Healthy Living DIY

Perspective. This topic came up in a coaching session just last week. Then it came up again on a gardening forum I participate in. Well, that started me thinking. My friend the fly sometimes gets misunderstood. He's such a helpful guy, too! Maybe it would be good to spend some time getting aquainted...

If I had to look back over my entire education in energy medicine, both the book learning and most especially the experiential part, there is one distinction that without question made the biggest impact on my learning process -- and on my own personal health. It was the process of gaining an appreciation for the health-enhancing value of learning to choose perspective on the events of a person's life.

Understanding the value of perspective with respect to health can be a challenge to grasp. It's even more of a challenge to apply. In my case (maybe I'm slow), it took several years of really reaching for the brass ring, aided by a long string of mostly-compassionate, patient teachers gently and not-so-gently nudging me along one little step at a time. We will only be able to just scratch the surface in a short article such as this one.

Before we go any further, I'd like to make one thing very clear. I am not "for," do not advocate, and do not condone any of the following:

• Rape
• Murder
• Marital infidelity
• Robbery
• Coersion
• Gang or Mob involvement
• Rudeness
• Insensitivity to another person's values or culture
• Invalidating another person's essence or being
• Abusive neglect
• Unprovoked personal or group attack
• Acts of terrorism
• Or any other action or practice that causes or enhances unnecessary human suffering.

I also do not know why parents sometimes have to bury their children or grandchildren, why natural disasters strike, why innocent children get cancer, or the "why" behind other occurrences of that nature.

What I do know is that whether or not I like it, with or without my approval, all of these things happen. They happen to us, us humans. And until or unless we can gain a measure of control over our emotions in the aftermath, actions or events like these can control -- even ruin -- our lives. In addition to rendering us incapable of productive activity -- sometimes for many years, they can cause us to lose focus while driving (causing accidents), disable our immune systems (leaving us open to disease), and cause bodily pain and discomfort (sometimes to the point of complete disability). I have seen all of these things occur.

For me, this matter of perception and empowerment is the single most preventable cause of human suffering that I can impact. I know it is possible to gain control over those emotions and reclaim our lives.

In this process, our ally is the humble fly.

"I can't do what I said I was going to do because of my low self-esteem."

Occasionally someone says this right out. But more often, their belief is hiding between the lines -- in the message behind the words the person actually uses. Nonetheless, this belief is out there and it's out there big.

The person really, truly believes that if he (or she, but let's just stick with he for now) were to miraculously be granted a higher dose of self-esteem, he would begin making better choices on his own behalf. That other people would begin to treat him differently. That his whole life would turn around!

I apologize right now for my frankness. But I have beat around the bush with this fallacy long enough. It's time to be very, very clear. If you have a Word Cures book, take it out right now and turn to page 123. Re-read the chapter. You'll see how it applies here.

The person is right about a couple of things. The potential is there for other people to treat him better, for him to treat himself better, and for his whole life to turn around. It's true! And, yes, it's hooked in to his self-esteem. But not in the way he thinks.

Here's the thing.

He can re-build his self-esteem himself. So can you. And I'm going to tell you how to do it right now.

Who has extra time these days? Nobody, of course. Anyone who can't find enough to do in this 24/7 society is a very rare duck.

In fact, a good number of us appear chronically overwhelmed and overscheduled. If you ask what's going on, most will tell you, "I just don't have enough time!"

I don't think lack of time is the real issue, though. We all have access to time in equal quantity. Yet it's fair to say that if you look around, people use the time they have very differently.

Some people juggle kids, jobs, school, meetings, work-outs, and healthy meals with apparent ease. Others struggle to drag out of bed to the office and back.

What's the difference? Hint: it isn't time.

Have you ever been stuck ... really stuck ... for the solution to a problem? Someplace in your life where creativity and originality would really make a difference? Like these:

• What to get that special someone for Christmas.
• The best title for your new book.
• The best subject for your new book.
• How to dramatically increase your income.
• How to keep your tomatoes from freezing overnight when it gets cold.
• Inventing the lightbulb. (Wait ... someone did that already. And it might just help with your tomato problem.)
• What's in the way of healing your back pain.
• What's in the way of healing any other symptom that bothers you.
• And so on...

When you're stuck for a solution, and I think it happens to each of us occasionally, then you'll want to tap into your intuitive mind. You may not have thought about this before, but your mind provides ready access to both intuitive and logical thinking. Logical thinking is great when you're trying to balance your checkbook or remember how to defrag your C: drive.

But it's a terrible hindrance when it comes to problem-solving!