Who remembers the ‘old days’ when life was simpler and the pace at which you lived was that much slower? The internet didn’t exist, globalism wasn’t relentlessly invasive, and health was about eating home grown foods and getting outside to enjoy fresh air. Fast forward to the present day; technology has all but taken over, people are barely surviving the inundation of modern stress, and for most, health is defined as having to rely only on pills, shots, and hyper-sanitizing everything in the face of the paralyzing fears of germs. The rapid deviation of what defines true health is the exact and simple reason why only some people ultimately experience true health. Yet, in the midst of the gradual takeover encouraging artificial living and reliance on others for your own health, there has maintained a grassroots movement wherein living optimally and healthier each day is inevitably taking over the world by storm.
In order to arrive at the level of optimal health where life is simple and wellness is a driving force, we need to define some impactful obstacles along the way. As many of these hurdles have become normalized and overlooked, once they are brought to the forefront they quickly become a platform to help propel your health forward. Remember however, although health is a right and present in potential abundance, it’s up to you to recognize the opportunities to create life’s positive momentum and to keep it going.
Recognize that we live in an artificial, man made world yet by stepping out of artificial and into mother nature, you will seamlessly obtain health and wellness at an accelerated rate. Think of it like this, if you live in a house being constantly infused with poisonous air, no matter what you do to clear or avoid the poison, the only way to begin recovering is by shutting off the source and leaving the house to take your first breath of fresh air. It’s important to recognize that the systems and environments that often create and support an illness are same ones who are offering the ‘cure’.
Recognize that your innate ability to heal is far superior to any medical technology or medicine. Nothing can outsmart nature or its ability to heal. Regardless of illness, health issue or wellness goal, your mind, body and soul constantly strive to maintain balance in your favour. While a medicine or technology has the potential to temporarily make you ‘feel‘ better, only by tapping into your innate ability to heal will you ever rid yourself of dis-ease and continue down your path to optimal health.
Recognize that although failing is one of life’s best teachers, repeating the same mistake and expecting a different result is only a futile endeavour. As part of the human race, we each need to bolster our surroundings in which we live; organically grow and eat whole food, drink pure water, breathe clean air, and not rely on chemicals to make you ‘better’. By supporting your environment (home, community, emotions, and planet) you will quickly realize that changing your ways to live in a healthier world is the only answer to experience health and not wonder why you continue to get sick.
Recognize that you need to take responsibility for your own health and not expect or fully rely on it from others. No matter how you look at it, you are 100% responsible for your own health. There may be factors that affect your wellness that you can’t fully control, yet you have the ultimate choice about how you wish to respond. In order to propel your health forward, continue to question unfounded narratives, and don’t settle for less than logical and clear truth.
Recognize that it’s up to you to make personal health choices without fear of social judgement. As C.S Lewis puts it “when the whole world is running toward a cliff, he who is running in the opposite direction appears to have lost his mind. Ultimately, health autonomy has nothing to do with others and all to do with being true to you.
Recognize the definition of health is not simply the suppression of symptoms or absence of disease. Avoiding a deficiency or illness is very different than excelling your health into an optimal state. Break free of mediocre thinking that you are well if you have not been diagnosed with an illness or disease and begin asking questions, striving for optimal, and expecting nothing less than what will make you truly healthy and happy.
Recognize that blazing your path to optimal health is not hard. Like anything in life that brings you true happiness and satisfaction however, you will need to consistently work at it and not give up. And although the slope toward illness and discontentment may seem slipperier, finding and maintaining health is less arduous and a lot more satisfying.
There are many obstacles in life that have the potential to interrupt your simple path to optimal health. Of these hurdles, many have been deeply engrained as well as self imposed. By recognizing and addressing potential struggles along the way, it quickly becomes clear that you can use them in impactful ways to help you blaze your journey to better health.
Dr Jeremy Hayman, ND helps patients at Cornerstone Naturopathic Inc. feel better, live better, and achieve optimal wellness and health. Years of patient care coupled with dedication to personal life balance has helped Dr Jeremy employ the adage that “your approach to health should be simple”.