Don’t you love the convenience of the modern world: access to obscure and exotic foods from all over the planet, contact with friends and loved ones in an instant and machines that help us to prepare meals, clean our clothes and our homes?

But this convenience comes at a price. We become reliant on the speed of processes, to the point where we no longer understand the time it takes to get things done. We become impatient when the person at the checkout ahead of us takes a millisecond longer to pack their groceries and pay for their items. We berate the local postal service when our Amazon purchase takes longer than a week to arrive. And we expect our health to be fixed instantly with the popping of some fancy supplement.

Sure, we have excellent medical screening and testing facilities. And some incredible knowledge of the inner workings of the human body. But this expectation is that we can ‘cure’ an issue with our health with a one-off ‘healing’ or a magical substance.

It’s ludicrous really. But it’s more common than you think. Because so many of us think that if we take this pill or use this magic substance that it will keep us safe from the ravages of illness and ageing.

But as our lives become more complicated. And the environment we live in becomes seemingly more toxic, with plastics and hormones in our food and waterways. It becomes so much more important for us to acknowledge how the culmination of daily practices contributes to our health in good or bad ways.

And a visit to your local naturopath will involve more than just a prescription for nutrients and herbs “here take this substance and all will be well again”.

Nope.

Your input is required. YOU are required to make changes to your habits. But before you can implement those changes, it takes a change in your thinking, and you need to be open to doing things differently. Embracing a new part of your life. And understanding that what you choose to do, think and eat will contribute to your long-term health.

Taking a pill won’t make you healthy, but it can start you in the right direction towards better health and well-being. You need to support it will good health practices that nourish your body and mind, and help you, in the long run, to keep on the path to good health.

The only person who can implement those changes and strategies for well-being is you. Remember that it’s a marathon, not a 100m dash.