Moving In The Right Direction (Part 7, Physical)

Physical activity could be the conduit that empowers all facets

In conclusion of this series, I save the physical health portion for last.  Why?  Well, I felt it was important to introduce and expose the other facets of health that are often overlooked before venturing into the only aspect of health a majority of people pay the most attention to.  Physical health is important, however, we would do well to understand that physical health only addresses a portion of our overall health.

Movement of the Mind is not so much interested in devaluing physical activity, nor placing it on a pedestal either.  However, we feel that physical activity plays a huge part in possibly opening all other facets of health to an individual, and bringing satisfaction on multiple levels.  Being active leads to benefits that can last a lifetime.  There is so much research on the benefits of activity, like physical activity, and even as we age physical activity remains most important to ward off illness, disease and complications.

Our journey through physical health should take on the same approach as our previous escapades; looking at the issue in a more meaningful and abstract way, that delves into more than just the obvious (of course, to the best of our ability).  So, let's go shall we?  Our body starts to move from the moment we receive our first heart beat in our mothers womb, till our final movement as life begins to cease.  We are constantly moving, thinking, feeling, responding and living, everyday of our lives.  Though the degree to which each one of us moves differ greatly, it is our belief that we were born to move, born to interact, born to live.  Physical health leads us to understand or appreciate our ability to be active; to live every moment in full appreciation of our abilities.

Our abilities define us, in some way.  Runner's run, dancers dance, and children play.  Having activity in our lives, gives us more purpose, more energy and helps us define what type of life we want.  Understanding that there are several types of physical activity should help everyone better share in having an active life.  Exercise is structured, consistent movement, whereas physical activity is movement (of any kind).  So, whether you're walking, dancing, cleaning, gardening, playing, swimming, or moving furniture; all these constitute physical activity.

In this epidemic of fitness, we are often led astray to believe that fitness is health.  This, in fact is the most cloddish and disconcerting correlation in health.  To be fit, which is the forming and strengthening of muscle, is not to be confused with being healthy (though, there are relations, however, by no means are they related).  Being "skinny" as it were, isn't synonymous with being healthy, or being muscular for that matter.  Our body's ability to "do", more closely associates with health, than the previous.  Our ability to  walk up the stairs with no discomfort, or run around with our children or friends, or even more bio-metrically sound, having a well functioning body, that can process, consume, filter and secrete properly is health.  Having access to healthcare, healthy foods, safe environments and having peace, are the very staples of health.  I find great frustration with everyone looking to a certain poundage, or pant or dress size to reach to "be healthy".  Distortion of health in the media around us, cripple or cloud our clear thinking of what health really is, and what is needed to be healthy.  Finding the balance between our outwardly appearance, our ability to accomplish tasks (ranging from challenging to easy) and maintaining a proper functioning body, should be absolute key for us.

Physical health should be exciting, sustainable and challenging.  It should also, produce a better us, with the help of all the other facets mentioned and bring definition to our lives.  It is impossible to stop moving, in hopes to start living; we are designed to move and experience.  My hope, or our hope, is to create the mind frame that moves our thoughts, our perceptions, our understandings, to a place where moving is a stationary thought in our lives.  Though, understandably it isn't easy; we challenge you to think of what in life is?  Especially, those things that are worth while.

Buddha believed a clear mind stemmed from a healthy body, however, I'll take it a bit further.  How we think is an extension of how we feel, and how we feel, will move us in one direction or another.  Let us always do well to ourselves, movement is life, and we should all have a share.  No one, is perfect and no one exercise or physical activity program works for everyone.  Find you, in your movement and set your bar for yourself.

"Regimen is superior to medicine."  - Voltaire

    

I Don't Mind Growth (Part 6, Intellectual)

First and foremost, let me apologize for not making my September deadline.  I try to get at least one entry in a month, but life really got in the way this past month.  All in all, I'm back on a routine and eager to forge forward and onward as expected.  

This entry is part 6 in the concluding  series on the seven dimensions of wellness, which discusses intellectual health.  This, I find most stimulating and also challenging.  Mental stimulation is often confused or misrepresented, as are other facets of stimuli or actions. For instance, visual and audio stimuli often replace mental stimuli. We spend more time listening to music or engrossed in screen time, instead of reading, writing and researching. To which there is nothing wrong with the aforementioned in moderation, intellectual health is vital for us to feel whole or engaged cognitively.  This, in turn, provides us with mental food (if you will) that sustains our cognitive development.  Just as food sustains and provides nutrients to our body, mental stimuli provides nutrients to our mind and energy to strengthen our cognitive development.  

I often say, "We will never be, what we never think.", and this is true.  The question here is, do we allow or challenge ourselves to think?  Of course, I know we think everyday; often about what to wear, what time to get up, things that define our mundane routines.  However, I'm talking about thinking about matters and occurrences that define us, the work we do, and the people we impact.  Intellectual health and stimulation is largely impacted by those one associates with.  As the old cliche reminds us, birds of a feather flock together... Though the caliber of person we would like to associate with be of a feather, we would do well to find those who challenge our thoughts.  

Our intellectual health can be and is vital to our overall health, and of course most would whimsically and systematically draw the simple (and at times puerile) conclusion, that information unlearned is not acted upon.  Though, this over simplified correlation has truth written in it, it's just not comprehensive.  

So, let's think about this a little deeper, shall we?  Our health is based off numerous factors (many of which have been discussed in this blog under The Seven Dimensions of Wellness series) and are all related in one way or another.  Our intellectual health can impact our ability to socialize, by our limited exposure to information or our own poor cognitive development.  Also, by not challenging ourselves intellectually, we may choose poor environments that affect our health, or undermine the importance of spiritual health and give no attention to our own inner peace; this in turn could lead to forms stress, and affect our emotional health.  By drawing more comprehensive lines through intellectual health towards all other matters of health, gives us an ability to think collaboratively about how all aspects of our life are impacted and vital to one another.

Our health is important, and addressing only one aspect (health, through diet and exercise) can only lead to lapse in our overall progression.  Think of it this way, if diet and exercise encompass one aspect of health (physical health) out of seven total sections, that is only 14% of the complete person.  This from any perspective proves to be inadequate, at best.  

Having a healthy intellectual existence, bodes well, and continues to ask us to persist in challenging ourselves in both thought and action.  We can improve the way we understand concepts, position opposing views, and aid others in comprehending vital points necessary to meeting objectives.  Our ability to be cognitive, or present in thought demands for us to be intellectually healthy.  

This may be one  of the areas of health that require the most external support.  Creating environments, groups and activities that could strengthen us in this area could open so many more opportunities that impact far more of us than intended.  So, as we look at intellectual health, keep in mind that the more we invest in this area the more we can impact others.  

"The measure of your health is in your ability to do..., but the measure of your intelligence is showing your wisdom." - Jason Gillette

I Heart my job! (Part 5, Occupational)

Do you Really love your job?!

After taking a short sabbatical from our seven dimensions of wellness to delve into more health relation stuff, we now can reconvene to further discuss another interesting topic.  We are on our fifth section and closing fast on the conclusion of the seven dimensions of wellness.  Our objective, to refresh ourselves, is to understand fully or to the best of our ability what health really means and what aspects of our life it truly impacts.

In this section, we will discuss occupational health.  It's fascinating that we spend more time at work than we do with our families, design or otherwise; you be the judge.  Spending that much time in any aspect of our lives will definitely impact our health.  Most people really don't know how to rate their occupational health, and for that reason, we will develop four questions that will help us find out if we are healthy within our jobs.  Most of us work the nine to five respectively.  While others have a more flexible schedule, while yet others are in search for either.  Can occupational health be an impact if you don't have an occupation?  We'll unearth a few points to see how it can.  But for now, lets define occupational health.

Occupational health, "is the ability to achieve a balance between work and leisure time, addressing workplace stress and building relationships with co-workers. It focuses on our search for a calling and involves exploring various career options and finding where you fit."(UCR)  Work/Life balance, workplace stress and working relationships are vital to defining our occupational health.  So let's discuss these and our four questions that will help us identify and evaluate our occupational health.

Work/Life Balance:  The ability to balance your workload and family effectively, giving due attention and energy to both successfully.  Do we feel as if we are giving too much to work; or are we not giving enough to our jobs due to family occurrences?  If either of these resonate with you, we may need to make adjustments where possible.  This will give you a great sense of job satisfaction and purpose, knowing your doing your job successfully, while handling and enjoying matters at home.

Workplace Stress:  I think I can fairly speak for a great majority of people, by saying work is stressful at times.  Nevertheless, as we've mentioned in our article on stress, stress is not the presence of a problem, but the absence of a solution.  We need to allow ourselves time to utilize, leverage and create options for ourselves in our workplace to alleviate stressors, and bring a fresh, calm and sharp mind to the issue or person.

Working Relationships:  This one is most important to me, for the simple fact that our relationships (especially in Public Health and Non-Profit) can aid in reducing imbalance in Work/Life and reduce Workplace Stress.  Our relationships, both inside our organization and outside are vital to mission completion and building a more efficient work area.  Having a strong relationship with our immediate boss or manager, and our workmates are vital.  This free flowing communication helps accomplish objectives, relieves stress and builds camaraderie.  Having this as a goal to evaluate is important.  Do you feel you have a great working relationship with your boss, and workmates, do you feel communication is strong and constant?  These are good indicators and if you feel they aren't; a direct approach (I feel) works best to getting these lines of communication on track.

So, let's ask our four questions that will help us evaluate how healthy we are occupationally.

1.  Do we have a strong Work/Life balance, and is your workload sufficient?

2.  Do we enjoy what we do? 

3.  Do you feel that you have a great line of communication with those you work with, including those over you? 

4.  Does your occupation impede other facets of health in your life?  

These questions can give you a good idea where you stand and also provide goals for you to work towards.  Remember, every second, every minute and hour are yours to give.  They are never taken from you, you give them to respective matters, entities or organizations.  If it is within your power, enjoy every moment of your life, even at work.  We spend so much time at work, it's only fair to make adjustments to provide the best atmosphere possible for you to have a healthy balance.

"Waste money, and you're only out of money, but waste time and you've lost part of your life." - Michael LeBoeuf

Happy Two Year Anniversary MOTM

Hello Everyone,

I can't believe it's been two years since I've started this blog.  I can't tell you how much I've enjoyed sharing my thoughts and really expressing myself through this medium.  Thank you so much, for all of your support and I hope the next couple of years fly by as fast as the first two!

What is Health and Where is it Going?

How do we define our health?

Our mastery over health is a challenging and at times confusing one.  Is health a bicep curl, or a leafy green salad (with dressing on the side, of course).  Is health how we feel, or the way we live?  Solving the often illusive and ambiguous riddle of health and defining it appropriately has quite a few health professionals and community leaders befuddled.  In defining health, there are many factors to include and consider, however, not all of them are measurable.  This poses a problem for researchers and clinicians alike.  How can we treat, evaluate, educate and/or prevent an intrinsic value?  Do to so, we need qualities no short of magic to accomplish this.  Or, we can look at innovative ways to define health that allows us to measure how populations and individuals alike integrate health in their lives.  This blog will delve into a series of ideas and also define health so it may be easier to measure.  How we define health is key to finding ways to create a healthy community, population and beyond.

Fitness magazines, and personal trainers lead us to see health as fitness, the higher the concentration of lean, dense muscle, the healthier, supposedly, we are.  Though there are correlations between fitness and positive health outcomes, this is not a direct causation for health.  Pharmaceutical companies promote health and their products, by introducing medicines as forms of health management, or treatment.  This in and of itself is fine, however, treatment often times is a dollar short and a day late, when it comes to prevention.  Physicians, clinicians and health professionals alike focus on treatment as well, and have made wonderful strides to ensure patients and their numerous symptoms at treated.  In the book What Doctor's Think by Dr. Jerome Groopman, he suggests that doctors are asked to be superhuman more often and are required to accomplish tasks that put both the doctor and patients at risk.  All these factors define health in ways that exclude, restrict and segregate populations; like the elderly, poor, etc.

As we look at the image for this blog, we see an interesting diagram, something that stands out as odd, or concerning.  If care (or the access to it) ranks so little on what makes us healthy, why do we spend so much on it in the first place?  Also, if behavior is so important to health (which I completely agree), why do we spend so little on advancing or progressing this area?  These are very interesting and defining questions, so let's work to find the solution.

In this diagram, our environment is twice as important than our need for health services, likewise our genetics rank the same.  Also, on the left, health is defined by what we can control and the factors that we can't; which measure out to about thirty percent (genetics, and access to care).  The right model, emphasizes or defines health by what we have little control over, ranking behavior (and we'll assume "other" falls into our controllable) and other as twelve percent.  A quote comes to mind when looking at this model, William Glasser, refers to choices being a form of control, thus if we have limited choices in how we define and access health, we have limited control.  Though, I'd rather not, go "Big Brother" on the matter, but its interesting how little variation there is in what we spend on our health as a society.  We can see a much more balanced model on the left that gives us control to define health as we see fit, and as science confirms, contributes more fully to our overall health.

Having structure is one thing, and I'm completely okay with that.  However, confining structures reminds me of Henry David Thoreau's, "An unjust law, is no law at all" idea.  Structure that limits, excludes and weakens, isn't much of a structure, as much as it is a institution or confinement.  Our abilities are the essentials to health even from a holistic approach.  What we are able to do, should be the absolute definition that measures our health.  Our ability to run, live, work, play, socialize, love, pray, grow, and recover, truly defines our health.  So to define health we simply need to measure our ability to do.....

A life you don't live is still lost.  - John Rzeznik

The Big Word Theorem

Can looking for a big word, make us miss the point?

Can we as a society deem big words floccinaucinihilipilificatious?  Could we dare to shun conversations steeped in hippopotomonstrosesquipedalian from a society bent on over complication?  Either way, the theorem of big words lends to more underlying notions that shape our thought processes outside of just vocabulary.  Some time ago (even up until recent) using big words meant that you were intelligent or educated.  Big words, by definition consist of several syllables and more than nine or ten letters.  But this theory can define a lot of things we do, over and above what we say or how we say it.  Bigger is better, one television ad proclaimed.  But, is that true, or better yet, is that all?  What I mean by all, is, is the only thing thats good, big?  Can better be small, or can it be relative.  The Big Word Theorem is the idea that big words define what is pinnacle or "good" in our speech, and other aspects.  The whole notion that bigger is better exists greatly in this theorem.  But, we, those of us who enjoy the thought of defiance (within modest, or prude reason), notice that it's not the big word that deems it better, but the rare employment of the word.  Just as most of us have never seen, heard and quite frankly ever had to pronounce hippopotomonstrosesquipedalian, the usage of words that aren't readily accessible in our cognitive library points to how we define what is a "big word".  When often times, words like airling, bilk, and abrogate are just as scarcely used in common amicable circles.

Okay, so what does THIS have to do with health...?  Well, the theorem, confers the idea that health solutions (when looking at this under the microscope of the Big Word Theorem) need to be big, complex or even lean towards cumbersome (just like our hippo- word up there...).  When this isn't always, and hopefully not often the case.  Small and unique changes and plans can modify behaviors and improve lifestyles.  Small words that aren't used as much, lend to more manageable and easier to use ways of communicating, which in turn improve our speech.  Likewise, these small adjustments can improve our lifestyle gradually and allow us to feel better.  For instance, for soda drinkers, instead of cutting out soda cold turkey and moving towards water, as small adjustment to replace half of your intake to water or low calorie or sugar juice will encourage more gradual and sustainable change.  Of course, you'll want to build on that progress and soon, find the taste for soda far from your pallet.

Health indicators never start out as a big word, but small ones, linking together.  Like the letter a; by itself it isn't much of a word, but then if we add fore to the single letter it compounds.  Furthermore, if mentioned accompanied the previous, we now have aforementioned, which respectfully is a much larger word than what we started with.  This is similar to how disease and obesity seeps around us with little hesitation, but with great cautiousness. 

When looking for big words to define our success or abilities, we miss the point.  Not looking to over complicate or confuse matters saves time, energy and quite frankly lives.  If we're looking for big things to change our healthcare system, or community health, or our personal health; keep looking... It's a long way off, if it comes at all.  We'd do well to be conscious of the small and adequate solutions to our health that are manageable like our unassuming friend bilk.  Incremental changes allow us to be effective in both measuring and accomplishing our health goals and not waiting or actively searching for the next "big" thing.

The Big Word Theorem, is the notion that what is big is good or better and what is not isn't.  Our health is a big deal, big issue, and big question, but it doesn't need "big" things to solve it.  Small words are just as effective and more likely to find themselves in the mouths of people.  In the same instance, measurable and manageable health objectives are also key and most effective in sacking our dear opponent obesity and its disconcerting cousin disease.  Our efforts need to be geared towards behavior change, and prevention, this way we can all take an active approach to our own health.

So, how do you conquer a big mountain, long journey, or huge math problem?  One small manageable step at a time....

A Breath Of Fresh Air (Part 4, Environmental)

Each involuntary breathe is exercised under our own volition

If someone breathes in the woods and no one's there to hear - wait that's not it... What is the sound of one person breathing.... Again, not it.  What I'm trying to convey is the mystery or paradox of our involuntary functions and their correlation to our compulsory social responsibilities.  Though breathing is free (for now), what we breathe in has its costs.  Lower income locations in metropolitan areas, high industrious communities defile air qualities, emit nauseous fumes, and pollute the air, diminishing air visibility.  To see, breathe and be healthy are all (to an extend) free expressions of life.  This segment will discuss the fourth part of the seven dimensions of wellness, environmental health.

Our environment surrounds us and should protect us just as our own skin does.  Both allow us to move, and engage in the life we so value and to some extent possess.  Our environment consists of not only buildings, cars, houses, streets, trees, and the like, but also people, animals, and our air.  Though this earth is designed to renew itself, it is fragile and delicate in many areas.  Overuse and deforestation are causing compound problems that we're still uncovering today.  Our lives depend on the environment around us to such an extent that even small changes in climate or air quality can cause illness or worse.

To continue ahead on a less morbid note, I encourage you to, again, think with me about how our environment affects health in our society and more importantly us personally.  However, to think in a superficial level doesn't do us much good, just as most who would immediately relate environmental and health to respiratory issues and dehydration or hypothermia.  We on the other hand need to delve deeper into more reflective issues, in hopes to bring about answers to larger scales.  So, I'll pose a question to get us underway, are the best or most important things in life free?

Environmental health is a combination of factors and positions that have become larger than the possible solution.  This sheds light on the point that our environment is the victim of a lot of mishaps, capitalistic gains and poor design (in some instances).  Inasmuch, our health, unfortunately, follows the same series of actions.  Its mishaps on our part in the way we manage our health and our responsibility to make a more consorted effort to consume less and recycle more.  It is also capitalistic gains that affect our health and our environment alike.  With more unnecessary surgeries, poorer foods being more available, higher costs to be healthy, and poor locations for big business where people live and congregate.  Also, poor design has handled our health and environment in a similar fashion, with poor asset maps in under-served communities, and food deserts in highly populated areas.  While poor design, lauds its inefficient communities and healthcare systems in the faces of those who need it most.

Overall, our environmental health relies on us to take a more aggressive stance on what we buy, consume, and recycle.  Being conscious of who we are as citizens of a world, more so than of a neighborhood or town, can help us look to contribute, know and help more.  Creating environments within our environment that fosters more earth conscious members of the community, more savvy shoppers and people who take pride in giving back to one of the most generous resources we know, earth.

Okay, so what is the sound of one person breathing... or can we hear someone breathing in the woods by themselves, if no one is there? (yeah, I know... it doesn't make sense)  However, my point is this, our environmental health isn't some riddle or abstract thought that may never be answered, more than that it's a legitimate concern that needs all of us to do our share in making where we live, laugh, exist and breathe a better place.

Having a plan doesn't always mean you're ready, but, it means you're serious.  

The Innate Escape... (Part 3, Spiritual)

Where did this go?

Isn't it true, there's something almost euphoric, or pure about the happiness or glee of a baby.  When we look at children (babies in particular) we see this innocence that rivals even the most honest-hearted man or woman, eclipsing  all our efforts of good and cheer, leaving us in awe of their delight.  They have it figured out, don't they? Scientists list human babies as one of the most vulnerable newborns on planet earth.  Rightfully so, at least infant zebras can walk, though with some difficulty, they walk nonetheless.  However, the potential of the two (zebra and human infant) are vastly different, one will excel to amazing abilities that mark them highest on the food chain, while the other, sadly enough, may find the speed and strength of the lion insurmountable.  

This aspect of health deals with the baby - no, more so its spirit.  We will discuss how this unrivaled beauty embraces spirit, and if competent and compassionate enough, we too can garner some of that goodness within ourselves.  Spiritual health is often discussed in a abstract manner, as not to conflict with popular belief or to create what we want in spirituality.  Take a moment and look again at the picture, just as Mona Lisa's smile tells so many stories, this picture too, shows us how to smile from within.  Happiness is fleeting, but joy is internal.  Being happy with yourself and believing it, are the foundations of growth beyond one's perceived limits.  An infant doesn't worry about tomorrow, or what he or she is wearing (or if they're wearing anything at all...), life isn't scary, nor cumbersome.  Their joy is in the moment, however, their confidence (though that idea and word is far removed from them at the moment) is in the strength, love, and mercy of their parents.  

Let's delve into this a little, remember, human infants are the most vulnerable of creatures this world produces, thus, they are helpless and completely dependent on their guardians for help.  In like manner, a good guardian is always there, even when they're not needed (or so it may seem), to ensure that their needs are met.  When a baby cries, it's consoled, when it's hungry it's fed until there is no more want.  Lastly, it's given attention in such quantity (and with admirable quality, I might add) that the child has to escape to rest to conclude the activities.  All these are innate in all of us, thus, escaping to that respective place is possible and at a turn necessary.  

Spirituality isn't our creation, though the word was created by us, the idea existed far before we labeled it.  With that being said, spirituality isn't what can we do for it, rather, what can our spirituality can do for us.  Just like that infant we too need to develop trust and rely on spirituality to guide, protect and keep us while we meander through this most difficult and sometimes daunting existence.  Wouldn't it be great to have the responsibility of an infant, which is to say none?  Well, that may not be possible, but to a measure, we could learn to give place to the idea of making things simpler for ourselves.  

The idea of God comes to mind when addressing the rank of spirituality, and rightfully so.  However, let us not be bound by foolish thought and think that a God is invisible.  The word God, is nothing more than a title.  This simple explanation will make sense, once we define the title itself.  Anything that you value as supreme, all that is complete and is zenith in our lives can hold the title of a God.  With this foundation, now it is easier to see what we cherish most, and there our spirituality will be best placed.  We as human beings, especially in the US, we find "things" to consume a large portion of that definition.  Stuff, put simply, has a high value amongst us, and not to overly criticize, some of the stuff we see is pretty cool.  However, it's just stuff....  

Our spiritual health will rely on our ability to peek through the mire of material, and place our focus on defining our spirituality to accomplish super human feats.... And why not, if it is humanly possible, than how much faith, and hope should it require, not much.... The infant, so proudly displayed above reflects spirituality by giving way to joy, and enjoying the moment of life it has so preciously been introduced to.  Though, it is impossible to revert (and frankly, counterproductive) we would be fortunate to love, laugh, live, play and enjoy others to such a degree.  

Being complete is our goal as humans, and our spiritual health is a key part of that.  Let your spiritual health be defined by things unimaginable by mankind, but by the things unrivaled in this world.  Stuff  will always be here, and new stuff is only tomorrows old stuff.  Look to love, and laugh everyday, be encouraging and uplifting to all you come in contact with.  Live like you've been truly forgiven and love like your life depended on it.  Be kind to yourselves, and never let a moment go by without telling all who are deserving, how wonderful they are to you.  

Live like you'll never die, because you just may not.........

What Emoticon's Can't Convey... (Part 2, Emotion)

Sometimes our emotions are misunderstood...

Health can sometimes be trial by fire.  Often times we only know how good our health is, by experiencing points of poor health or injury.  However, we'll discuss a segment of health that rivals social and most all other aspects of health.  This being our emotions, most often referred to as our inner selves. This enigma stems from so many factors; for instances or experiences, likes, dislikes, fears, beliefs, hopes and our background.  To venture effectively down this once taboo road, we need to really stress how important our emotions are.  Our emotions drive so many aspects of our life and tend to cloud better judgement if we aren't careful.  I liken our emotions to a  sword, there are multiple uses, yet the purpose of it is clear.  Our emotions serve so many purposes, they protect us, guide us, inspire us, and comfort us, all the while they are all small parts of the complete us. 

 

How are our emotions related to health?  Well, that would be easy for most of us, but let's think of this in a more constructive fashion.  With the epidemic of obesity looming on several corners, signs and commercials, we have very little doubt that this is a serious issue.  Can our emotions be a culprit, or can our emotions be the identifying factor why we have this issue in the first place?  Though, some could draw basic conclusions to eating disorders as a clue to how emotions affect obesity and health, we however, cannot rely on general knowledge or surface thoughts to measure emotion's role in our health struggles. We need a more challenging and full spectrum approach to even glean slight understandings to what's really happening in our society.  

We will discuss, as legitimate factors, stress, suppression, optimism and change.  These effect our emotions everyday and have the greatest impact on our emotional well-being, thus our health as well.  The first of these, stress, is a serious issue.  I define stress as such, "Stress is not the presence of a problem, but the absence of an answer."  When we have no answers for our problems, we can find ourselves stressed.  Sometimes we may have the answer, but cannot come to terms with it.  Either way stress is related to many health conditions including hypertension, heart-attack and stroke.  We would do well to take time to diligently search for solutions, or if there isn't one, come to terms with the circumstance with a resilient resolve to manage it effectively.  

Suppression, is our ability to feel as if we have to keep our emotions from ourselves.  As odd as that may sound, it is rather common and quite dangerous.  Giving place to our emotions is healthy, we are our own worst critics sometimes, however, we need to express ourselves freely.  Though tact and positivity be our guide, we need to understand that what we've experienced, saw, or felt was real and affected us.  By giving space to such thoughts we give ourselves the opportunity to live and heal from less than pleasant experiences.  In regards to optimism, this one is rather disheartening, and from my vantage point, it isn't us to blame.  I find that our ever pressing and unstable society crams our thoughts and optimism with unceasing intensity.  Job security, crime, vanishing IRA's, unyielding debt, rising costs of living, and many other distresses causes one to have a unhealthy dose of doubt and uncertainty.  This coupled with our own personal matters, makes it easy to see how, being optimistic is more a word than a way of thinking. 

Lastly, change, this one, I believe is beautiful and scary at times.  Change, and being comfortable with change are skills that we need to hone and embrace.  In our ever changing world we need to know things will NOT stay the same.  The good old days, are mere moments and the moments we experience have changed so fast we often forget them.  If we look positively for the change to come with a "Could be good, could be bad, it's too soon to tell" attitude we will fair well.  

Coping with emotions can be difficult, sometime we can struggle on how to identify with them, or even how to share our feelings effectively.  Though this was a surface discussion, that if given the time, could be a novel or dense public discussion on many levels, we can see that our emotions play a vital part in our personal assimilation and growth.  Our emotions are misunderstood, even by us, having a positive view takes effort and rightfully so.  

What we know, how we learn and what we apply can affect how we think, thus, in turn, shape our emotions.  I believe Bertrand Russell said, "The degree of one's emotions varies inversely with one's knowledge of the facts."  Being cognitively fit means knowing who we are and settling with the idea that we will never stop growing.  

Take to Talking... (Part 1, Social)

We are all characters, but we aren't all playing our part.

We have approached a new segment that delves into the thought of the seven dimensions of wellness.  These, though rather new to our thinking, are in fact primary and fundamental ideals of how the human body functions.  We pick up our thought here, at the first part of wellness; prior to that, we should define wellness.  Wellness is the state of well-being, though this concept is more abstract the essential identifying mark is measured in our ability.  Our ability to do the simplest of tasks, ranging toward the more difficult or complex, this ability aids us in measuring our overall wellness.  

When asked, "How are you doing?", what comes to mind?  What aspect of your life are you basing your response off of?  Is it the recent experience at work or school, is it the level of comfort you have with the person asking, or do we base it off an agile or alert evaluation of our physical health?  The idea yields to the concept of wellness; all of those factors play into the response and should be factored in appropriately.  Wellness is a culmination of all that we experience, feel, and interact with.  Such a simple question, but such a loaded response... 

The first segment of wellness we will discuss together is Social Wellness.  With a key understanding of wellness we can confidently address our social wellness.  Our society is quite the oddity isn't it?  We live by agreement, yet we thrive on reassurance, all the while making unconscious yet pointed efforts to isolate ourselves.  The dichotomy of our society and its social makeup can be confusing.  When is a good time to speak, should you speak, how to speak and the like can be intimidating and also confusing.  What is a friend, or who do you divulge information to, and how much also make matters of social engagement disconcerting.  Being yourself has become so popular that everyone is the same, we run from conformity for conformity sake, yet we yield to the primitive and essential idea that collaboration and community are the staples of life.  Balancing this all while trying to find a niche (if you will) in the social arena can make for strange and sometimes, humorous occurrences.  

The ability to have a social experience with others is necessary and often substituted for a more manageable and accepting backup.  This backup is the realm of technology, where we have no face, but the one we want, and have a voice more scripted and without the inflection of meaning and sincerity.  A place where miles and borders are mere formalities and lines.  A place where Egypt, Alaska, and Japan are all as close as arms reach.  However, this isn't without its flaws and shortcomings, who we are or who we are speaking with may not be fact.  Intentions, and ideals may be unclear and deception is as probably (if not more so) as success.  

Speaking, interacting and having a physical relation with others can not be ignored or devalued.  We are finding the written and verbal arts deteriorate at alarming pace.  Conversing with others and engaging in social context are becoming prized events, rather than the norm.  Our society is a busy one, and becoming more the case as we "progress".  Our social health depends on our ability to function in our society effectively.  Text messages, social media and the like have their respective place in our society and serve a purpose.  However, it would be unwise of us to supplant our innate design to have a healthy social experience, for the injudicious stints of updates, likes, favorites and "lol's". 

This is not to say social media is bad, but to say it is essential is rather troubling too.  The more we plug in we disconnect, the same way the more we break the mold we set the pattern.  Social health is very important and young and old can truly benefit from it.  Our older populations are often isolated and illnesses can begin to express themselves; our younger population the same, start to find less than desirable things to occupy their minds when fronted with anti-socialism. 

Lifting weights and eating kale is all fine and well, but that's not all there is to health.  We need to be more diverse and more open and engage in all aspects of our lives.  We don't just clean the outside of a dirty cup do we?  Likewise, we pay attention to all parts, ensuring that we are complete.  Have fun, and truly enjoy the ability to socialize, we learn so much from one another and strengthen one another in the process.  Human interaction seems to be going out of style in some parts.  Lets resolve to bring it back.    

Out of the Mouth, Healing...

Our speech can be likened to our diets.

When discussing the power of our words Dr. Maya Angelou went as far as to suggest that, the power of words had lasting and remaining effects on the human, tangible sphere.  To this point we indulge in another journey through thought to, in hopes, evoke some level of personal change.  

The amount of words spoken each day, in each city, in each part of the world has to be one of the largest and most unmeasurable statistics there is.  We communicate through the spoken word and have come to evolve our language to express detail and impactful thoughts and emotions.  We've come to understand how to convey numbers so large that only characters and letters could comprehend their mass.  We've expressed love, hate, struggle and betrayal all with the finesse of the written and spoken word.  So, what we ingest through the written and spoken word could also impact us, just as what we take in through our diet could.  Both yielding results that are representative of what we've taken in.  

With Dr. Angelou's theory in mind, which lends to the idea the words are tangible, could we for a moment think of words as fragments of matter that are formed, seasoned, energized and then released into the air around us?  With this being so, could words affect us personally?  Well, we all know the answer to that, so without going down that road, let's dig a little to see what else we can glean from this idea.  We hear the sayings, words hurt, and words sting, we also hear words can up build and words can strengthen.  How can letters formed together and expressed through audible sounds create a physical reaction?  It would seem Dr. Angelou's theory is no more theory than actuality.  If a word could cause pain, just as a strike or internal body malfunction (which are both physical manifestations), then it would be reasonable to assign them a measure of physical property.  

For the more versed and well rounded, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue..." Proverbs 18:21 (NWT).  In a simplified way, good and bad words have lasting and serious affects.  How impactful, then, are words that strike with the intent to harm?  To the contrasting side, how wonderful and appreciative are words that build up?  Verbal abuse has often been listed as the one most hurtful and lasting form of abuse.  Why?  The scour of hurtful words can have lasting and often deep seeded affects on our emotions or psyche.  Words can be used as the cheapest, quickest and easily accessible munitions with long range, high impact and devastating outcome.  Moreover, words, like bad experiences, are far harder to remove and shape how we engage the world around us.  

So, then, what does this have to do with health (which is the premise)?  Obesity, is a physical manifestation of more secluded and deeper emotions and thoughts most of the time.  Be advised, that there are forms of obesity that have little to do with diet and are results of malfunctioning Thyroids; however, these  contribute to a significantly small percentage of the population. In the article Who Is Food? We discussed how food satiates emotional and psychological gaps within us.  Some (if not a large number of) these gaps arise from past experiences that have hurt us or caused us to think less of ourselves.  Words from a loved one or close friend or spouse could have ignited a poor perception of us in our minds and causes personality traits that could damage our esteem or outlook.  

Encouragement, is critical and essential to all of us.  Health requires that we are encouraged to forge ahead making decisions that require discipline and confidence.  Doctors, nurses, personal trainers, physical therapists, surgeons, public health officials, community health liaisons and many more should be the voice and pillar of encouragement.  More than those, are our friends and loved ones, these make up our life and support system.  Health is a community effort, especially since disease has a corporate reach.  What we say, shows sincerely, what we mean and intend.  How vital it is as health professionals, and friends it is to resolve to always up build our colleagues, friends and communities to achieve the best or the most good we can.  Our speech is one of the few things we can control, and yet it is one of the many things we allow to spew forth discouragement, disdain and separations.  

Mental health, and community health relies on our ability to speak in a way, and work in a way that implies our endearment for better.  Inconsistency in our speech could convey inconsistencies on our abilities.  A healthy mind reflects on what we should say and how we could say it, this being said, let health be a mental attitude as much as a internal one.  Happy is healthy, just as confidence is a sign of health as well.  Both, are subject to the harms and attacks of someones speech.  

In closing, "do not withhold a kind saying, if it is in your power to do so..."

What does it take to blossom (Part 6)

A flower's uniqueness is its own, but a flower earns its grace from its stem

During this migration through thought and botany, I feel it is fair to address the objective of this series once more.  Movement of the Mind is dedicated to providing insight to focus on cognitive plyometrics.  Cognitive plyometrics is indeed necessary, with all the discussion in our society of being fit, exercising and eating healthy, very little asks us to think differently.  "We will never be what we never think", we as human beings are obligated to use our thinking faculties to generate not only thoughts, but change.  Before conditioning the body, which is important, we need to exercise  the ability to think, rationalize, and reason.  The most important muscle in the body, is often under worked and over strained and under appreciated.  I am a firm believer in health and the magic of proper diet and exercise.  I am more enthused by how we think and why we think about matters pertaining not only to us but our surroundings.

In this piece of What it takes to Blossom I am intrigued to go with you down this path of understanding on the significance of the stem or pedicel.  The stem is often overlooked and devalued as a part of the plant, but not distinctly part of the flower.  The stem is often portrayed as the "thing" that supports the flower upright.  However, the larger the flower the stronger the stem, right?  A stem actually does more than just support the beauty that is the flower, but it is its main source of life and energy.  A flower's uniqueness is it's own, but the flower earns its grace from its stem.  The stem distributes food to all parts of the flower and also transports energy and nutrients from the roots.  All this happens while the flower lauds its grandeur to the world.

What about us?  What is our stem?  More importantly, if we have a stem, is it providing the essentials of what is needed to put forth the best us?  While I can't answer that for your, I do implore you to search your thoughts appropriately for the answer.  But, let's digress a bit.  What is a stem in our case anyway?  Our stem could be linked to our exercise or active leisure.  -Wait ...What?!  Well, yes, having a measure of physical activity, can be likened to the stem of a flower.  Let's look at some similarities and let's see if exercise could be interchanged.  A stem is a source of energy, offers balance (both physical and emotional), provides nutrients, source of strength, has the ability to support, and provides a connection to our roots (Read Part 4 of this series regarding roots).

It's almost uncanny the comparison, the ties between the two.  But, don't worry, this is not a suggestion to start power-lifting and mountain climbing.  Physical activity or active leisure time can be a family event or mild enough for the most novice of exercisers.  Yet and still it is very important to incorporate into our daily existence. 

Being active is subjective, but the effects are not.  Having either active leisure time or exercise can also reduce the effects of some chronic conditions and lower the risk of them appearing in the first place.  A stem only exists to support the flower, so, physical activity should only be a means to support us.  There is a healthy balance between too much exercise, or exercise consuming our existence, and too little exercise, or giving no credulity to its life changing power.  So the question now is, how strong is our stem?  Could you attest to the strength and effectiveness of your physical activity or stem?  Notice the two points that represent the stem, both strength and effectiveness.

A stem strong and almost woody, but cannot transport nutrients bodes well for no one.  Eventually that strength becomes irrelevant and the flower dies.  But, when coupled with effectiveness the stem can provide the positives and be strong enough to support the flower and both can thrive and put forth the amazing wonder we see in gardens and fields today.  Can we label our physical activity as both strong, or engaging and effective, beneficial and sustainable?  If so, congrats, and if not, there's work to do.

Physical activity can be much more sustainable in a community setting, just as a field of flowers stand more impressive and stronger together.  We as a society can do this, it will take sacrifice and discipline, but tell me, what worth while in life doesn't?  I find a lot of people have given up or lost their ability to try.  This disheartening reality is becoming more and more apparent, especially in our youth.  Can a flower exist aside from the petal, or pistil?  Then we would do well to understand that the stems supports us in all aspects of our life.  Finding someone, a friend, partner or group to share in this realm of life can make the difference and prove most successful.  Let our stem not define us but refine us and help us put forth the most radiant, beautiful and best us.

"If you want to go somewhere fast you run, but if you want to go far you bring a friend" - Old African Proverb

 
 

Whose Elephant Is This Anyway?!

Why does the idea of a multifaceted solution concept seem so absurd in a multifaceted world?

In a world plagued with differentiating views, ideas, resolves, stances and approaches, is it fair to approach health and health literacy in a single linear fashion?  I mean, a one size fits all approach to multifaceted health problems.  Well, if we look at obesity and disease they seem to have distinct identifying marks.  Obesity, simply put is excess weight on the body, which in turn may lead to more severe co-morbidities.  Disease, in the same fashion, is a disorder or malfunction in the body.  Two very simple definitions, but very difficult opponents to sack.  In reading February 2011's Scientific American by David H. Freedman on, How To Fix The Obesity Crisis, they found that there are a lot of confined ideas that, though with good intention, were isolating or relating obesity and its causes to individual (or linear) aspects of life.  For example, claiming that soda is linked to obesity, and causes obesity.  Though, soda does have high concentrations of sugar and carries three percent of your daily sodium intake; it isn't equitable.

The parable of the four blind men and the elephant (which was referred to in the article), lends to an idea, a notion of looking at the same problem and finding different faults or causes within it.  The men, though genuinely impartial, described an animal based on two factors 1) their position, or vantage point, and 2) their feelings, or interpretation.  The fable continues to lead the reader to assume that what object their identifying is completely different and in stark contrast to one another.  All this, later to find that it's all the  same and the view point of each man is correct and justified.

If compared, we too at times look as if we're grasping for answers blindly, as the four men were.  Not confident in any one approach and hoping to find something to slow the mountainous ebb of increasing obese and diseased populations in America.  If lucky or fortunate, we'll find something, anything to stand behind and sell to the nation and the world that will "fix" this serious problem.  However, there is a Judas amongst the crowd, a modern day adversary.

The adversary is just as diversiformed as the solution that insist to tame it.  This adversary is all of us, and in that same breathe none of us at all.  The way we eat, and exercise, gives light that we are our own enemy.  On the other hand our ability to exercise in safe or adequate areas and what we have access to eat confers that the inculpation lies with another entity.  Is the enemy soda, juice, sugar, bread, fat or even salt?  Or is it exercise, behavior, location, ethnicity, demographic, race, money, or infrastructure?

Instead of looking to best define and isolate the elephant that lies in our grip, we would do well to unite the differences and understand why they exist in such close proximity.  In other words, the causes of obesity and its abhorrent cousin disease exist in close proximity with many other problems in our society.  For instance, fast foods versus whole foods, exercise versus cultural influence, and to these points they can be argued pro for both ends to some extent.

The parable doesn't answer the questions of health and in many cases answer very little at all.  However, it opens our minds to stop being answer gathers and shifts us to question "askers".  Our linear perception can be the very intangible thought that separates us from asking the right questions.  So, whose elephant is this anyway?!  ...It's mine, ...and yours and the person a far off from you.  The elephant isn't so much the problem as much as our insistence on what we feel as being absolute and without variance.

The article suggests that fixing the ongoing  problem could find great success by using best practices from other like conditions (alcoholism, drug addiction and autism) to slow or even reverse the effects. Isn't it true that there are so many different ailments we face and contend with today?  Hundreds of different disease, and chronic conditions that afflict so many people everyday.  If we could describe all of them they would look, sound and feel so different from one another; but to our surprise they belong to the same elephant... health. 

"By logic and fact alone can perception be laid waste..."