Jan 10
21
Longing for health
Most people seek out fitness and nutrition programs because of a deep personal longing to live in a fit and healthy body. Although the media helps to shape our body image ideas, the actual longing we feel for good health is really outside of this influence. I am speaking about a very innate and deep longing. As human beings we share many basic longings. We long for intimate relationships, meaningful work, a purposeful life, spiritual connection, peace, joy and physical health.
The degree to which you feel these longings are being fulfilled directly correlates with your perceived quality of life. Basic longings left unfulfilled cause us to feel stress, anxiety and dissatisfaction with our life. Therefore it is your nature to take action: to engage the transformative process. Understand that initially it is common to choose distractions like excessive busyness, substance dependence, overeating or over controlling; though eventually the suppressed longing will resurface and demand attention.
Your longing for health is so strong, because your physical body is the vehicle through which you live life. It is what holds you to this time and place; to see, to touch, to smell, to taste, to hear, to love, to create, to be. Sickness, disease, overweight and lethargy in your body are often signs pointing to imbalances in the mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of your being. Imbalance in any of these areas can prevent you from living your highest potential. Therefore, feeling a strong connection to your own healthy body facilitates growth and health in the whole of your life.
The pursuit of good health requires that you look without judgment at your habits: the habits that serve you well and the habits that no longer serve. This process very often leads you on a surprising journey of self-discovery. It takes courage to acknowledge and accept all of who you really are. Acceptance is key, so the practice of non-judgment toward yourself and others is essential to the entire process of personal transformation.
When you decide a change is in order, you will progress much more quickly if you acknowledge your current choices just aren’t working. Step one in your transformation will then be to purposefully seek out new information. Step two will be to acquire new life skills through specialized training. Step three will be to find support: aligning with a group of people who are pursuing similar life changes is one of the most powerful tools available to you. The shared experiences accelerate each member’s personal progress.
Transforming your health may take longer than you would like. Persevere and remember to find joy in the process. Work, play, rest and be well.
