I have a question for you. Have you ever noticed that when people talk about health, they tend to fixate on what they should be doing and not what they are already doing now?
I’m sure you’ve heard it many times — a friend starts talking about how unhealthy they feel, and before you know it the conversation has shifted to a negative spiral about not working out enough and not eating healthy. You find yourself in a situation where it looks impossible to be healthy.
Start small
But have you also wondered that you can move this situation from negative self-talk to encouraging, inspiring surroundings? You can, for example, celebrate how your health has improved by each and every step you take, how small they seem. This is a much more uplifting way rather than saying how far away you are from your goals.
The word “health”, comes from the old English word “hale”, meaning wholeness, being whole, sound or well. This definition has evolved over the years. And today it’s defined as:
“A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being; not just the absence of disease.”
Progress over perfection
Health means many different things to many different people. But I think we can all agree that we all want to be healthy, but we also understand we can’t achieve 100% perfect physical, mental and social well-being 100% of the time. But we got to remind ourselves that perfection isn’t the goal, especially when the world bombarded us with messages about how we should be.
Honor your journey
Health is a journey, not a destination. It’s all about taking small, attainable steps and enjoying the process. It’s less about the vitamins you forgot to take this morning or you skipped one TRX class this week. I know how hard it is to shift your mindset to a place that honors the journey rather than the outcome, especially if you’re a results-driven person, like me. But the biggest breakthroughs come from a series of small steps that add up to big changes in the long run.
Therefore let’s focus on small adjustments to improve your level of wellness rather than caught up with uptight rules for yourself or beating yourself up when things don’t go as planned. Have an open mind and attitude and experiment what steps work best for your health and happiness. Again focus on the marathon and not the sprint.
Below is the “12 Steps To Better Health” list to help you take your first step to improve your own health and lifestyle. Pick one step and then go on to another when you’re ready in no particular order. Trust your instincts and know that each change you make has a big impact on your present and your future. Stay positive!
12 Steps To Better Health
- Drink more water
- Practice cooking
- Experiment with whole grains
- Increase sweet vegetables
- Increase leafy green vegetables
- Experiment with protein
- Eat fewer processed foods
- Make a habit of nurturing your body
- Have healthy relationships
- Enjoy a regular physical activity
- Find work you love
- Develop a spiritual practice
Planning is key
If you are planning to drink more water this week, plan ahead to ensure success. Pick your favorite water bottle and add some cucumber and lemon slices and mint leaves to add more natural flavors. Carry the bottle wherever you go. Remember to keep it light and simple. Put it in your calendar so you don’t forget to get the bottle ready. If it’s not in your calendar it’s not going to happen 🙂
Let me know what you’ve picked from the list for this week and I can help you keep accountable!
With so much love
Mel
