What value do you place on your health? Before answering that question, consider the time and effort you invest in it. Do you prioritize it daily, weekly, or monthly? Do you eat a balanced diet, exercise or engage in physical activity often? Do you take steps to ensure your body remains functional in the next 3-4 decades, or are you solely focused on the present?
Unfortunately, only a minority of people take good care of themselves. The majority simply stumble along the path of life, without realizing the importance of maintaining a healthy body. It's important to really think about what this means.
We've been given a body that's a technical and scientific marvel with many amazing features. Here are some examples:
Our body has about 7 octillion atoms, which is more than the number of stars in the observable universe.
The body has a supersized molecule called chromosome 1, which contains around 10 billion atoms and encodes a huge amount of genetic information.
The body has an appendix that is not useless but actually helps the bacteria that aid digestion to survive and replenish. (Guardian.com)
The body’s heart beats about 100,000 times a day, pumping blood through 60,000 miles of blood vessels. It’s made of specialized muscle cells that can contract without any external stimulus.
The body’s brain weighs about 3 pounds but consumes 20% of the body’s oxygen and energy. With about 86 billion neurons, it communicates through trillions of connections called synapses and is responsible for learning, memory, emotions, creativity, and more. (PBS.org)
The body’s skeleton is made of 206 bones and 360 joints. The skeleton provides support, protection, movement, and storage for minerals and produces blood cells in the bone marrow.
The body’s skin that is the largest organ, covering about 20 square feet. It protects us from infection, dehydration, and temperature changes.
The body’s immune system defends it from foreign invaders such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites and can recognize and remember millions of different antigens.
These are just a few of the marvels of the human body. There are many more to discover and appreciate. And if this doesn't cause us to pause in our busy lives and think about how we're treating our bodies, then consider the marvel of the mind as well.
Wikipedia says the mind is the set of faculties responsible for all mental phenomena, such as thought, imagination, memory, will, sensation, perception, emotion, and more.
It’s capable of communication, expression and emotion, making decisions and solving problems. It dreams and creates and is capable of scientific discoveries, philosophical debates, artistic expressions and personal reflections. Through all of this, it shapes our experiences, actions, relationships, and identities. Yet our understanding of the mind is like that of children playing in a sandbox. There is only a surface level of comprehension of what sets us apart from the animals.
If we’re paying attention, the complexity of the human body should inspire awe. It’s not a run-down beater that we’re in charge of, but rather a marvel of nature—a one-of-a-kind vehicle—requiring the utmost care and respect. However, many fail to understand what they are in charge of and don’t place enough value on it. Why is that?
Some possible reasons people don’t value their health are:
They lack the discipline or motivation to adopt healthy habits, such as exercising, eating well, or avoiding smoking and alcohol.
They are stressed or overwhelmed by other aspects of their life and don’t have the time or energy to focus on their health. (Kevinmd.com)
They are unaware or misinformed about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle or the risks of an unhealthy one.
They have personal or financial barriers that prevent them from accessing health care or wellness programs.
They have psychological or emotional issues that affect their self-esteem, self-care, or coping skills.
In this context, many accept impractical reasoning as a way to avoid the responsibility of maintaining their health, but this approach is useless when the body breaks down. Ultimately, each of us is responsible for mitigating disease, suffering, and the lack of quality of life.
Lack of discipline or motivation - learn it
Stressed or overwhelmed - do it anyways
Unaware or misinformed - learn it
Personal or financial barriers - do the free stuff
Psychological or emotional issues - work around them
Perhaps it seems like I'm being harsh in my response, but I've interacted with enough individuals throughout my career to recognize that it's crucial to address these concerns. Emotions should not be a factor when it comes to preventing a deteriorating and exhausted body. In fact, when problems are left unaddressed, it can lead to sudden or premature death.
Would you like some advice? Learn self-mastery through diligent practice. Yes, it's difficult; it's supposed to be difficult. Can you think of something in life that's not difficult? However, achieving good health is an impressive feat that is becoming increasingly rare.
People's natural impulse is to run from difficulty, but don't give in to that impulse! Instead, take the offensive by pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone.
Set some high standards for yourself
Embrace discomfort
Train your mind
Train your body
Taking the necessary steps to achieve our goals can make us feel like warriors, regardless of gender. Allowing ourselves to become run down and physically unfit is a disgrace and a sign of sheer carelessness.
Value your health by developing your physical strength and capacity. Find a workout routine that you enjoy and that motivates you to get moving. You will thrive when you challenge your perceptions and embrace temporary discomfort for the rewards it brings.
Fight for what’s rightfully yours. Don’t give me excuses—give me good health.
Excellent article!