Importance of Being Healthy
Most of us know the importance of being healthy, but where we might be going askew is our perception of what being healthy is. Combine that with the tolerances we've built up for dealing with fatigue, stress, chronic aches and pain, and healthy becomes a relative term.
-
The Media
-
With all the images presented to us daily through television, movies, magazines, video games and the Internet, it is easy to come to the conclusion that being perfectly shaped and beautiful means being healthy. That just isn't true. To top it off, we have been subjected to campaign after advertising campaign telling us that if we buy a certain product we will live long healthy lives. Much of it is hype. Is it any wonder that we don't know what living healthy really is?
Defining Healthy
-
So what does it really mean to be healthy? Does this mean we have to be model thin or buff as a body builder? There are many misconceptions about what is healthy. Here's some questions to ask to determine good or bad health:
Can you walk and not tire?
Are you sleeping at night?
Do you get plenty of fresh air and regular exercise?
Do you maintain a healthy weight ?
Do you refrain from overuse of drugs and stimulants (illegal drugs are never healthy) and alcohol or tobacco?
How are your cholesterol, triglycerides, blood sugar and blood pressure?
Can you navigate your day free of pain? -
Mental and Spiritual health
-
Watch TV for any length of time on any given day and you are bound to see commercials for anti-depression and anti-anxiety medications. But did you know that living a healthy life in which you take care of yourself can help to stave off the disorders that require these medications? Lack of physical health spills over into our spiritual life as well, creating more self-doubt and a lack of hope and joy in our lives.
Significance
-
Don't be tempted to sacrifice tomorrow for what you want today. Pushing to meet deadlines, drinking too much, smoking one more cigarette, putting off regular exercise and overeating or not eating enough are behaviors that set us up for defeat in the pursuit of a healthy life. Think about the quality of your life and contemplate the questions posed above. A pretty good gauge starts with the first question: Can you walk and not tire?
Benefits
-
Taking care of ourselves and attaining good health has far-reaching benefits. It greatly lowers our risk for serious illnesses. It's good business, too. Think of the savings in medical costs. Our work productivity goes up, making us better employees and employers, our personal relationships improve and we start having fun again. Imagine having enough energy to do everything you want to do and loving every minute of it because you are healthy.
-
