It is time that we as individuals take
ownership and responsibility for our health.
This is never more important than now as
the NHS is struggling under an ever increasing
load.
We can overcomplicate things and lose
sight of the simple tenets that keep us
healthy. Implementing good practice is the
challenge. Some of us may find one or more
areas more difficult than others. However,
the concepts themselves are not difficult to
understand. I hope these articles will help
you look at your health differently. Let’s us
explore firstly, how we define health.
What is health?
WHO defines health “as a complete state of
physical, mental and social wellbeing and
not merely the absence of disease or
infirmity”. This view of health can be limiting
as it hinges on the absence of infirmity
and/or disease. An alternative definition is
that health “is a state of balance, an
equilibrium that an individual has
established within himself and between
himself and his social and physical
environment” (Sartorius 2006). Adopting
this definition allows us all the potential to
be healthy despite disease or impairments.
A state of balance requires awareness of the
needs of our body and mind.
What do I mean by awareness?
A sense of focus and attention on our
internal state. This does not mean ignoring
the external environment, on the contrary,
greater awareness enables you to interact
with your external environment more
effectively.
How can awareness help create a
state of balance within oneself
and thus between oneself and our
environment?
When we are aware of our internal state, we
start to notice that our body and mind are
communicating to us through sensations
and emotions. As we listen, an idea may
appear that feels like it comes from a place
rooted in wisdom. It is up to us to action this
idea. Sometimes, these ideas challenge our
ingrained habits. Usually, ingrained habits
are triggered by negative emotion and as a
result it may feel that you are facing not
only the habit but the emotion too. With
awareness and practice it is possible to dim
these emotional triggers and allow space
for change to occur. As we become more
attuned to ourselves, necessary action
becomes clearer and easier. This in turns,
helps us to make changes to both our
internal and external environment helping
us find a greater sense of synchronicity.
Can we all do this?
Yes, we all have the potential to transform
our health in this way, the only hurdle is us.
You must be willing to face yourself with
honesty, courage and confidence. For many,
awareness can itself cause discomfort, but
this discomfort will be short lived. If you try
but you are unable to fill your body with
awareness, then professionals who
understand this health concept can help
you to address any mental or physical
hurdles.
References:
Constitution of the World Health Organization.
In:World Health Organization: Basic
documents. 45th ed. Geneva:World Health
Organization; 2005.
Satorius, N. (2006), ‘The Meanings of Health
and its Promotion’. Croat Med J. 47(4),pp
662–664.
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