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Taking a Chance on Healthy Living!
by: Dan Farrell Copyright 2005
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One of the most important aspects of living a healthy and
prosperous life is understanding
"risk." By this I mean
knowing how to understand and analyze
situations in life that affect health. Being able to accurately weigh benefits
and risks when making health decisions is very important!
Too often decisions are based on incomplete or inaccurate
information and this is a huge mistake with significant
consequences!
Failure to accurately assess risk keeps people locked in
all kinds of unhealthy situations including poor eating and
exercise habits (lifestyle), relationships and jobs.
Sometimes people are just afraid to step out and make a
change. They see "risk" in making a change when the
REAL risk comes from NOT making a
change.
From my perspective, living with the stress, unhappiness and frustration of
indecision and poor health is the greatest risk of all, and
one that is definitely not worth taking!
Accessing "risk" is nothing more than collecting
information, weighing the alternatives and then making
appropriate decisions based on the information.
Some risks to our health are more "real" than others. For
example, it is common knowledge that obesity is associated
with a wide variety of health problems. On the other hand,
there are some health risks that are so remote we rarely
think about them. On a practical level, eating highly
processed foods and avoiding a daily dose of fresh fruits
and vegetables is rarely considered serious. But, as too
many have already discovered, the long range consequences
of this practice are real and devastating.
Failure to accurately assess risk limits us in many ways.
We imagine the "risk" of talking with our children about
drugs, dating or sex and we put off having the "talk," even
though the risks of NOT talking are infinitely greater.
Fear of flying and public speaking are two more "risks"
affecting millions of people. But practically speaking,
these fears are unfounded. People ride in cars every day,
even though cars are far more dangerous than commercial
aircraft! It's a failure to accurately assess risk, and it
limits our health, prosperity and pleasure in life.
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The goods news is that failure to accurately access risk is
reversible! The effects of those decisions to eat
inappropriately or NOT to exercise are, as the common
expression goes, "do-overs." We can effect positive change
in our lives by following a few simple steps to accurately
access risk:
1. Accurately define your present situation and access your
health "risks". Are you eating a healthy diet? Are you
getting enough exercise and good quality sleep? What are
the consequences if you DON'T change? Weigh the benefits of
healthier living vs the potential risks such as increased
cost, inconvenience or discomfort.
2. What do you stand to gain if you change your present
circumstances? Assess the
"up-side" potential. Too often we
look only at the "downside" risk and forget the benefits.
What good things might happen if you take the risk and win?
3. Limit the "down-side" if you happen to make a wrong
decision. Don't continue down a path if it does not produce
results. This is especially important when following weight
loss programs. If the pounds are not coming off or if the
weight loss is only temporary, find a new
program! You not only want to lose weight, but want to sustain the weight
loss for as long as possible. Take steps to ensure this
will happen. Clear, concise, realistic objectives will
definitely help.
4. Reduce your risk by being smart! Understand the
situation and seek the advice of experts in the field of
health and nutrition. This includes finding and forming
partnerships to receive support and get good advice.
5. Have a fall-back position. If the decision you make
fails to produce the desired results, be prepared to take a
long, hard look at the circumstances and be prepared to
change what you are doing.
Everything in life involves some element of risk. Driving
your car, meeting someone new, crossing the street...but we
do them every day. Winners in life are willing to accept
the risk and continue on their way! Get involved, be smart
about how you play the game, come prepared for a few
failures along the way, but don't quite. You will reap the
benefits for your effort and live a happier and healthier
life. I like to remember the words of the great Winston
Churchill when he said, "Never, never, never give
up!"
About
The Author
Dan Farrell
For more health articles and zyprexa side effect
information go to:
http://effects-side-zyprexa.com
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