We
gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we
really stop to look fear in the face … we must do what we think we cannot. – Eleanor Roosevelt
When it comes to your health what’s
getting in your way? Work? A habit? Or both? I say both. Do you stay at work
too late, work past lunch, meet in restaurants? These are all habits that contribute
to unhealthy work habits that contribute to your poor health. Just because you
may not be experiencing sickness or disease right this moment it doesn’t mean
your body isn’t collecting the ingredients to create cancer or some other
chronic disease.
Our work environments may differ
however we all have unhealthy food close at hand. Many work-sites have vending
machines, refrigerators, microwaves, food trucks, convenience stores and fast
food joints nearby so you don’t waste any time getting your lunch. Or maybe you
are one out of five Americans who work from home? Even though healthy foods could
be as close as your refrigerator I’m thinking what I will find are frozen pizzas,
chicken nuggets or cheese sticks in your freezer. Let’s not mention the food
cupboard filled with those fast, processed the foods your family likes. You know the ones, chips, cookies, snack
cakes and candy.
Or
maybe it’s this? Where ever you work it’s been another hectic day at work. On
impulse, you grab an extra-large candy bar during your afternoon break. You
know it’s not good for you so you plan to take just a few bites. But before you
know it, you’ve polished off the whole thing. Remind you of anyone? You maybe?
All
these choices make you feel better at least temporarily. Then remorse sets in
along with a good dose of stomach upset, foggy thinking, low energy and a few
more pounds. All of this is followed by thinking “I can’t believe I ate that,
I’m bad”.
Is
this the story of your life? How do you make those healthy food choices in the
face of all the obstacles?
Here’s how start with
recommitting and find the courage to preserver.
Does it take courage to make
healthy food choices? You bet it does! When it comes to your health it takes
courage is to hold yourself accountable for your actions. By accepting
responsibility for your decisions, honoring your commitments you become
courageous and will find new resolve to move forward. And what a wonderful
since of mastery and accomplishment you feel!
It’s
never too late to get your courage up. Are you ready?
The first step is resolve. Recommit. Be courageous.
It takes
courage to let go of the literally thousands of thoughts in your head that
sabotage your actions and goals. It takes courage to not follow the crowd and
speak up for your health. It takes courage to change your daily habits. It
takes courage to stand up for you face the fear of joking and teasing from your
peers for choosing health. And it takes even more courage to persist and
recommit every day. Here’s the thing the more courage you use the more you
have, the better you feel and the closer you are to healthier life you desire
and deserve.
Are you
ready? Click here to read to whole article in Small Biz Forward.
Your partner in health,
Cindy Cohen RN, BS BA
Certified Health Coach
Wellness Consultant
