Rick Hanson, Ph.D., author of buddha’s brain and Just One Thing: Developing a buddha brain one simple practice at a time calls tending to your well-being “a global factor that will turbo-charge all the other causes you tend to” (pg. 153 Just One Thing).
Your personal well being is so important because you are the common denominator to all of your interactions, relationships, perceptions, and goals. There are so many contributors to our overall personal well-being. My first discussion of well-being will focus on the basics of physical wellness. When our bodies aren’t working well, it sure seems harder to persist, stay motivated, think, concentrate, resist urges or impulses, or think rationally. When your body and mind are getting the care that they need, your body can then be a strong and stable instrument of the outcomes you want for yourself.
How well do you “tend” to your body and mind?
Some of us tend to our pets, gardens, important others, cars or jobs more than we tend to ourselves.
Your body is the physical vehicle that moves you through space and allows you to act; and action allows you to be an agent of change in the world. Your body gives you energy to act, persist, and gives you information about your internal and external environments to help protect you from harm. Your brain is the physical embodiment of your mind and helps you to sense, perceive, think and react. I am not a medical doctor, or expert on physical health, but I believe it is common knowledge that we all need to take care of our bodies so that our body can take care of us! After all, you can’t just get in your car and expect it to run smoothly without putting gas in it and doing some regular maintenance. Likewise, if you ignore your body long enough, it will be worn out and run down; leaving you poorly equipped to cope well with the daily challenges and opportunities of life.
When you take care of some of the basic needs of your body– hunger, thirst, movement, and rest, your body is better able to support you. If your body could talk to you right now, what would it say? What does it need? Is it getting enough and proper fuel? Is your body in need of some regular maintenance to keep it running well? Is your body getting the balance of activity and rest that it needs? If you regularly responded to what your body needed, what would be different? How might you feel?
It is difficult to make changes in life and reach goals when some of the basics are lacking; you may not have the energy, motivation, ability to concentrate, or resolve to cope well and make changes. Your body is the foundation, the source, and the vehicle for our forward progress. Let’s start at the foundation and lay the groundwork for healthy changes ahead. We need energy and rest to accomplish what we desire. How will you help your body get what it needs to serve you?
Take a personal inventory of your physical well being and ask yourself:
When was the last time you saw your doctor? Do you have a doctor? If you don’t have a doctor on record, get one! If you have, but haven’t seen them for a physical for more than one year, make an appointment! Find out how your body is doing…
Has your doctor recommended tests, lifestyle changes, or other treatments? Have you pursued them or are doing them consistently? If not, take a step to schedule the test or take one step toward that recommended lifestyle change today.
Are you getting enough sleep? Many people don’t and we are learning more about the ways lack of sleep can negatively affect both mind and body. Stay tuned for a future blog about sleep, why it is so important, and how to get more/better sleep.
Be good to your body. Be good to yourself. Your body is the instrument by which you navigate the world. Care for your body as a starting point for your well being.
