How Do You Know If You Are Healthy?

I was talking to a friend yesterday and the question came up, "So how does one know they are healthy anyway?" In fact, what does it even mean to be "healthy"? Of course, there are many possibilities, and the most important answer for you is YOUR answer.

So, what does it mean to YOU to be healthy?

Is it merely an absence of pain, illness, disease?...
Is it the presence of something like vitality, flexibility, and joy?...

My observation is that many people see health mostly from a physical perspective. And that health is often defined as the absence of pain, illness, or some type of disease. For example, have you met someone who says, "Oh, I don't need to exercise - I'm already healthy! I feel fine."

Perhaps a better way to assess your health is to look at the projected outcomes of the way you are living. For example, if you aren't exercising very much, what is the accumulated effect over time of not doing so? That, in my opinion, is a better measure of health. If you're eating a great deal of junk food or "empty calorie" food, the measure of health is not so much how you feel at the moment (you might be greatly satisfied), but it's more about the accumulated effect of those types of actions over time. In other words, are people who eat mostly junk food for their diet creating health? Are their habits healthy?

I think this is critical point. Because our health is not a fixed state. We don't achieve health and then it's always there. Health - whether it's physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual - is a by-product of the various choices that we make about it every day and the accumulated effect of those choices. The process is the same whether we are creating illness and diseases or vibrancy and joy: consistent choices over time.

Think about many of the people who have a heart attack or stroke. It wasn't a matter of, "yesterday my heart was totally healthy, today it failed me." Heart attacks are usually a result of consequences that have accumulated over time due to the choices one makes over time.

I guess my point is that health is something that is best defined with a span of time in mind versus just how you feel at this present moment. The absence of pain, illness, or disease does not necessarily equate to good health. A person's true health is not measured just by the current state of their body-mind-spirit, but - more importantly - by the types of choices they are committed to taking and do take over time.

Today, take a look at the consistent choices you are making about your health. What results are they creating in your life? Will they - over time - create the health that you want to be enjoying?

Let every choice you make (or most of them) be choices that build and sustain great physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. It's the best investment you can make, and ones you'll never regret.

Why You DON'T Have to Be Healthy

by Life and Wellness Coach, Denver Hudson

I've wondered for many years why more people are not actively and intentionally pursuing greater health and overall wellness. What could be more important to a quality and fulfilling life than one's own physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health?

Then it occurred to me the other morning why many simply may not be pursuing these higher levels of health and wellness. Consider...

You don't have to be healthy to watch T.V.
You don't have to be healthy to drive a car.
You don't have to be healthy to vote.
You don't have to be healthy to pay taxes.
You don't have to be healthy to play computer and video games.
You don't have to be healthy to have money autodrafted into an IRA.
You don't have to be healthy to have someone cook for you.
You don't have to be healthy to receive a handout from the government.
You don't have to be healthy to get divorced.
You don't have to be healthy to pop a pill.
You don't have to be healthy to be in debt.
You don't have to be healthy to buy things.
You don't have to be healthy to argue.
You don't have to be healthy to have sex.
You don't have to be healthy to go to work.
You don't have to be healthy to have friends.
You don't have to be healthy to hate your job.
You don't have to be healthy to be fired or have your job exported.
You don't have to be healthy to be afraid, confused, or doubtful.
You don't have to be healthy to suffer.
You don't have to be healthy to envy the success of others.
You don't have to be healthy to be loved.

All of these "don't have to be healthies" just poured out of me early Monday morning. And it dawned on me in a profound way, that in order to live as many live, health and wellness is just not a requirement. It seemed to be somewhat revealing, especially since I am passionate about helping individuals achieve new levels of health and wellness.

Well, I know, the above statements can sound "negative." But look around you. I'm not complaining or judging anything or anyone. It's just what I see. The way many people are living their lives makes an intentional effort at creating health and wellness optional.

So, what are the reasons to be healthy and well? There are many, and we'll look at those at another time. In the meantime, I invite you to look around and see if you can find some reasons that people aren't pursuing health and wellness - and post your findings by clicking on "comments" below. And then, stop for some reflection and consider why today might be the day to step up your own health and wellness to a whole new level.