Healthy Living DIY

In truth, there's some value in both approaches. Like anything else in life, balance is key.

It is my general opinion that there's value in planning ahead in life. In fact, it's safe to say that my "default" option most of the time is to make what seems to be the healthier choice. I suppose you've figured that out by now even without my saying so. :-)

So let me play devil's advocate for the moment and root for the hedonists. It's ok to have some fun! You heard it here. Not only that, having fun is healthy.

The hidden flaw in the "apple-eater" philosophy is when the person feels compelled to make a particular choice out of fear or obsession. When their "rules" about eating a particular thing or engaging in a particular activity at a particular time are so overwhelming that they are unable to consider other options.

Example: You start up a healthy diet that limits your consumption of animal products. You are convinced that eating a minimum of animal products is essential to preserving and maintaining your health, reducing cholesterol, etc. You've been doing well with your program. So far...

Until the weekend you decide to show up for Great-Aunt-Gertrude's 95th birthday party. Turns out she loves steak, and still has the choppers to make serving it an option. In fact, she's pretty darned healthy. So the family plans a barbeque.

Your options:

• Eat a few bites and smile. Concentrate on the salad.
• Chow down like you've never seen food before. Heck with the diet.
• Get up on the table and preach about the evils of meat consumption, hurting your folks' feelings, not to mention spoiling the party.

See where I'm going with this? Along with the steak, you've just been served up a values conflict. You believe in your food plan, and you also know it's important to honor the ties with your family.

The conflict needs to be resolved, so why not try this in for size? Could you take a few bites of the steak to keep the peace (assuming it's not an allergy, but rather a preference)? Remember you can't have it both ways. That's the essence of the conflict. Other people in other families might, but today somebody's going to make a scene if you don't try the steak. You could stand your ground, of course. But it would likely compromise your family relationships and upset everyone. Is a couple bites of steak worth it?

Provided you eat right most of the time, why not just go with the flow at the party? If you're able to let the conflict go (i.e. not grumble for the next 10 years about how they "made" you compromise your values or how they "should" have seen things your way), this might be the smoothest solution. Ultimately that's for you to say. In terms of your health, however, it's unlikely that a couple bites of meat on a special occasion is going to rock the boat.

By the way, this is an example of Wellness Opportunity #3 “Resolve personal conflicts and power struggles” as discussed in the Ultimate Stress-Buster Kit. Check it out!

Ok, now for the hidden problem with living for the moment. (There are also some obvious ones; I'm assuming you can see those without my pointing them out.) Many people with this philosophy are equally compelled, but in the other direction.

Some have an extremely low tolerance for discomfort. This is quite unfortunate, frequently leading to addictive behaviors and a very narrow view of what's possible in life.

Others are so consumed by a high-stress lifestyle that they don't have the freedom to either see or choose options outside the narrow little track they're on. Usually this is due to fear that if they let up for even a moment, the sky will fall. They're driven by fear, not pleasure.

Flexibility is the key in either case. The balanced way is to set long-term priorities, live in accordance with them most of the time, and remember that priorities can shift in a moment.

Power tip: find as many healthy ways to have fun as you can!