I hear a ton of variations around how people interpret their health status – the “I am healthy, but…” or “I am going to be healthy this year” or “I’ll be healthy when…”. And sure, it’s great that they are recognizing the importance of being healthy. But here’s what I believe to be missing from most peoples plan or intention when they set out to “be healthy”.
People don’t know how to sort out what behaviors or actions are most likely to cause problems or are posing great risks to their health status.
What is the challenge? They aren’t taking the time to understand all the life categories that truly generate complete health (there are at least 6 that I focus on every day). They aren’t digging in and evaluating what is working in their favor, what their true weak spots are, and what is toxic.
Why? Because the meaning of being healthy has been primarily a physical condition in the general mindset with a fairly new focus on mental health. The conditioned belief is that if I have a healthy home and work life balance, I eat well, exercise and get the proper amount of sleep, I am healthy.
But is this really the case? I contend that it is a shallow response to a very necessary factor to living a truly healthy life.
So, what’s missing? A LOT!
Yes, it is important to have those activities present.
Can you describe what each one actually looks like? Can you explain exactly how you have balance between your home and work life? Seriously, how engaged are you when you get home? Or does this look like a list of for the home tasks you do every night, like it is your second place of employment? Do you every fully disengage from work?
Everyone has different dietary needs, what does healthy eating look like to you? Are you certain that what you are using for fuel (food) is giving you the right performance level? I mean come on, if sports car “will” run on “any” unleaded fuel but will perform at its best and have its ultimate life span with the highest octane level, wouldn’t you do everything in your power to put the best gas into your very expensive investment?
And finally, how do you know you are getting your best sleep? What do you do to rap up your thoughts about your day? Do you have a routine that fosters a peacefulness or a feeling of content before you lay your head down? Have you ever used a sleep tracker to understand why sometimes you wake feeling rested and other days feeling like you ran a marathon?
Like I mentioned before, these three topics are just the general thoughts about living a completely healthy life. Perhaps you’re wondering what else there could possibly be. Well, there is way more than I will put in this thought-provoking blog, however, I will give you a few more things to consider.
How do you feel about your body?
• Do you listen to your bodies signals when there is something wrong?
• Is your social health fulfilling you?
• Do you participate in a variety of social activities?
• Do you enjoy being around people who are different than you?
• What do you do to decrease behaviors that cause problems for you when interacting with others?
• Are you open and accessible to relationship (loving and responsible ones)?
• Do you pay attention to how you judge or criticize others?
• Are you able to recognize when you are stressed? If so, what steps do you take to relax the issue?
• Do you see yourself as flexible and able to adjust to change in a positive way?
• Is alcohol or other substances (drug or even food) a means of helping you to forget or get past your problems?
• How do you limit your exposure to people that do not hold similar morals, values, or ethics as you do?
• Do you avoid situations (people and places) that impact have a negative impact on your mental functioning?
• Are you organized or chaotic?
• How often do you take time to think about what is really important in life? Who you are? What you value? Where you fit in? And where you are going?
• Are options and possible consequences something you carefully consider?
• How do you interact with your mistakes?
• What do your hobbies, learning activities, and personal growth actions look like? Do you make it important for you to engage in something that improves you as a person each week?
• Does your time manage you? Or, do you manage your time?
Does any of this surprise you? Did any of your thoughts or answers surprise you? Which areas do you think you need to work on?
In case you didn’t notice, we just discussed health in 6 different areas; physical, social, emotional, environmental, spiritual, and intellectual.
What you need to do next is this:
1. Identify each risk area.
2. Select just one pattern of behavior you desire to change.
3. Determine your long and short-term goals for this change.
4. Choose an appropriate reward.
5. Identify potential obstacles.
6. Plan strategies to overcome them.
7. List the “small” steps and specific actions you will take to attain your end result.
What you need to win:
• You need the right life skills
• You need to set the right aspirations
• And you need the right HELP
Once you have this process underway, you will find yourself making better choices, you will create daily routines that honor you, and well, you will be on your way to a healthy lifestyle that satisfies you and leaves people in awe because you will have also gained integrity, social confidence, and relationship stability.
The only thing left to ask yourself is this; Are my aspirations attainable? Do I have the right motivation? And, what is driving my need for change?
If you find that you could use some life coaching inspiration watch for my brand-new Learn To Live Free webcast series that will be launching in stages over the next few months.
You can pre-register by just giving me call or submitting a consultation request form.