The Successful Journey to OPTIMAL HEALTH

Creating health is a gradual, life-long process. Every day is an opportunity to refine and strengthen the habits of health while at the same time reducing and eliminating the habits of disease. Achieving optimal health can take time, and it requires more than simply adjusting what an individual chooses to eat.

            When considering one’s health, identifying goals is probably not too difficult. Of course, most would love to be healthier and more active, or spend more time with friends and family. Parents, particularly fathers, desire to play catch with the kids; and, moreover, those advanced in years, or experiencing declining health, would love to climb a flight of stairs without being out of breath. Others want to travel abroad or climb a mountain, or even run a marathon.

            Having goals is a good first step, but goals alone aren’t enough to inspire a lasting change. Goals must be positioned within a structure that supports them. With the right structure, the chances of achieving success greatly increase. With the wrong structure, the hope of success diminishes.

            Think of it this way: If someone is planning to build a bridge over a chasm, that individual would want a bridge that’s strong, durable and reliable. If the bridge is not built that way, then the chances of reaching the other side are doubtful.

            When building a bridge toward an intended goal, many support structures are important. Building a bridge can be very challenging, with many pieces that might prove too heavy to lift alone. The journey to realizing one’s goals can be easier if a support network is created of like-minded individuals that will help and provide much-needed encouragement.

            This social structure can be incredibly powerful, and in my own experience, it is one of the most important tools for ensuring a client’s success. Whether an individual needs help putting the pieces of his or her bridge in place, or a safety net to help him or her back up if he or she suffers a fall, creating supportive relationships comprised of inspiring people can mean the difference between turning a goal into an achievement or, sadly, slipping back into the bad habits of disease.

People within a support network will fall into three general categories, and all of them are helpful:

Mentors: These people give advice and guidance, helping to steer an individual to make the right choices, coaching him or her through hard times. Sometimes, mentors are trained health professionals, while other times, they are simply people we know that have successfully made the changes we desire.

Peers: Connecting with people that are right where we are in the journey can provide a comforting friend to stave off isolation and a helpful shoulder to lean on in times of weakness. We are not alone. There are many other people experiencing the same challenges that we can learn from.

Newbies: A few weeks or months into the process, to see someone embarking on his or her very own journey can provide a special type of inspiration. An individual can get a better sense of how far he or she has come, revealing an empowering opportunity to help someone, or become a mentor, which, in turn, strengthens one’s own commitment to health.

Beginning Monday, January 12, Take Shape For Life is sponsoring a six-week health challenge titled The Healthy Games–the Optimal Healthy Weight-Loss Challenge, providing a wonderful opportunity for journey seekers to find the tools, resources and support needed for the pursuit of optimal health.

For more information, call Certified Health Coach Sylvia Saunders Stevens at 803-917-3226 or email her at [email protected].