Say Yes to Health -- 3 Tips

Do you resist optimal health? Most of us do. It's true! Much as we try to create ourselves as "health magnets," we often fall just a teeny bit short of the mark. Now that's not all bad news. In fact, don't you think it's kind of fun to keep on learning? Let's explore three more ways you can put to use right away -- to say "Yes" to health!

1. Create a compelling reason to be well. What is your purpose in life right now? What are you contributing? How are you advancing your greatest skills and personal mission?

While these questions seem to have little to do with health, from the perspective of energy medicine, they are essential. Most of us have an innate sense that we came here to planet earth for the purpose of doing something. To the extent that we recognize our mission and act consistently to move it forward, we create a vibration of personal integrity. Integrity is wholeness, and wholeness is health.

The opposite state is that of "just going through the motions." Inevitably, I believe, there are occasional short spurts of doubt interspersed in each person's life. Sometimes, it feels like nobody is listening ... not even God. These are times when, not surprisingly, your energy is low.

I mention that most people go through short periods like this for one main reason. You, the reader, may be experiencing one right now. If you are, do not despair. Keep breathing. Ask deep questions. Expect that the answers you seek will arrive. Believe it or not, a state of extreme doubt about your life purpose can be a very health-promoting experience ... as long as you keep moving, keep questioning, and find your way out.

It's when you don't find your way after a reasonable effort that you really stand to run into health difficulty. This might look like a person who's settled for a life that's less than what they desire, or a person who feels so guilty for not contributing more that they feel they are a burden. Or perhaps a person who simply has not yet embraced the perspective that you can't not do your life mission.

It is your birthright to be here. Embrace your strengths and prosper!

2. Engage in your healing process. Every day, people come to my office in pursuit of better health. Some are pursuing a little more actively than others.

I can always tell the people who are engaged in their own healing process. "Carol" came in to the office last week with severe back pain that had come on suddenly after she'd completed one minute of a brand new exercise. She brought along a picture of the exercise from the workbook she'd been following. Looking at the picture, I could understand which muscles she must have overtaxed. Carol's engagement in her process saved a lot of guessing and allowed us to begin a strategy that, by her report, reduced her pain level by half within the hour.

People who are engaged in their process have usually done some research, or at least thoughtful contemplation, about what's going on. They frequently ask questions. They respond openly. They're receptive to considering other strategies they can pursue on their own.

Contrast that with the dis-engaged person. They blurt out their doctor's diagnosis and produce a long list of pills. "Good luck," they seem to say. "Let me know when you've done your thing so I can go home and continue doing what I've always done." It's almost as though they're asleep at the wheel. Actually, they are.

You know yourself better than anyone else does. Experts are there to assist and support you in making wise choices for yourself. Ultimately, though, it's your own body that does the healing. Pills don't heal. What does? Good nutrition and wise choices.

3. Earn and maintain your own trust. How well do you trust yourself? It seems so obvious that being trustworthy is desirable, yet how many times do you let yourself down?

* "I'm going to leave work at 5:00 today. I promise."
* "Yep, a good night's sleep. In bed by 10. That's where I'm headed!"
* "Geez, it's been a while since I checked on Mom. I'll phone her this weekend."
* "My diet starts tomorrow."

Whatever it is that you let come in between your intent for self care and following through with action, identify it. That activity, belief, or person has more power over your life than you do. You trust it more than you trust yourself. And yet, ironically, self-trust is a cornerstone of self-esteem. Self-esteem is integral to your good health.

You have a strong self-preservation instinct. When you act in a way that ignores that instinct, it creates an intolerable conflict. We call that conflict “stress.” Self-care is healthy selfishness, not self-absorption. It is simply taking good care of your own well-being.

So there we have three simple strategies:

1. Value your place on this earth.
2. Actively engage in creating health.
3. Follow through for you!

Get used to what it feels like to say “yes” to yourself and "yes" to health. Once you get the feel for it, you’ll want to do it more and more!