Tuesday, May 20, 2003

Optimum Health A buzzword thrown around in holistic health is "optimum health." Dr. Andrew Weil uses it a lot and I've heard it elsewhere too. Unlike many buzzwords (especially in technology, let's say) this buzzword has a meaning. Optimum health refers to a person who has decided that absence of disease does not equate to health. Health is something more than that. It is a feeling of vibrancy, a life lived to the fullest. For people who have this mindset, holistic health services are a must. This type of person will want to set aside a certain dollar budget each month to try various holistic health services, not because they are looking for the cure to some disease they have, but because that practice might allow them to live an even fuller life than they already have. Optimum health is an area where allopathic doctors (drugs and surgery) cannot provide much help. But holistic health is specifically geared towards this type of goal, which has an added benefit. If someone is living in optimum health, they are certainly leading a good life, but they are also reducing their chances of coming down with a lifestyle disease (heart disease, cancer, arthritis, osteoporosis, diabetes, etc.). What's the down side? The down side is that it is tough to keep it up. When you are quitting smoking because you were just diagnosed with lung cancer, the motivation is plentiful. But when you are spending considerable time and money to run towards a goal, rather than running away from something, it can be very difficult to keep your motivation going. The urge to cut back on the time or to not spend the money "just this month" will get stronger and stronger the longer you pursue the optimum health plan. The solution to the motivation problem? Don't ask me, I have the problem myself. I guess it's just a matter or perserverance. 11:52:28 AM

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