Health, according to the World Health Organization, is “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being — not merely the absence of disease and infirmity.” WOW! Would you consider yourself healthy by this definition? Not many people would.
Our health span is unfortunately not keeping up with our life span. Humans are living longer and longer, but this means that many people are living longer with chronic disease, spending more time in pain. The problem with the modern medical approach to longevity is that instead of extending our youth it extends our old age. The ‘solutions’ generated by gerontological research propose to ‘reverse the effects aging’ by expensive surgery or proven-on-mice chemistry. At the rate this branch of medicine is going, you’ll be long dead before the lab mice.
The secret of life is to die young, but as late as possible. This guide is not as much about living longer as it is about optimizing our well-being over the course of whatever length of time we have remaining. To do this I propose we preserve the roots of health by engaging in low cost, readily available, time proven (on humans) daily habits that foster well-being.
What is well being? Some say it is tantamount to “living the good life,” being able to cherish and enjoy those people and activities that provide the greatest value in our life. The factors that contribute the most to a well-lived and fulfilling life include personal health, engagement in interesting activities that build on interests, meaningful work, strong social connections, and abundant gratification.
Living well is easy once you learn to make health-promoting choices. This practical guide will teach you how to intelligently and consistently make the kinds of choices that result in a life well lived. Understanding ourselves and how our bodies and minds work naturally leads to making better choices about the care and feeing of our unique being. With a greater sense of understanding comes a greater sense of wonder. With wonder comes appreciation, with appreciation comes a healthy desire to cherish and protect.
You Do You
There is no single magic path to living well. There is only your unique path. The most important thing you can do right away is to step out on the path. Living well really is a journey, THE journey of your lifetime. To live well requires a carefully cultivated attentiveness to the quality of your breathing, hydration, nutrition, exercise, and rest — all of which regulate your biological metabolism; along with generating a positive mind-set and wholesome relationships to regulate your mental metabolism.
In the Grand Adventure chapter, an invitation to accept the Quest to choose your own adventure is put forth in such a way as to reinforce the fact that you CAN DO this, if you want to. This guide teaches how to set yourself up to achieve the Holy Grail of living well.
In the Begin Where You Are chapter we review the fact that you have needs, and everything you are doing is ostensibly seeking to meet your needs. We explore how to meet your needs in healthier ways, how habits are formed, and how to form new healthier habits.
In the Six Pillars of Health chapter you will find sections on Breathing, Hydration, Nourishment, Exercise, Sleep, and Relationships. Each Pillar of Health begins with 3 immediately actionable steps you can take to experience of the benefits of each Pillar. Then there is a 30-day Challenge, along with how to set your time and environment up to achieve each one.
Once you’ve practiced one Pillar of Health for 30 days, it will become an established habit. One by one, you bring each Pillar of Health into your daily routine. Within an exciting, adventure-filled 6 months, you will be enjoying an elevated level of health and well-being — as your new lifestyle!
Drawing on science, philosophy, and neurobiology, this guide shows that living well is truly within our influence. By refocusing on certain priorities and habits that anyone can learn, such as deep breathing, detachment from empty nutrients, connection with our friends, and service to others, we can set ourselves up for increasing health and happiness. Beyond improved health for ourselves, we can shape a more beautiful, fulfilling life.
Please feel free to read this guide from beginning to end, then go back and review key chapters as you wish; or simply jump into any chapter that you have an interest in exploring. The ebook is replete with internal links to make it easy to navigate, and links to videos and other resources that make your experience richer.