From Amanda's very early writing (1990s to early 2000s), shared as it was originally written.
Die Healthy.
DieHealthy is the name of a terrific book on wellnes written by Don Ardell (An American) and Dr Grant Donovan (an Aussie). It outlines 16 steps to a wellness lifestyle. They identify 15 wellness qualities that I thought might be thoguht provoking for your new year lifestyle 'contemplations'.
If I list the points you can think about yourself in relation to the concept and decide if you are 'just right' or could do with a little work in that area!
- high self esteem and a positive outlook. Are you 'naturally' a positive person? If so, it's on the cards your parents tended to be that way. If you are not it's on the cards your parents weren't! Anyone can learn to become positive - if you are having trouble imagining how you could transform yoruself, buy a book called "LEarned Optimism" by Martin Seligman. And how is you self esteem? Dwelling on your good points and things you have done in your life of which you are proud (no matter how small) are smart ways to boost self esteem.
- a sense of purpose. I have written of this before. Life for all of us is more fulfilling and satisfying when we have purpose
usually an altruistic one. The Dalai Lama said our purpose is to be useful and happy. SOunds good to me!
- a strong sense of personal responsibility. We control our own health more than any doctor or other person. Yet too many people a) don't think baout thier health until they are sick and b) then rely on others to fix them or take care of them. Now team, is this fair? Or smart? And too many men rely on their female partners to take on the health responsibility in the home. Educate yourselves about health and then be wary of warning signs of pending illness and DO SOMETHING about it! It's your body and your life.
- a good sense of humor and plenty of fun in life. Too many people are suffering from a chronic sense of humor failure! Anyone who reads this column regularly knows that I am pretty passionate about humor in life. Lets not take ourselves too seriously this year (or ever again!). Lighten up and laugh more - especially at yourself. Life's a joke - and then you die!
- concern for others and a respect for the environment. Caring for others is the best way to have people care for you. Friends and social support networks are critical for wellness. How do you treat your friends? What do you do to stay in touch with them? And do you care for the environemtn or are you one of those that doesn't care about anything other than yourself? In which case you amy need to change yoru thinking if you would like to be well.
- a conscious commitment to personal excellence. Develop your talents - no matter what they are. Do what you do the best you can. This allows you to have personal pride and self respect. Whether you are working or playing , keep your sense of fun and perform to the bnest of your ability.
- a sense of balance and an integrated lifestyle. Are work. play, learning, loving and living balanced in your current lifestyle? Have you let one steal time from another? Do you feel disconnected or fragmented? Or do you have a sense of wholeness and togetherness? If not, perhaps this area could be a focus for a couple of months?
8.
Die Healthy - it's a great book - thank it for this good start to 1995!
freedom from addictive behaviors of a negative or health inhibiting nature.
Smoking, abuse of alchocol and lack of exercise are the big 'no, no's' here. Surprise! If these are ways you handle stress, try alternatives like exercise, deep breathing, meditation or a little therpautic help. Or keep watching comedy videos. Or talk to people. Or help others who are worse at handling life than you are. Or at least make a decision to stop the negative addiction and take up a positive one! Like an addiction to wellness behaviors!
- a capacity to cope with whatever life presents and to continue to learn. Mistakes = learning , not failure! Crises are opportunities to see how you handle pressure and whether you need to improve your skills in this area. Difficult times are tests for you to think about how you are handling the situation and waht you can learn froom it. Richard Bach in his wonderful book Ilusions equalha can learn frsays that 'there is never a problem, without a gift in it's hands for you'- remember that next time you are feeling overwhelmed! Look for what you can learn from the situation.
- grounded in reality. Do you live in the 'real world' or in fantasy or make believe. Do you see things first as they are and ask yourself how they could be? Or do you put life on hold - and use the good old excuse "I'll be happy when ..."; or are you hankering after something that is attainable only if you are prepared to devote your entire life to it? In other words, are you honest with yourself? And your situation.
- highly conditioned and physically fit. OK team, what exercise do you do? And how flexible are you? The minimum you can do to be fit is to walk 4 km in 30 minutes 4 times a week. If that's too big a hurdel just be active. Walk instead of driving. Stairs instead of lifts. Get up to change channels - avoid the remote control. Walk rather than use the drive in facility. Feel good about your body and if you don't - do something about it!
- a capacity to love and an ability to nurture. To be able to love another unconditionally is a fantastic quality. And gives life more meaning. Accepting others for who they are (including yourself) is the greatest way to nurture another (and yourself). Life is very empty when you can't give love freely. Lots of your riends and family deserve yoru love. So do you!
- a capacity to manage life demands. Are you a good time manager? Can you handle what's happening to you and produce results of which you are proud? Or at least satisfied?
- an ability to communicate effectively. A BIG one! How is your communication? Can you say what you mean ,as well as really (I mean really - not just wait for a gap in the conversations so you can say what you want) listen? Do you try to understand your own and others feelings? Do you communicate effectively with yourself?
- possessed of integrity. Are you true to yourself? Do you live up to your committments? Do people know that they can rely on you if you say you will do something? Do you have a strong sense of your values and live by them?
So, how did you fare? These 15 areas are a great starting place for you to evaluate your own wellness quotient - WQ rather than IQ!
