Are We Overthinking Health?
The excellent news, healthcare has come a long way. You would see your physician not too long ago because you became ill or your body was traumatized. Doctors, nurses, hospitals only focused on injury and illness. The one bright spot for seeing a doctor and ultimately going to the hospital was when a woman gave birth to a healthy infant.
Now modern healthcare focuses on wellness. When we all focus on a hale and hearty body taking care of our whole selves, it is much easier to address the troublesome entity of our amazingly complex bodies when something goes awry. This switch in thinking makes a profound difference. It is like the successful athlete; an alpine skier will focus on getting through the flags, not focusing on preventing a fall. Sure enough, if a skier focuses on not falling, that is precisely what he will do.
We not only concern ourselves about our physical body; our mental well-being deserves our attention too. And like our physical bodies, focusing our attention on wellness, the same holds for our behavioral health. Most know the quote, “know thyself,” by the famous Greek philosopher, Socrates. When delving into our psyche and discovering what is wrong and then set anchor there, we only set ourselves up for self-esteem issues. Thinking of our past experiences that gave us hurt, bitterness, or resentment, like they were ugly scars, massive contusions, or that caused us to limp, we set ourselves up for self-image matters. Ben Franklin stated, “ Nothing is more fatal to health than an over care of it.”
Think about Ben Franklin’s quote. Let us not brood and stew over our aches and pains and our concerns for our mental health. Instead, we become aware of them and then address them. Country music singer and actress Naomi Judd said it this way, “ Your body hears everything your mind says.” The process should be a simple one. We seek help if need be, fix things, adapt, and look positively to new changes in our lives. We move on to a new and improved life.
Soon it is a new year. Many once again, start making new year resolutions, goals, and lofty ambitions. With that comes, hopes, dreams, wishes, and sadly for some fears. Physical goals are losing weight, exercising more, and eating healthily. Then too, we might begin to think about improving our behavior. I want to be friendlier and less of a grump. I no longer will worry. Focusing on the now and not the past or being anxious about the future. Living a life of gratitude and appreciation will improve my relationships with others.
Please realize that we are much more healthy than we are sick. Again it is fitting that we determine what is wrong and then go about fixing it. Paraphrasing the words of Sir Winston Churchill, who said, “Never give up, never give up, never give up, never, never, never.” Never, never, never define yourself by your wounds, your past regrets, and mistakes in life. Doing so only discounts your value as an individual in a world that needs more healthy lives.
Focus on wellness. Think of positive self-esteem and a healthy body.
