A New, Healthier Lifestyle

I just read an article in Fast Company entitle “Change or Die“. It reminded me that most of America’s health problems come down to 5 preventable causes: too much smoking, drinking, eating, and stress and not enough exercise.

The thing is that we know these things are not good for us, but we go ahead with that ridiculous behaviour anyway. Even after recieving bypass surgery, 90% of people fall back into their old habits, even though they know they have a life-threatening disease. The odds for change are stacked against us 9-to-1. The problem is backsliding.

Change is not just limited to health though. Behavioural change in business is also difficult.

Preventative steps are required. Two principles apply:

• Prevention is better than cure.
• The wise man does at once what the fool does eventually.

The article also highlights that the most effective way to make any change is to nurture a positive lifestyle, filled with life’s little joys. The most effective way to change is to make life more pleasurable in constructive ways – regular walks, time in nature, wholesome food, positive work evironment and habits, respect, gratitude for small and large things… and so on. Change is driven my positive emotions and experiences that support the change.

Ironically, making small incrimental changes in our diet, work habits or lifestyle is more difficult than making radical change! The reason being that we often don’t see the benefits of the small, incrimental changes soon enough for it to be emotionally engaging enough to reinforce the changes. This is why stopping smoking can’t be an isolated act – it needs to be a part of a lifestyle makeover which might include yoga, raw food and daily meditation!

Lastly, fundamental to change is the ability to learn. The stronger our learning muscle, the better we’ll be at change. Take up a language or learn to play an instrument. Everything is related.

We get into bad habits that don’t serve us, although we could just as easily get into healthier ones that do. As my karate instructor often reminds me: “Practice makes permanent“

Health is the first wealth

Okay, so we know that money isn’t the only form of wealth… But just like money, we can build our wealth in the other ways through good investment strategy.

Health is a form of wealth that we can build and get compound interest on . Every meal is an investment opportunity. I have been building my health bank for a couple of years now.
Each time I excercise, I am making a deposit. Every morning, I jog. I do karate twice a week, and I do weights, pushups, situps and stretches to compliment my running and karate.
Fundamentally, I remember that each meal is an opportunity to invest in my health. I also know that if I do something that’s bad for my health, then I’m making a withdrawal and am missing out on the opportunities that are created by my long term compounding interest of health.

Today I choose to invest wisely. Where’s that glass of water now?

Halo effect of health and fitness

My friend Craig reminded me that when your fitness and health is good, then it has a halo effect on the other aspects of your life such as work and relationships.

I have experienced this to be true. It is, indeed, one of the most important factors of success.

I went for my second jog this morning and I’m really enjoying the feeling already.

“Take care of your body with steadfast fidelity. The soul must see through these eyes alone, and if they are dim, the whole world is clouded”.  – Johan Wolfgang Von Goethe