This talk is all done with the best of intention. The only problem is that good intentions are not enough, and most resolutions are forgotten at the first sign of stress or disappointment or when someone brings home baked goodies into the office or there is a good sale at the mall or we get invited to a party or the kids are misbehaving or our spouse forgot our anniversary . . . I could go on and on with things that knock us off track.
This is why we need to look at making positive changes in our lives as adopting a new life style. When we adopt something that means we own it. It is ours on good days and on bad days. When we adopt a child it means that we willingly make that child our own and they are now part of our life . . . for good.
So let's stick with the analogy of adopting a child. We know there will be challenges and this decision will cost us. We also know there will be challenges that we will face and overcome with them, yet we still choose to make a precious child a part of our life, day in and day out. This is what we all need to do in order to develop wellness in every component of our lives.
Each of us has to decide where we want to be five to ten years from now and then ask ourselves if we are currently and consistently taking steps to get there. So do that with your physical health, your mental health, your financial health, your spiritual health and your social health. Wellness encompasses each of these areas. Many people wrongly believe that they have to sacrifice one area to succeed in another area. Many very wealthy people believe that they have to work twelve hours a day to be successful. They however do this at the cost of their health and their relationships with their families. Our families and our health should not take the back burner to our jobs. These precious people that God has brought into our lives will be grown and gone one day and time we spend being consumed with our jobs will be gone nothing we do and no amount of money will give us this time back.
The healthy lifestyle of exercising and eating right that is regularly neglected for our job can’t be bought back. So starting right now, make the decision to adopt a healthy lifestyle. This is a lifestyle that includes getting some type of regular activity on a daily basis, it means getting enough sleep and it means eating a diet that is nutritionally dense, drinking plenty of water and quitting smoking. Yes, I know you know all of these things, if that is the case what is stopping you from adopting them? Only you can answer that.
Consider your relationships, do you invest as much time in the lives of those you care about as you do your hobbies, your job or working out? Adopt the belief that people matter and live your life in a manner that lets people know you believe that. What about your financial health? Are you managing your money or is it managing you? Are you making purchases because you need something or are you making purchases to keep up with your neighbor or because there is something else lacking in your life? Consider also your mental or emotional health. How is your mood in general? Do you struggle with depression or self- hatred? Are you consumed by fear or anger? These can all be part of a normal life when they happen on occasion but when they are our m.o. we need to seek help or make changes.
Sometimes adopting a healthy lifestyle that includes the things listed above can help us out of depression. Sometimes adopting a habit or putting our families first can lift us up because we see what is really important. When necessary seek professional help. Last of all look at your spiritual health. We all have a spirit, is yours healthy or is yours starving to death. Do you feed it by spending time with God and getting to know your creator? Remember whatever we pay attention to grows and whatever we neglect dies. God has not moved and He has not stopped loving you or wanting to hear from you.
Good health, financial stability, rewarding relationships, Spiritual strength and mental peace can all be had by you. What is stopping you from adopting a lifestyle that can help you develop and enjoy wellness in every component of your life?