Have you ever taken the time to think about whether you are truly healthy? Usually, when we assess our health we base the answer on how we are feeling. Unfortunately, how we feel is not really a good measure of how healthy we actually are. It is all too common to hear stories of people we know who have died just a day or two after they were pronounced “healthy.” If you had asked these people how they were feeling a day or two before their death, they may have told you they were healthy.Conversely, when we don’t feel well, it does not necessarily mean that we are unhealthy. True health is a measure of whether all of our body systems are working to their full potential at all times. Healthy people would feel pain; when touching a hot stove it is important to feel pain so you can remove your hand before severe damage is caused. If you are exposed to germs, it is often a healthy response to get a cough, sniffle or fever.Too often we rush to take medication to stop our body’s normal function. We suppress fevers and coughs as if they are negative. If your body is healthy, it is much better to trust in the innate wisdom that controls your functioning and allows the expression of symptoms.If how we feel is not a good measure of our health, how do we really know if we are healthy? The answer is that we don’t know completely. What we do know is there are certain behaviors that are healthy. If we adopt strategies for healthy living, we can assume our bodies are as healthy as they can potentially be. If we are employing healthy strategies, our bodies can better adapt to the stress of our environment. These stresses come in physical, chemical and emotional forms. Many cannot be eliminated, but by behaving in a healthy way, we can better adapt to these stresses and remain well. The main spokes on the wheel of health are
- Diet
- Exercise
- Positive mental attitude
- Rest and hygiene
- Mind-body connection
