Being Well and the Man on the Moon

Lewis M Pincus, D.O.

Why is getting in shape, losing weight, exercising or any combination of these so hard for so many? With 25 million people seriously overweight and out of shape, with one-third of our children in the same predicament, what is the mystery? What is the secret ingredient?

Given what not being in good shape costs us, both physically and mentally, and given how many books there are on the market about this subject, we can now safely say that the answer does not lie in the realm of reading the right information. .We know the right stuff. We know about fat grams , pulse taking, stretching, vitamins, antioxidants, mind-body medicine, etc. And while that's certainly a good start, it's not enough. Not even close to enough.

So what's missing? After all, who would deliberately want to suffer from any of the multiple disorders associated with not taking care of yourself? There is, I think, something fundamental that we are missing, something that we have not been coached in, in our quest to be well. Since what is missing is not a pulse, a label, a stretch , a pill, or anything else tangible, it is very hard to pin this down. Let's press on with an example.

In the early 1960's President Kennedy made an incredible announcement. He stood up in front of the world and made the declaration that the United States would, within ten years, send a man to the surface of the moon and return him safely back to earth. With that speech, Kennedy created with nothing more than his speaking the possibility for manned exploration of the moon. He made a public declaration, out loud, and therefore was accountable for the outcome. He then asked for the support of people who could make it all happen (NASA, congress, the public, etc.).

The words were stated, the steps followed, the goal was realized. A great example of the power of commitment and declaration. This may well be the missing ingredient from the wellness recipe that so many of us try to create, time and time again, without managing to produce the desired result.

Our internal conversation/self talk is to us much like the water is to a fish, i.e., we just don't think about it too much, since it is always there, a part of everything that we are. Similarly, how you navigate through the water of your life is in great part determined by the conversations that surround you, much like the water that surrounds the fish. The difference between us and the fish is that the fish never becomes the water, yet human beings frequently behave as if who they are is their thoughts.

In the area of lifestyle change, where many thoughts are grounded in hundreds if not thousands of broken silent promises, the background conversation that we have is lethal. It leaves no room for the possibility of generating wellness because we have failed to make the critical distinction that who we are is not our thoughts. Well being is not a function of what you think. It is the result of what you do. The rehabilitation of your ability to make and keep promises to yourself, the little tiny promises that no one else hears, is the step by step, one at a time positive reinforcing process that starts to turn life around.

Is it easy? No, of course not. Is it real? You bet. In a very real way we create success or failure not only by keeping our promises, but also by cleaning up our broken promises with compassion and forgiveness for ourselves. You remember those words, right? Aren't you the source of almost unlimited love and understanding for other people in your life? Of course you are. But you forgiving you for that donut? Or how about how you looked to you in the mirror when you got out of the shower? Merciless, that's how you are with you! No compassion, no forgiveness, and therefore no possibility to create a new conversation called being well.

So what is your declaration for wellness? Can you start to notice the background voice in your head that thinks there is no possibility for a human such as you, and go ahead and declare yourself anyway? How about one less donut? How about just looking at your sneakers? And when you do something, anything, that's a start, and you should congratulate you!

You know those little times in your day to day when something goes right and you just smile? That smile is a result of every cell in your body responding to you taking care of you. Your mind and body are connected. Be nice to your body, and it will soothe your mind, rehabilitate your power, and quite possibly save your life! To Life!

Copyright, Lewis M Pincus, D.O.

docpincus@msn.com

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