Utilizing Personal Power for Wellbeing

The question I get asked most is “ what is my personal power and how do I utilize it with regard to my health and wellbeing”?    Each of us has the power within us to achieve and maintain good health and wellbeing- it is the power1)  to make choices and 2) to listen to our inner voice-gut feeling-intuition. 

Making choices is about understanding that certain things we do increase the odds that we can ward off illness and chronic disease.  Behavior such as smoking, sedentary lifestyle, poor nutritional habits,  chronic stress, self medicating with  drugs and alcohol, and a pessimistic outlook on life invite illness and disease.  The choice is ours-smoking cessation , good nutrition, managing stress, movement and exercise,  avoiding self medication, and having a positive outlook about one’s life contribute to achieving and maintaining good health and wellbeing.   We can engage in yoga, meditation, intentional breathing,  plant based nutrition, and using any medications ( prescription or otherwise) with caution and not to substitute for a “ quick fix”  (instead of facing the situation/ problem). We can trust in a higher power that things always work out.

Listening to our inner voice- our guidance- gut feeling- intuition is more difficult, but it can be done.  This is where meditation comes in- sitting quietly to tune into ourselves and what we are feeling.   Too often we dismiss the “ feeling that something is not right”.  Sometimes we are told by health care providers that “ nothing is wrong or can be found “ and we dismiss that gnawing feeling that tells otherwise.  Often when we are faced with illness and/ or disease we rely on health care providers to tell us what to do.  We do not take the time to tune into ourselves.  We often do little research into treatment and options because we believe that the health care providers/ professionals know best and at that moment we give away our power and our ability to know what is best for us. As a Nurse Practitioner for well over 2 decades I can tell you that the individual always knows what is best.  This is where it is important for health care providers to listen to what the patient/ client is saying and telling them.  Partnership between patient/ client and provider is an essential part of wellbeing.

One final note and that is about the use of prescription medication.  I am not opposed to the use of medication when it is needed.  Too often I witness prescription medication used as a “ quick fix” .  As a mentor of mine told me many years ago- sometimes you have to sit in the oven until you are fully baked.  It may be uncomfortable but it needs to be done. 

Each of us has the power within us – do not give it away- use it to achieve and maintain good health and wellbeing.