. Michael Borkin, NMD: I think one has to understand the true meaning of what life is to them in order to be able to express what it is to be a productive individual and to cooperate as part of a whole and not to function as an individual.
Ralph: What principles are you willing to sacrifice your life for?
Dr. Michael Borkin, NMD: I think we all have a certain moral fabric and we have certain goals that we believe that we need to achieve. A means to an end is really what it comes down to.
Ralph: How do you accomplish the goal while staying within that moral fiber that you have established through out your life?
Dr. Michael Borkin, NMD: I think that it’s also a dynamic, regardless of the way one might have functioned in the past. There is always that potential to take yourself to a higher level & function on that level positively.
Ralph: Is it useful to take a positive view of setbacks, misfortunes and mistakes? How important is it to stay positive?
Dr. Michael Borkin, NMD: If you don’t maintain an optimistic attitude, there is no way you can achieve the goal, especially when you have to realize change only comes through pain and discomfort. One has to be willing to go through that pain and discomfort in order to elevate themselves to the next level otherwise one stagnates
Ralph: Is optimism valuable? Are you an optimist?
Dr. Michael Borkin, NMD: You have to be an optimist in this world. There is nothing that you can’t accomplish if you set your mind to it. So, one has to be in that state of mind all the time and know that they are capable in whatever they set their mind to do. You certainly have to be an optimist to achieve that.
Ralph: Do you maintain your sense of humor in the face of serious problems?
Dr. Michael Borkin, NMD: You have to. This is one of the ways that you get through some of those trials and tribulations of life, by maintaining a certain attitude and understanding that in most cases you worry for nothing.
Dr. Michael Borkin, NMD: Regardless, if you worry or not, the problem will resolve. Sometimes more positively and sometimes more negatively than we would have wished but we will get onto the next phase.
Ralph: Do you have the courage to pursue new ideas?
Dr. Michael Borkin, NMD: I don’t know that it’s a matter of courage. I think that you have to have an optimistic mindset, that you are going to follow what you feel in your heart and that there really is no question. One doesn’t have to second guess themselves in order to see themselves successful in their mind.
Ralph: Were you willing to experience discomfort in the pursuit of your dream?
Dr. Michael Borkin, NMD: If I knew all the discomfort that I was going to endure in order to have traveled this journey the last 24 years, I don’t know if I would have continued.
Dr. Michael Borkin, NMD: I think it is the mystery and not knowing that you have to go day by day to a great extent and endure what it takes on a daily basis.
Dr. Michael Borkin, NMD: If you look at something in too large a segment it sometimes looks like Mt. Everest. But, if you look at it step by step, it’s much easier to understand and to endure the day to day things that are necessary to achieve the goal.
Ralph: How were you able to overcome your doubts and fears?
Dr. Michael Borkin, NMD: By maintaining an optimistic, positive outlook and knowing in my heart that what I pursue I am capable of achieving. That’s really the bottom line. You have to believe in yourself.
Ralph: How important was it to believe your dreams would eventually become reality?
Dr. Michael Borkin, NMD: Yes it was important. There was never a doubt in my mind from the day that I started that I would achieve the goal.
Dr. Michael Borkin, NMD: I think the big question was, “What will I have to endure on a daily basis.” But, because it’s taken in small mouthfuls on a day-to-day basis, we consume a tremendous amount of stress in the process without actually realizing it except in retrospect.
Ralph: What is your definition of heroism?
Dr. Michael Borkin, NMD: I think in order to understand what a hero is you have to realize what the potential is for the human being. I think anybody has the potential to be what can be construed as a hero. I think being a hero is a state of mind and not an actual event. It is a way of living. I think everybody is capable of being a hero.
Ralph: Who do you feel are the real Heroes in our society today that are not getting the recognition and rewards they deserve?
Dr. Michael Borkin, NMD: I have to be biased. I think that teachers are so under appreciated that it amazes me. How a person can dedicate their entire life to the betterment of others is such a classic demonstration of universal love.
Dr. Michael Borkin, NMD: People who risk their lives on a daily basis! Emergency medical techs, paramedics, policemen and firemen, are in a situation where they have to love what they are doing. They have to believe in what they are doing because the monetary reward is certainly not enough to compensate for what they endure. These are the true Heroes that exist. If it wasn’t for these people, none of us would be able to achieve our goals.
Dr. Michael Borkin, NMD: I think you have to understand the basics of life. It is not the survival of the fittest that we’ve been led to believe. It’s not competition. It’s actually a matter of cooperation.
Dr. Michael Borkin, NMD: We are a team. We all have to function together. Once you understand that, we can accomplish a tremendous amount. We are stronger in mass than we are individually. We can cooperate on a happy medium and certainly everybody achieves and benefits from a situation as opposed to only the strongest achieving their goals. I think this is the most important aspect to take into consideration and have in your mind on a daily basis.