|
Taking a Chance on Healthy Living!
One of the most important
aspects of living a healthy and prosperous life is understanding
"risk." By this I mean knowing how to understand
and analyze situations in life that affect health. Being
able to accurately weigh benefits and risks when making
health decisions is very important! Too often decisions
are based on incomplete or inaccurate information and
this is a huge mistake with significant consequences!
Failure to accurately assess risk keeps
people locked in all kinds of unhealthy situations including
poor eating and exercise habits (lifestyle), relationships
and jobs. Sometimes people are just afraid to step out
and make a change. They see "risk" in making
a change when the REAL risk comes from NOT making a
change. From my perspective, living with the stress,
unhappiness and frustration of indecision and poor health
is the greatest risk of all, and one that is definitely
not worth taking!
Accessing "risk" is nothing
more than collecting information, weighing the alternatives
and then making appropriate decisions based on the information.
Some risks to our health are more "real"
than others. For example, it is common knowledge that
obesity is associated with a wide variety of health
problems. On the other hand, there are some health risks
that are so remote we rarely think about them. On a
practical level, eating highly processed foods and avoiding
a daily dose of fresh fruits and vegetables is rarely
considered serious. But, as too many have already discovered,
the long range consequences of this practice are real
and devastating.
Failure to accurately assess risk limits
us in many ways. We imagine the "risk" of
talking with our children about drugs, dating or sex
and we put off having the "talk," even though
the risks of NOT talking are infinitely greater. Fear
of flying and public speaking are two more "risks"
affecting millions of people. But practically speaking,
these fears are unfounded. People ride in cars every
day, even though cars are far more dangerous than commercial
aircraft! It's a failure to accurately assess risk,
and it limits our health, prosperity and pleasure in
life.
The goods news is that failure to accurately
access risk is reversible! The effects of those decisions
to eat inappropriately or NOT to exercise are, as the
common expression goes, "do-overs." We can
effect positive change in our lives by following a few
simple steps to accurately access risk:
1. Accurately define your present situation
and access your health "risks". Are you eating
a healthy diet? Are you getting enough exercise and
good quality sleep? What are the consequences if you
DON'T change? Weigh the benefits of healthier living
vs the potential risks such as increased cost, inconvenience
or discomfort.
2. What do you stand to gain if you
change your present circumstances? Assess the "up-side"
potential. Too often we look only at the "downside"
risk and forget the benefits. What good things might
happen if you take the risk and win?
3. Limit the "down-side" if
you happen to make a wrong decision. Don't continue
down a path if it does not produce results. This is
especially important when following weight loss programs.
If the pounds are not coming off or if the weight loss
is only temporary, find a new program! You not only
want to lose weight, but want to sustain the weight
loss for as long as possible. Take steps to ensure this
will happen. Clear, concise, realistic objectives will
definitely help.
4. Reduce your risk by being smart!
Understand the situation and seek the advice of experts
in the field of health and nutrition. This includes
finding and forming partnerships to receive support
and get good advice.
5. Have a fall-back position. If the
decision you make fails to produce the desired results,
be prepared to take a long, hard look at the circumstances
and be prepared to change what you are doing.
Everything in life involves some element
of risk. Driving your car, meeting someone new, crossing
the street...but we do them every day. Winners in life
are willing to accept the risk and continue on their
way! Get involved, be smart about how you play the game,
come prepared for a few failures along the way, but
don't quite. You will reap the benefits for your effort
and live a happier and healthier life. I like to remember
the words of the great Winston Churchill when he said,
"Never, never, never give up!".
1howto.com
--------------------------------------------------
Please
Share Your Tips with Us
|
