A friend of mine, who we will call Nancy, recently told me that her biggest fear is becoming a physically dependent person, like her mother, with a whole host of health issues. Nancy's mother depends on a whole team of care-givers, doctors, and family members just to get through the day. Nancy added that she already sees herself heading down this road. Her husband is dead set against Nancy doing anything at all outside of what her doctor recommends. Nancy told me that she is beginning to realize that this reliance on medical care is costing her, but that she does not know any alternatives.
Interestingly, a few years ago, Nancy's hip began to deteriorate rapidly and she was diagnosed with osteoarthritis. In spite of this painful and threatening condition, her husband forbade her to take a particular brand of potent antioxidants in spite of the favorable response others experienced for relief from this degenerative and debilitating disease. Now, three years later, Nancy is facing a hip replacement.
I will share one more illustration before I address what I think these issues really point to. We, meaning the health coaches I work with, were giving a lecture this week. One woman in the audience typified the kind of person who I will describe as carrying "health baggage." She described taking her over-weight, stressed out, achy, tired, low-energy body to a doctor because she wanted to feel better. Her doctor prescribed a small handful of prescription medicine and sent her on her way. Later she found out from the nurse in the doctor's office that she has diabetes! The doctor never told her, and, worse, never discussed with her how her lifestyle choices had led her to this predicament.
I have a huge amount of compassion for the Nancy's of the world, and for people like this poor soul who is clueless about taking charge of her health. When individuals are unaware of their options, their fate is compromised by the perception of a lack of options. May I presume that if you are reading this blog that you have at least a modicum of an appreciation for the vast array of resources that are available to the average person who wants to do something about their health?
After watching Nancy dig herself more and more into her predicament, and after noticing how resistant she was to learning about alternatives to promote wellness, I came up with the term "health baggage", or unfinished business, in the health arena. Like the woman at our lecture, Nancy is educated and professional. She is a professor in sociology at a local university. She is also resourceful insofar as being able to enjoy a very comfortable lifestyle with her nay-sayer husband. What could possibly be between Nancy and her living a life in which she is on top of her health game the way she is on top of other aspects of her life, such as her finances, her travels with her husband, decorating their home, writing books and articles... a number of high achievements for which she can take credit. Why is this so-called "health piece" so neglected? Why are Nancy and our guest at the lecture so beleaguered by poor health and the erroneous assumption that there is nothing they can do about it?
I call this unfinished business because it is impossible for someone to be living anything close to their absolute best life when the threat of degenerative disease looms overhead, particularly when the individual feels hopeless and without resources. An even more profound question to ask is: why would an otherwise educated and resourceful person create this reality when they seem to be in charge of many other important aspects in their lives?
I have some ideas on this topic. People get busy and distracted. They "forgot" to make their health important. They get overwhelmed and sweep the whole thing under the rug. They habituate to continually put taking care of themselves at the bottom of their "to do" list to the point where it never happens. They begin to feel out of control and are threatened by how daunting it all has become. It became too much to deal with, and they began to turn a blind eye to their own mortality. They resigned themselves as this is the way it is. Is this a recipe for a life of freedom and feeling in control of one's destiny. Sadly, no. And from my vantage point as a health concierge, this is an all-too-common scenario. Working with individuals like this is like watching a life being un-lived.
There is a better way; there are alternatives.
I would like to suggest two viable recourses for individuals who are out of sync with their health. Education and behavior modification. Dr. Ray Strand, a noted physician with an emphasis in nutritional science, has become a world leader in the field of complimentary medicine with an emphasis in patient education. With about 7 books on the topic, anyone with the intention to take back their health will find a plethora of information, books, CD's DVD's and on line essays on a wide variety of topics. Had the woman we met at our lecture known of the pre-clinical signs of diabetes, she could have headed this condition off at the pass and saved herself a lot of grief. Whether it is for weight loss to promote relief from metabolic syndrome (a pre-cursor to diabetes), or how to provide the body with a broad range of antioxidants and minerals to boost the immune system, Dr. Strand's information is ideal for any individual who wants to be in control. (I love to call this "being on top of one's health game."
The second recommendation is to be truthful about habits that do or do not promote wellness. These individuals with the "health baggage" I referred to, typically are in denial about what they do (or don't do), what they eat (or don't eat), how often they do (or do not) exercise, how much stress they tolerate, etc. Imagine someone who is overweight, has joints swollen with arthritis, and can barely walk up the stairs without wheezing and gasping for breath. By honestly accessing the lifestyle issues that may have led to this predicament, someone like this can easily grasp some minor changes that, when practiced diligently over time, would produce dramatic results. Occasionally someone has an overnight epiphany, and suddenly chooses to devote his or her entire life to producing wellness. What is more likely, is the ability to make a few new choices, perhaps adding one or two consistently over the next weeks, months and years, until this person can wake up, actively participating in a pro-health lifestyle, and enjoying the relief from all that drama that was attached to their previous mind-set and belief system.
Health conditions to not appear over night, and they do not disappear over night. Imagine turning your boat 10 degrees in the water. Nothing major, just 10 degrees. The result of 10 degrees of change, over time, can produce a whole new life of quality health, freedom, wellness and joy. It is the freedom I keep wanting you to think about. The relief.
Let me add that there are no panaceas in health care and no guarantees. But when it comes to improving your health, and actively participating in a life of choosing wellness, the value to you is inestimable. Some slight improvements in your nutrition, some slight reductions in your stress, a little bit more exercise, and some high quality supplements can make a huge difference. Are you worth it? I know you are. When you wake up to the power and joy that come from feeling in charge of this most significant area of your life, you will not want to go back. A life un-lived is nothing compared to how it feels to be steering yourself to a pro-health lifestyle. Get hooked on feeling better. Get hooked on the mood elevation that comes from improving your nutrition. Find a coach, someone who will shed light on this journey for you. Make friends with people who want a pro-health lifestyle with you. Go for the rewards of how incredibly good this all feels. You will never look back.
Blessings to you and living life on top of your health game.
Rosie Spiegel, founder Manifesting Vision International
Health Concierge
rosie@manifestingvision.com
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