I know for sure that I’ve gotten in the way of my health in the past. I’ve done it so many times before. You know how it is: You know what you need to do. You understand that what you’re doing or eating is wrong. But you can’t pull yourself together; you can’t get your head on straight to move forward with your health.
While you may think you’re the only one, I assure you you’re not alone. Our crazy, busy world has created a culture of busyness and overdoing to the point where we no longer have the time, motivation, or ability to properly care for ourselves.
We often reach the point, usually in midlife, where we wonder, “How did we get here? It wasn’t like this before. What am I doing wrong?”
You need rest
But you see, we can’t expect our bodies to run efficiently for so long if we don’t get proper rest, slow down long enough to listen to our bodies, fuel our bodies and souls sufficiently, and address the emotional and relational components of our well-being.
Sure, you might intellectually know that you need to meditate daily, eat homemade foods, exercise for at least 30 minutes, do stretches, lift weights, connect with your loved ones, and so on.
But really, who has the time for that kind of thing? Who can find time in the schedule to do all of the things that are required to look after these vehicles that house our souls and spirits?
I know it’s hard. Especially when you’re busy, when you have kids, or when you’re tired and unmotivated. But what happens when you run out of time entirely, when you reach that point, somewhere in your 40s or 50s, when the doc. says:
“Nope, there is nothing left to do but to cut it out or use this medication”
Or some other last-resort medical treatment.
You see, your long-term health is influenced by the things you choose to do daily, the way you think about things, the way you approach your feelings, and the way you talk to yourself.
The influence of society on health
And one of the major influences on how we live our lives has always been the overculture of society. Our mainstream media has influences beyond our capacity to imagine. We are drawn to this connection with others through billboards, advertisements, social media, radio and television. Telling us how we should be, relating to us in a way that makes us believe that we must live our lives in a particular way.
But if we can isolate ourselves from this overculture, draw in our energy, and look inwardly for a very long time, not looking out but in, we can begin to truly see that what we are doing is slowly eating away at us. Those tiny decisions that we think won’t affect our health will, in the long term, contribute to chronic health conditions.
And once we reach that point, we will realise that it’s all gone too far. How did this happen? It seems like it crept up overnight.
What’s in your control
You see. Many factors contribute to our well-being: Our genes, upbringing, beliefs, and so on. To a lesser and greater extent, there is so much more that is in our control, including:
The food we eat, the people we associate with, our environment, our lifestyle, how we process our emotions, our relationships, and our connections with others are all largely within our control.
And if we allow ourselves to quietly step away from the pack and begin to listen to the needs of our body, the needs of our soul and spirit, we begin to find the time to do the things we know are important to our health. We begin to relish the morsels of time that we have for ourselves. To nourish our souls. And properly care for this vehicle that we call our body.
You’re the one
These are our choices, and for the most part, we are the ones who play this role in creating our health. We are the ones who get in the way of moving forward with our health goals. We decide how we will react to situations and what we will consume: socially, emotionally, or nutritionally. Ultimately, we are the ones who will get in the way of our ability to move forward with our health.
I hope this helps you understand that you’re the one who has the power to move forward to improve your health. You may need some guidance, and that’s where I step in as your naturopathic health guide. I can help you to take the reins of your health and take greater control of your well-being.
Are you ready to move out of your way and make your health and well-being a priority?
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