With today's entry, we'll begin to bust 10 common healthy living myths. Of course you're smarter than to believe this stuff yourself. These posts are for your friends ;-). (Be sure and share!)
One concern people have with health-enhancing strategies that aren't covered by their health insurance company is that the strategies might be unproven or dangerous. If the strategy was really valid, so the logic goes, it would have been tested, proved, and approved by the powers that be.
I'm certainly not going to suggest that you simply jump headfirst into any goofy-looking health program that comes down the pike. I won't even suggest that you jump in simply on the basis of the explanation making sense (though that may be a good start).
In the first place, nothing is going to work for everybody. So even if person "a" says they tried it and it produced a miracle in their life, that's no guarantee it's going to do beans for you. Why? Because you and your unique set of life circumstances is completely different from anybody else's.
But a friend's success report might merit your attention. Why? Because it supports Elizabeth's Rule #1 about healthy living strategies - "The strategy has got to work."
Doesn't make the slightest bit of difference how much sense the explanation makes. A persuasive person can make even completely opposing views appear to make sense.
The real question is this: "Does it have a reasonable chance of impacting the situation I'm facing right now in my life?" Followed by, "What are the risks involved?" (Consider both the risks of acting and of failing to act.)
Do your research. Learn about the goals and objectives of the program. Get some feedback from people who have been there already. Then make your choice.
Your insurance company has its own agendas, by the way. And while I don't want to get too cynical in these hallowed pages, it's good to bear in mind that they are "for-profit" endeavors. As such, they might be more interested in substances and equipment that can be patented than those that can't.
The other common question is that of affordability. It's not unusual for people to think they can't afford to pay out of pocket for products or services specifically designed to enhance their health. After all, isn't that what we have insurance for?
Actually, it's not. Health insurance, like the insurance for your car or home, is for those times when your best efforts at proper maintenance and prevention fail.
If you really cannot afford to do the things you need to do to maintain your health, consider that realization a signal to begin creating a different relationship with money.
Perhaps you need more of it. If so, then your health will best be served by increasing your earnings, in whatever ethical way you can figure to do so. I understand that it may not happen overnight, but please begin. Your health, and the health of your family, depends on it!
Signing off-
Elizabeth
Elizabeth Eckert can help you explore how simple everyday choices create health — or undermine even the best of intentions. With a background that ranges from energy medicine to structural bodywork to developmental psychology, this "Stick-To-It Coach" has the experience to support you in creating the healthiest possible expression of — you!
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