Show Yourself Some Kindness By Fostering A Positive Relationship With Health

Many people view the start of a new year as a time to pause, reflect, and evaluate. Then, this reflection often leads to the formation of new goals and commitments.

Of those ambitions and goals, would it surprise you to learn that nearly 80% center around health?

Clearly health is a priority, or at least an intended priority, for a large number of people.

And statistically speaking, most of those health goals center around fitness and/or diet, with folks seeking to get in shape, lose weight, or improve mental health.

But, how many of those aspirations fall flat after a few weeks or months? And, what is it that’s potentially keeping people from reaching their health goals?

Could it be that we’ve been missing a key factor regarding health?

What if something as simple as kindness and understanding was the answer to achieving the positive outcomes we desire, even leading to compounded benefits, all surrounding the concept of health?

Having a positive mindset and a good relationship with health, understanding how a healthy body and mind can best serve you, and being kind to yourself all throughout the process, is not only a vitally important key to good health, but it also boasts a number of long-term benefits.

So, as you’re reading this right now, pause with me a moment to inhale deeply through your nose, hold that breath for a few counts, and exhale through your mouth.

Continue this for a few more deep breaths if you’d like, and as you breathe, think of one thing you’re grateful for regarding your body?

Are you grateful for the lung capacity to nourish your body as you breathe deeply?

Are you grateful for any happy thoughts or moments you enjoyed over the last few days?

What about your legs that have carried you through each shopping adventure throughout the holiday season, maybe you recognize and are thankful for this strength?

Perhaps you’re grateful for the mental capability to read this article? And, maybe you’re grateful for a clean, toxin-free, healthy cup of coffee to sip as you read and reap the powerful health benefits of your brew?

Or, maybe you’re grateful for a restful night of sleep?

These are just a few ideas to get you started, but I want you to center your thoughts on gratitude for your body, and the measure of health you have, as we prepare to dig deeper into all the ways that a good relationship with health can lead to many long-term positives.

A Good Relationship With Health

A good relationship with health - what does this mean?

Relationships don’t simply refer to human connections. They can also include concepts such as finances, work, and/or health.

For instance, if I said I had a poor relationship with my credit card, most would recognize this as a negative thing, perhaps indicating a problem with spending, right?

Likewise, if I said I had a positive relationship with my bank account, then one could infer that I’m perhaps good at saving, I pay my bills on time, or even that I have a good credit score.

In human relationships, we often highlight values such as care, kindness, and understanding, using these as measures of a healthy relationship.

But, when it comes to our relationship with health, there are actually a lot of things that mirror human interaction. Of course, this makes a lot of sense, as our relationship with health is personal, even involving our relationship to self.

As in human connections, our relationship to the concept of health ultimately requires understanding, communication, kindness, and a positive outlook.

When these are in place, set as standards and practiced, then and only then can we truly unlock our full potential to enjoy a healthy life, reaping rewards year after enjoyable year.

One expert put it this way, positive health, or a positive relationship with health means that “people desire wellbeing (health) in its own right and they desire it above and beyond a relief of their suffering.”

I suppose you could say it’s a mindset shift, really.

Instead of simply incorporating practices or setting goals to address symptoms, we shift to see how wonderful our bodies are and how much we all deserve kindness in our pursuit of health.

And such a shift flips a cycle of negativity and unhealthy habits on its head, instead focusing on what health means, what it looks like, and how we can prioritize it in our daily lives.

So then, what does a positive relationship with health look like?

1- Affirmations And Gratitude

Most of the following measures that showcase a positive relationship with health can't be implemented without a proper mindset.

So, having a good relationship with health begins with a healthy relationship with YOU.

This is why I wanted you to begin with thoughts centered around gratefulness, even expressing gratitude for how your body serves you.

We can be so hard on ourselves, expressing harsh words and thinking harsh thoughts surrounding nearly every aspect of our being.

And, such negative self-talk and prevailing attitudes are not only unkind, but they can easily sabotage your health.

In other words, responding to a missed gym session with a red-faced, harsh-toned lecture in your mind reminiscent of a speech from the Gunnery Sergeant in Full Metal Jacket results in nothing but more negativity…a negative mindset, negative emotions, and ultimately negative outcomes.

So, one way to foster a positive relationship with health is to practice gratitude, specifically listing and thinking about all of the ways your body serves you.

Then, expand upon this gratefulness by choosing to practice positive self-talk and affirmations.

Take some time each day to speak affirmations such as:

I am capable of great things. I am beautiful. I am getting stronger. I deserve health. I can fuel my body properly.

After a nutritious meal, think about how great you feel.

After a great workout, appreciate your body for how it was able to move.

After a quality night of sleep, be thankful for how you’ve supported your body.

After only a few consistent weeks of speaking such positivity into your life, you will be on your way to transforming your mental, emotional, and even physical health and wellbeing, framing yourself for a better understanding of what your body needs for optimal health beyond any simple new year/new you resolutions.

2- Prioritizing Sleep

When you walk through each day in a fog or simply feel tired all the time, the general response to this issue likely involves a goal to get more sleep.

While this is a good and needed goal, this type of thinking may only lead to a few restful nights followed by a drift back into old habits which don’t support the health of your body.

Instead, when we focus on what sleep means to our bodies, including a healthy love for our self/body, we take steps to ensure sleep becomes a priority.

Sleep is actually what your body needs to repair itself so all of your cells, tissues, organs, and body systems can function as intended.

Healthy sleep is needed in weight management, stress management, immune health, focus and memory, agility, pain relief, disease prevention, and so much more.

And, understanding sleep for what it truly is, a vehicle for optimal health, is the first step in showing yourself (your body) the kindness you deserve.

From here, allow this realization to aid you in putting small practices into place to ensure you consistently prioritize sleep, such as:

• Establishing a calming nighttime routine and/or sleep schedule
• Forgoing electronics within 1-2 hours of bedtime
• Avoiding caffeine within 8 hours of bedtime
• Getting sunlight first thing in the morning and throughout the day to foster a healthy circadian rhythm
• Getting regular exercise
• Ensuring your bedroom is cool and dark for optimal sleeping conditions

3- Enjoying Activity & Nutritious Eating

Do you look at physical activity or working out as a chore?

If fitness is a chore, then it’s not likely going to be something you’ll regularly choose to do.

I have fallen into this trap for years. In fact, until the spring of 2024, at 44 years of age, I routinely viewed exercise solely as a way to lose weight.

I’ve struggled with maintaining a healthy weight most of my life, and while I have often enjoyed exercise, I almost always viewed it as a way to lose weight, even feeling utterly defeated when I trained for and ran a full marathon, simply because I only lost 4-5 pounds in the process.

For years, I’ve heard of and read about the vast benefits of being physically active, benefits that reached far beyond weight loss. But, somehow I hadn’t allowed this knowledge to truly penetrate my mindset.

Then, this past year I made a conscious shift, vowing to view health as a whole, vowing to be kind to myself in health, and thus shift my mindset.

I began thinking of the countless miles my body carried me through…in cold, in heat, and even amidst pain at times.

And, as those thoughts turned to gratitude, this is when my mindset truly shifted.

Soon, I began viewing exercise merely as a thing I did to improve the health of my whole body…that’s all.

Because of this positive shift, now I no longer obsess about working out. It’s really just something I do each day.

I stopped looking at the scale in light of physical activity, and instead, I saw how exercise fueled my body…my body that I’m learning to love.

And, the same is true for diet/nutrition.

A proper understanding of food showcases what nutrition truly is - a way to feed disease or facilitate health.

And, like exercise, dieting is a chore, but making clean, healthy, whole food/beverage choices that support your body and optimize health so that you can do the things you love…this is simply an outpouring of kindness (to you) that stems from a positive relationship with health.

4- Understanding And Managing Stress

Self-care has become a popular topic in recent years.

And, in premise this shift is such a great thing. But, if you’re only viewing an evening spent pampering yourself as another thing to check off of a to-do list, or something that’s trendy, then you might be missing the point.

If we really want to practice caring for our mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing, then this starts with understanding how stress affects the body.

Failing to truly manage and reduce stress can increase your risk of heart attack and stroke, suppress your immune system, interfere with digestion, accelerate aging, diminish cognitive abilities, and take a harsh toll on your mental/emotional health.

So, when you start to feel the effects of stress (headaches, muscle tension, body pain, difficulty sleeping, anxiety, worry, low self-esteem, etc), this is when you know you need to slow down. And truthfully, this is when you know you stretched yourself far past the need for self-care.

Managing stress involves putting into place self-care measures as a routine part of your life…maybe even a routine part of your day.

And, like those practices we’ve already mentioned, before long, with a proper mindset, these practices will become habitual, facilitating optimal health without even giving it a second thought.

Improve your relationship with health and show yourself some kindness by including stress management practices routinely, such as:

• deep breathing
• journaling
• walks in nature
• spending time doing a hobby you enjoy
• massages
• spending time with cherished friends/loved ones/pets
• meditation

Long Term Benefits Of Having A Good Relationship With Health

Now that we have a better understanding of what it means, in principle and practice, to have a good, positive relationship with health, let’s close by taking a look at how this can serve you throughout your life.

1- Encourages Consistency

A positive relationship with health frees you to be consistent.

Remember when I described my incorrect mentality surrounding the (solitary) link between exercise and weight loss?

This mindset never resulted in consistency. In fact, when I wouldn’t see the results I wanted on the scale, I’d often be tempted to just give up.

And again, that’s not a positive relationship with health.

But now, fueled with a proper understanding of what that physical activity is doing (even when it’s unseen) for my body, I don’t even have to think about planning or scheduling a workout, it’s just something I do each day.

I share this because it’s a proven (not just in my life) benefit of having a good relationship with the concept of health.

A right view of health, an appreciation for the privilege to fuel your body and prioritize all those things that promote wellbeing leads to consistency and keeps you consistent.

2- Helps You Handle Stress

As you see the benefits of managing stress and begin incorporating those practices on a regular basis because you value and prioritize health, this compounds and extends the typical rewards associated with stress relief.

Why?

Because, as you put such practices into place, over time your body becomes more resilient, getting back to its intended design for handling stress…running like a well-oiled machine, if you will.

Essentially, as your ‘stress-managed,’ positive mindset grows, you will start inherently viewing stress more optimistically, and stress won’t have such a negative effect on your body.

3- Reduces The Risk Of Disease

When kindness towards self becomes natural…

And, when prioritizing health becomes second nature…

…all of the benefits associated with healthy practices such as quality sleep, regular exercise, proper nutrition, and stress management are fully at play within your mind and body.

Basically, at this point you begin to continually reap compounded benefits, fueling your body to fight disease on a regular basis.

From reduced inflammation to a reduced risk of diabetes, heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s, and more, a proper relationship with health translates to a consistent implementation of health-promoting practices, which translates to improved whole body health.

You see, untainted, our bodies were made to fight infection, injury, and disease. So, consistently supporting the health of your body is the best way to allow it to function as it’s intended.

Sure, sometimes this might require vitamin and mineral supplementation, and sometimes this may necessitate aid from a health-care provider, but most often, this is achieved simply through the measures we’ve been discussing today…through being kind to your body in/through a proper relationship with health.

4- Improves Mental Health

Even one small healthy habit increases self-confidence which has a snowball effect, compounding this benefit by promoting the addition of other healthy habits.

With a proper understanding of health, and those practices which promote health, you are essentially teaching your heart and mind that you are worthy of health, which boosts self-esteem.

Most any habit you incorporate to improve your health, from prioritizing sleep, nutrition, exercise, and more, has valuable benefits to mental health already (like decreasing anxiety and depression, improving cognitive abilities, etc), but these benefits are also a result of a positive relationship with health.

In other words, your healthy habits improve your mental wellbeing, then a positive relationship with health serves to provide mental wellbeing benefits as well. A win-win!

So, let’s all commit, right now, to entering this new year with a mindset of kindness and a positive outlook, understanding what health is and what powerful benefits a healthy relationship with self and health can bring!

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Medical Disclaimer
This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither Dr. Charles Livingston nor the publisher of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program.

References:

https://www.driveresearch.com/market-research-company-blog/new-years-resolutions-statistics/

https://www.rwjf.org/en/insights/our-research/2017/08/exploring-the-concept-of-positive-health.html

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/sleep/art-20048379#

https://medlineplus.gov/benefitsofexercise.html#

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3505409/#

https://www.healthline.com/health/stress/effects-on-body#

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/11874-stress

https://www.verywellmind.com/tips-to-reduce-stress-3145195#

https://orwh.od.nih.gov/in-the-spotlight/all-articles/7-steps-manage-stress-and-build-resilience

https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diet-nutrition/changing-habits-better-health#