Let's dive into Chapter 5, where we tackle a deceptively simple question that might just change how you think about your entire life.
Chapter 5: Are You Healthy?
Here's a radical thought: What if everything you've been taught about health is only part of the story?
Most of us think of health as the absence of disease. You know, not being sick. But what if that's like defining wealth as the absence of poverty? What if there's so much more to it?
The World Health Organization defines health as...
"a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity" (WHO, 1946). But even that doesn't capture the full picture.
Let's talk about the four zones of health:
Red Zone: This is where chronic disease lives. Unfortunately, it's where many people find themselves today. As Dr. Mark Hyman points out, "Chronic disease is the biggest threat to our species, yet it's largely preventable" (Hyman, 2020).
Orange Zone: This is dysfunction territory. You're not sick enough for a diagnosis, but you're not thriving either. Sound familiar? You're not alone. This is where many of us live, accepting "fine" as good enough.
Green Zone: Now we're talking! This is good health. You have energy, vitality, and resilience. Your body functions as it should.
Blue Zone: This is optimal health territory. Think of those communities around the world where people routinely live past 100, still climbing trees and dancing at parties. As Dan Buettner's research shows, these aren't anomalies - they're examples of what's possible when we align our lifestyle with our biology (Buettner, 2012).
Here's the thing: Your body is incredibly intelligent. As Dr. Gabor Maté explains, "The body has an innate wisdom that we ignore at our peril" (Maté, 2003). It's constantly working to maintain balance, to heal, to thrive.
But here's where it gets interesting:
- Health is Dynamic: It's not a destination; it's a journey. As functional medicine pioneer Dr. Jeffrey Bland says, "Health is not a static state but a dynamic process" (Bland, 2015).
- Health is Holistic: Your physical health can't be separated from your mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing. They're all connected. As Deepak Chopra notes, "Every cell in your body is eavesdropping on your thoughts" (Chopra, 2018).
- Health is Personal: What works for someone else might not work for you. As Dr. Peter D'Adamo writes in "Eat Right 4 Your Type," "One person's food is another person's poison" (D'Adamo, 1996).
- Health is Environmental: Your environment shapes your health more than your genes do. As Bruce Lipton's research shows, "The environment, not genes, determines the vast majority of our traits" (Lipton, 2005).
So, what does this mean for you?
First, stop thinking about health as merely the absence of disease. Start thinking about it as the presence of vitality. As Arianna Huffington writes, "We need a new definition of success that goes beyond the metrics of money and power to include well-being, wisdom, wonder, and giving" (Huffington, 2014).
Second, understand that your body wants to be healthy. It's designed for it. Your job isn't to force health but to remove the obstacles to health and create the conditions for wellbeing to flourish.
Here's how to start:
- Listen to Your Body: It's constantly sending you signals. Pay attention.
- Focus on Foundation: Sleep, nutrition, movement, and stress management are non-negotiable.
- Create Supporting Environments: Both physical and social environments matter.
- Think Long-Term: Health isn't about quick fixes; it's about sustainable practices.
Remember, you're not broken. You don't need fixing. You need nourishing.
Your body has an incredible capacity for healing and renewal. The 12 Medicines of SelfCare provide a framework for supporting this innate wisdom.
As you move forward, ask yourself: Which health zone am I in now? Which zone do I want to be in? What small step can I take today to move in that direction?
Your health is your greatest wealth. It's time to invest in it wisely.
Join SelfCare skool to find out what zone you are in :)
References:
Bland, J. (2015). The Disease Delusion: Conquering the Causes of Chronic Illness for a Healthier, Longer, and Happier Life. HarperOne.
Buettner, D. (2012). The Blue Zones: 9 Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who've Lived the Longest. National Geographic.
Chopra, D. (2018). The Healing Self. Harmony Books.
D'Adamo, P. (1996). Eat Right 4 Your Type. Putnam Adult.
Huffington, A. (2014). Thrive. Harmony Books.
Hyman, M. (2020). Food Fix: How to Save Our Health, Our Economy, Our Communities, and Our Planet--One Bite at a Time. Little, Brown Spark.
Lipton, B. (2005). The Biology of Belief. Mountain of Love Productions.
Maté, G. (2003). When the Body Says No: Understanding the Stress-Disease Connection. Wiley.
World Health Organization. (1946). Constitution of the World Health Organization.
