Is health really in your control?

I’m writing this article to comfort anyone who has battled any sort of diseases and felt like a failure for not succeeding or being told they have not tried hard enough. It is a very debilitating position to be in especially when it was never part of our plan and interferes with what we consider to be our own journey. It can also be very lonely in a world of fitness coaches and instagramers who showcase pristine health in their pictures. At the end of the day we only see what they choose to display. Whether it is a disease about which little is known, diseases for which there is no cure, or even an illness that is extremely studied and known what we are told is often not true about the capabilities we have to control our health. Here a few messages to be aware of which can be more detrimental then beneficial:

1. Doctors say if you stay clear of the major culprits such as smoking, drugs, alcohol and stress then you should be overall doing fine.;
2. Nutritionists tell us to eat our veggies and exercise, get your 8h a night sleep, and stop eating sugar; everything else should follow suit.
3. Some spiritual leaders claim that “it is all in your mind” and if you deal with your mental blockages your body will follow suit and get better.
4. Many people’s testimonials will claim that “everything you put your mind to will work”. What happens when you do put your mind to something for years and it does not work?

How about when you do all the right things, you eat healthy, take care of your body, exercise, sleep 8 hours a night and also have great mental health but the state of your health is not improving much? I’ve been there and if you are like me, you work hard to improve your situation and take complete responsibility for this health journey of yours, but there are little or no signs of improvement. It is debilitating.

You probably feel like you failed because you did not find the right diet that works long-term for you. Additionally, you are frantically searching and trying out everything under the sun from paleo diet to GAPS to keto to vegan diets but with little success. Your body is also not very happy because there is not much stability or routine.

Don’t get me wrong, taking care of your body, eating well, sleeping 8h a night, exercising and reducing stress are important for good health and everyone should focus on these things regardless of whether you experience a health challenge or not. But if these are not enough to solve your issue do not fret.

Consider it part of your path. Of course it is important to get educated and try anything you can to improve your situation but if it all fails or you see little improvement for the amount of work you are putting in, it is important to stay calm and try to see the bigger picture. Remember this is just one season in your life and things can quickly turn around. Health is a key part of one’s life but it is a means to an end and not the end itself. You need your healthy body in order to carry out your mission in this world. If temporarily you are forced into slowing down a little, so be it.

How about my dreams and passions and not to mention all the things I have to do? I hear you. They matter and you might have to make a detour before you can pursue some of them. What if this situation is exactly what you are supposed to be living and you are not “missing out” on anything out there? Very few mention that health problems can be a great tool for development and trying to rid ourselves of them as fast as we can might not only can be a waste of energy if the challenge is here to stay but could also prevent us from ever experiencing the beautiful lessons deriving from it. I try to view this smartly: I am already slowed down so rather than swimming upstream I might as well master what I have to learn here to the best of my abilities.  As soon as this season in my life ends I can move on with a backpack full of new tools.

If you do not consider the whole arena of potential benefits behind a health challenge you will be crushed under the weight of its burden because, let’s face it, who can control the bacteria in their body, the way neurons work, how enzymes activate, and so on and so forth ? We simply can’t. The best we can do is go with the flow of life, slow down temporarily if called to do so, and do the best we can every day for ourselves and for the ones around us. It can be burdensome to take such a big responsibility on your shoulders so remember that you are not alone and there is a bigger purpose for these challenges. It takes some time to discover it but it is oh so worth the wait when you finally do.