April 06, 2016
It is no secret that we, as Americans, are in the midst of a health care crisis. We hear about it on the news, we see it in our communities and we feel the direct repercussions of the rising costs of health care in our country.
What we don’t understand or hear often enough is how we, as individuals, can play a pivotal role in the transformation of the system.
As it stands, we have made tremendous advances in modern medicine but we are still essentially a disease management system. We are reactive.
We wait to go to the doctor until we have an illness, many of which are highly preventable. In fact, more than 40 percent of premature deaths in the United States can be attributed to behavior and lifestyle choices, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What we need is a shift in mindset. We need to think about the impact that our present actions have on our future health.
This power to pause in the present is often referred to as mindfulness.
Contrary to popular belief, mindfulness is not a practice reserved for a small few, but rather, it is a transformative technique that can be useful for everyone. When honed as a skill over time, mindful awareness can help you gain control over your body, mind and, ultimately, help to achieve your overall health goals.
Related: Five mindfulness blessings for 2016
Mindfulness not only allows us to better experience our lives but, it affords us the opportunity to stop and decide to make a different decision in a moment when we may be doing something that isn’t in our best interest.
Beginning Monday, I will share three tips for a healthier lifestyle with PhillyVoice readers every week. On Mindful Mondays, I will propose something healthy to think about, something healthy to eat and something healthy to do.
Enjoy & stay well,
Christie
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Christie Honigman is a graduate of The Integrative Health Coach Professional Training Program at Duke Integrative Medicine in Durham, North Carolina. "Integrative Health Coaching empowers clients to make lasting health behavior changes that are the cornerstones of lifelong well-being," Duke IM. Click here to learn more about Duke Integrative Health Coaching. To inquire about individual, group or corporate coaching contact christie@thehonigmangroup.com.
