Today's Choices Shape Tomorrow's Health
Albert Camus, the Nobel Prize-winning author and philosopher, once noted that our lives are shaped significantly by the choices we make. These choices have tangible consequences, especially in light of our current health.
Today, an estimated 37.3 million Americans have diabetes, roughly 11.3% of the population. Nearly one-third are overweight, and more than 40% are classified as obese. Despite the evidence that an unhealthy lifestyle poses health risks, Americans still struggle to adopt healthy habits. Is it because they don’t understand cause and effect? Is our government or healthcare system to blame? Or is it due to unpredictable genes or hormones?
The book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” contains a wonderful quote that defines the situation more clearly:
Your life is the sum of your decisions, not your circumstances. Things will happen to you, including plenty of things that you will not like, but you have the power to choose how to act in response to these events. The more proactive you choose to be, the better your life outcomes.
Said differently: While our genes, environment and circumstances can significantly impact and shape us, they don’t control our lives. The ability to make the right choices, even when presented with the wrong circumstances, is what defines our health.
Weigh Your Choices
Some mistakenly define health as merely the absence of disease. How terrible if that were true. Real health encompasses a state of complete physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being, where we feel energetic, vibrant, and capable of meeting life’s demands.
Every day, we make choices that shape our lives. We decide if we want to exercise or eat a healthy breakfast. We also choose whether to eat that donut, sleep in or watch an extra hour of TV. At the end of the day, all these choices add up and move us in a certain direction.
If most of your choices are healthy, you’ll be moving towards fitness and good health. On the other hand, if your choices are mostly unhealthy, you might be moving towards weight gain and health problems.
The beautiful thing is that you can undo mistakes because they’re part of the journey, and the ability to learn from them is what creates growth. If you make a poor choice, you can adapt and make new decisions. This flexibility is essential to building a healthy foundation.
The Path Forward
Change isn't easy, and I completely understand that. I've had clients say that they enjoy what they do and what they eat, and they don’t want to let that go. What about you? Do you have certain non-negotiables when it comes to making changes? It's important to reflect on how your decisions today become the foundation of your health status decades ahead.
Dr. Peter Attia, author of Outlive, wisely said:
“It’s not sufficient to wait until your marginal decade (last decade of your life) to do something about it. You have to start doing things today to make sure you have the life you want tomorrow.”
We can’t always choose what happens to us, but we can always choose how we respond. Whether you incorporate one additional walk or training session per week, one additional hour of sleep per night, or one new vegetable per day, your health outcomes will become evident as your year progresses.
Put careful thought into building the foundation of your health. If this support system turns out to be weak, the entire structure is likely to crumble under pressure. The faster you create a solid foundation, the more capable it is of withstanding the inevitable challenges and stressors of life.
Here are some key points about why building good health early on is essential for your future:
Better Quality of Life: A strong health foundation always leads to aging better, with more energy, being able to participate in activities, and feeling better overall.
Improved Resilience: A healthy body can better cope with stress, injuries, and illness. This resilience means you can bounce back more quickly from tough times.
Mental Health Benefits: Regular exercise and a balanced diet can help reduce anxiety and depression, giving you a healthier mindset as you grow older.
Increased Longevity: People who maintain their health tend to live longer, healthier lives. This means more time to enjoy your interests, family, and experiences.
Overall, building a strong health foundation early on is an investment in your future well-being. It prepares you for the aging process and helps you enjoy all that life has to offer!
Conclusion: The Currency of Choices
Good choices are the currency that shapes our health. Each day, we’re faced with countless decisions, from minor daily habits to significant life-altering choices. It’s important to direct these choices with intention and awareness along the path to good health.
Bottom line: The outcome of our health is decided by how much effort and thought we put into daily decisions. This amazing power makes us the architect of our health. So embrace this responsibility to become the best version of yourself.
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