HEALTH MATTERS BENEFITS OF A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
HEALTH MATTERS BENEFITS OF A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
By Kepha Nyanumba
It ’ s a busy life for most of us . Keeping ourselves healthy is all too rarely near the top of our list of ‘ things to do ’. The biggest killer in the world today , accounting for 80 % of deaths worldwide , is not war , infection or natural calamities ; the biggest killer is modern lifestyle . When we get lifestyle diseases , it is natural that one of the first questions we ask is , “ why has this happened to me ?” The answer is quite simple – it ’ s our lifestyle .
What is Health and Wellness ?
The World Health Organization defines health as “ not merely the absence of disease or infirmity , but a state of complete physical , mental , and social well-being ”. Wellness is an active process of becoming aware of and making choices towards a healthy and fulfilling life . In other words , wellness is the pursuit of your best possible health and well-being . It is a conscious choice , self directed and self motivating .
Wellness incorporates the power of choice , meaning an individual has the ability to take action towards optimal health . The individual creates the proper environment for a healthier lifestyle . The path of health is an infinite journey and there is no quick fix for optimal health .
‘‘ The biggest killer in the world today , accounting for 80 % of deaths worldwide , is not war , infection or natural calamities ; the biggest killer is modern lifestyle . When we get lifestyle diseases , it is natural that one of the first questions we ask is , “ why has this happened to me ?” The answer is quite simple – it ’ s our lifestyle .”
What is the Importance of Achieving a Balanced Lifestyle ?
Life is very much a balancing act , and we are always just a step away from a fall . If you want to achieve a healthy lifestyle you must take steps to ensure you maintain a certain level of balance spiritually , physically , emotionally , socially and mentally .
We are constantly trying to move forward with our purpose , to achieve our goals , while trying to keep in balance the various elements of our lives . If any aspect of our life draws a disproportionate amount of energy , we have to shortchange the other aspects . That throws us off and we are unable to move forward on life ’ s tightrope until a balance can be reestablished .
We have to deal with any areas that are taking too much energy and put them in perspective , align them , so that we have energy available for all areas . It ’ s important to understand that others cannot do this for us . No one can think , breathe , feel , see , experience , or die for us . It ’ s up to us to balance all the different aspects of our lives .
78 MAL 16 / 17 ISSUE