The Key to Health is Defining it for Yourself

No matter where you are on your health journey (which is a life-long journey by the way!) one of the major keys to success is to personally define what “healthy” means to you. Not what you’ve been told by movies, social media, advertisements, friends or family, but your own, personalized definition of health, one that is uniquely yours.

It’s not an easy task. It requires removing from your psyche a lifetime of stereotypes of health and advice from others. Perfect examples include: “healthy” is a certain weight, a certain body type, a certain lifestyle, a certain look, a certain diet.  We have been bombarded with this cacophony of noise for so long, it can be next to impossible to block out. If you don’t define for yourself what “healthy” means, others will do it for you. Your health is a deeply personal journey and a powerful foundation to create the positive change you want to see in your life. Don’t let anyone take away this away from you.

There are so many people who feel like failures when it comes to health — you might be nodding your head – but so much of this feeling of defeat comes from, not being an actual failure, but having a vision of health that does not fit your values, goals, or dreams or resonate with who you are at your core. And this happens when you don’t define what healthy means to you and instead outsource it to someone else.

When you strive for someone else’s definition of health, it is then impossible to not constantly compare yourself to others. Theodore Roosevelt said it best, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” When you are comparing, it is very difficult to see your own personal progress, so you never feel “good enough”. And how motivating is that? This mindset will never get you to where you want to go.

Stop listening to everyone else. Stop comparing yourself to everyone else. Define your own journey. You have all the answers within you. And they are beautifully uniquely yours.

Defining health for yourself is important because only you know what you want to do in life and what gives your life meaning and purpose. The importance of defining your health goes way beyond health itself. It serves as the foundation for where you want to go in life.

Carve out some intentional time and space for yourself. Whether that looks like journaling, walking, meditating, or sitting on the couch, start thinking about your personal definition of health. Dedicate specific, focused time to this exploration. And it doesn’t have to happen all at once. Take five minutes here, ten minutes there and over the course weeks or months you’ll start figuring out where you really want to go. Set a reminder in your calendar.  Dedicating time for yourself is an important investment. You’re worth it. This will be just the beginning. It is a life-long practice that you will continue to go over and fine-tune, as your priorities and life change.

Dream big. Don’t set mental limits. Think of this space you’ve created for yourself as one of infinite possibility. Don’t focus right now on what life-promoting behaviors changes you want (that will come later), instead focus on the big picture. Start by asking yourself the following questions:

• What does your ideal version of your life look like? What would you be doing? Put aside any financial and time concerns or any commitments you currently have.

• What is most important to you in life? What do you value most in life?

• What currently brings meaning to your life? What is something that could bring more meaning to your life?

• When do you feel the most energized and alive? What brings you the most joy?

• How do you want to be spending your time?

• What does your ideal day look like? What is it about that day that is meaningful?

Think about carrying these questions in your wallet.  Pull them out when you have a quiet moment (instead of checking your news feed!).

These questions start helping you get at your big picture and your most important reason for wanting to be healthy in the first place. This process is absolutely imperative in helping you define what type of health promoting behaviors you want to engage in. Once you’re connected to your larger vision, not only have you created something that is uniquely yours, but you are much more likely to be successful because it is something that matters to you, not to some celebrity or social media star. Once you have defined where you want to go, you can work on fitting what health promoting behaviors make most sense for your goals, dreams, and aspirations.

Here is an example. Let’s say your dream next year is to have the energy and confidence to pursue your passion as an artist and start a small business.  But you also want to prioritize your health and you need to take time to care for your aging parents.

Although that looks like a tall order there is a way to get started on your dream. Break the year up into three-month chunks. Start by thinking about what you would like to accomplish in the first three months that aligns with this dream for the next year. Then break these goals into weekly, bite-sized pieces. You do not need to work on every goal at once. Start with one, and when you feel ready, take on another. Below are just examples of goals, and what those baby steps might look like, just to give you an idea.

Goal 1: By the end of three months, every dinner will include only whole-foods, but will continue with the same breakfast and lunch.

• For the first week, I will research a list of whole-foods.

• For the second week, I will create a grocery list that includes whole-food options for dinner.

• For the third week, I will cook one dinner that contains only whole-foods.

Goal 2: By the end of three months, I will go to bed at 10pm and waking up at 7am daily.

• For the first week, I will go to bed at 10pm on Monday.

• For the second week, I will go to bed at 10pm on Tuesday.

• For the third week, I will go to bed at 10pm on Monday and wake up at 7am on Tuesday.

Goal 3: By the end of three months, I will have started an LLC.

• For the first week, I will research how to start on LLC.

• For the second research, I will research business insurance.

• For the third week, I will open a business bank account.

Everyone’s goals are different but good health is the foundation that makes a good life possible. Your definition of health should look different than everyone else’s, because you are your own person, with a unique set of genetics, environment, and life experience. Your definition of health should excite you, motivate you, and bring you energy. Perhaps right now it doesn’t, and that’s fine. Keep working at it. You will get there. We all have a purpose and meaning in life. If you are ever stuck, turn inwards, listen to your mind and body, listen to what it’s telling you. Your answers live within you.