What is health, really?
Contrary to popular belief, health is not surface level. Health is more than looking a certain way. It is more than what you eat and how you move your body. True health goes way deeper than your physical appearance. Health can differ person-to-person, and it is not “one size fits all”. Health is knowing yourself inside and out and learning to trust yourself.
We all have the ability to become the healthiest version of ourselves, but in order for that to happen, you must first believe that you can be truly healthy. Your beliefs about yourself and your body are paramount to your overall health. In short, your beliefs dictate your behavior, and your behaviors affect your health. For example, one who believes they are not healthy or cannot become healthy will likely choose different daily activities than one who believes they are strong, healthy, and fully capable of living a healthy life.
The thing is, you can choose to change your beliefs (and behaviors) at any point. If you desire to feel healthy and full of life, start by telling yourself you are worthy of living that kind of life, and then take small, sustainable action each day to achieve that way of living. Intuition plays a huge role here as well. Our bodies are very smart and know what is best for us. Far too often though, we ignore what our body is trying to tell us. We ignore what we know would be best for our health, like exercise, eating more vegetables, or getting more sleep at night.
Why do we do that? Well, for a lot of us, we may subconsciously think that healthy living is boring. We think that choosing a healthier meal, going to sleep earlier, or trading a night out partying for an early morning workout are boring or less fun. When, in reality, choosing to take care of your body is one of the most admirable things you can do. Others may believe that they are not capable of maintaining a healthy life. My short and sweet response to that is: if you truly want it, you can absolutely do it. It’s all about small and sustainable adjustments to your lifestyle.
Tips for creating your healthiest life: Regular exercise; fuel your body with BOTH nutritious and indulgent foods (balance is key); spend quiet time alone with yourself for introspection/ self-reflection; limit/ eliminate negative-self talk (because how we speak about ourselves can-and does- affect our health); push yourself out of your comfort zone on a regular basis; consistent self-care habits; meditation; journaling, grounding/nature exposure.
Do these things on a regular basis, along with the belief that you are capable of becoming your healthiest self, and you will be well on your way to living your healthiest life.
Check back next week for more on this topic.
