What is Good Health For?

What is it for?

Not too long ago I listened to a talk by Seth Godin titled "Stop Stealing Dreams" in which he discussed the educational system. The thesis of the talk was that we need to ask a very important question about education, yet we really don't ever do so.

The question is "What is school for?" Is school designed to create compliant, obedient workers for the factory? It may have been in the early 1900's. Is school designed to teach us how to memorize well? This is probably not a critical skill in the Google era. Perhaps school should teach people how to creatively take concepts and ideas and bring them together in new ways to help our culture? That is starting to sound good. You might come up with different answers, but if school is to serve its function, we should ask "What is it for?"

What is good health for?

I've been thinking about this in relation to health. What is good health for? Most people want good health, but why? What is it for? What does having good health allow you to do?

Here is my attempt at a simple answer. Good health allows you to be the hero in your own life.

Given only so much time in a day, and with many distractions competing for your attention, it is important to consider what you want to be doing with your time. 

Another way to get at the idea might be to ask "What gets you out of bed in the morning?" Interestingly, research studies show that people with a strong sense of purpose in their lives live longer, healthier lives (here are a few if interested: study 1, study 2, study 3.) Having a sense of purpose also informs your choices. It helps you to prioritize whether this activity or that commitment is valuable for you, worth your time and effort.

I'm not saying everything in your life has to serve some higher calling. But if you find yourself saying "I really love creating a home where my family feels loved, connected, and safe" then it is worthwhile to ask if how you spend your time today supports that. If you want to express your creativity and skills by creating a video game that allows people to explore a new reality, ask yourself if your choices today support that.

Be the hero in your own life

Back to health. I believe that having good health - having the energy to take action, the ability to move and live without pain, and the ability to heal when the body is malfunctioning - allows you to live in a way that lets you show up for your family, your business, your career, or whatever you find important in the way that you desire. When you have good health, you can be focused outward, offering your gifts to others. When you have poor health, it makes you focus inward, keeping you from being the hero in your own life.

It's been said that a person with good health has thousands of dreams, and a person with poor health has but one. 

Parting thought

It's been said that a person with good health has thousands of dreams, and a person with poor health has but one.

This week, I hope you can live your dreams. This week, I hope you can be the hero in your own life.

Cheers,

Dr. Topher Fox