In my work with patients to help them recover from chronic pain or cure internal ailments and disease, we start where we are and go forward from there. I let them know, we’re going to make a lot of changes in their lives. But we’ll take it day-by-day, because change, especially building a new habit of healthy choices, is tough.
Suffering from pain is much tougher. Compromising your health makes life so much harder. The misery many patients feel when they first arrive is a powerful motivator. Many make the big changes and start to restore their health with dedication.
But as things start to slowly get better… guess what? It’s hard. The bad habits come rushing back in to compromise the habit of healthy choices they’ve started to make.
Build and rebuilding habits around healthy choices
I know it’s hard giving up the foods you love. Sometimes we all think we need a little “comfort food” (hello, pandemic?) like ice cream and mac and cheese. Or are you trying to stop smoking? Maybe you have vowed to work out every day, but with the gym closed for months, it’s hard to get motivated.
Whatever the changes you’ve tried to make, we all hit that “I’m so done with this” point. One of the most difficult thoughts that attack us as make change is this: “It’s not working!” Our minds convince us to stop making healthy choices.
It’s ok. We’ve all been there.
But is that binge, that guilty pleasure, that break in the healthy choices worth it?
Remember all that pain you were in for years? Do you want to live like that again? I know I don’t. Because I was there just like you may be now.
Yes, I had chronic pain for years. In fact, that’s what made me evolve my practice and become a restorative physician.
I won’t go into great detail here, but just like you, every day was miserable. Everything hurt, it was hard to get out of bed some days and nothing was helping.
I saw doctor after doctor. Misdiagnosed every time. Meds that didn’t work. Pain that only got worse.
But, then I decided to do something different about it, and long story short, that’s why I do what I do. I don’t want you to suffer as I did.
Yes, healthy habits are hard, ohh, I know. But we can overcome it if we remember why we started in the first place.
What’s Your Why?
Remember when you started this journey?
Many come to me frustrated. Some are even crying. They want to feel better.
But was there a specific reason? Think back, what made you make that first call? Were you just sick of being sick? Done with being ignored with conventional medicine? Knew you needed to eat better, but had no idea where to start? Or maybe it was because of someone else–you didn’t want to disappoint the kids or grandkids because every time they asked you to play and all you wanted to do was take a nap?
Or maybe it’s not that at all. Maybe you aren’t seeing a change fast enough. Or the thought of going to the store and chopping more veggies for the week makes you want to pull your hair out!
Whatever it is, just remember your why. Why did you start this journey? And what motivates you to keep going?
Walking away is easy. Sticking with the plan, not so much
No one said this would be easy. In fact, it’s probably one of the hardest things you’ll ever do. But I believe in you—and you should too! Here are a few things that have helped me when I feel like I may “fall off the wagon” so to speak:
- Look at the bigger picture: Healing is not a straight path. It’s like a winding mountain trail; rough terrain, plateaus, blood, sweat and tears, but then it opens up and there is a beautiful view when you get to the top. The view is what makes it worth all the time and sweat.
- Mediate: I fully believe in the power of mediation, simply because it works. It calms your mind and your body and connects the two like nothing else. When your mind believes something, your body will follow with time.
- Connect with others: That special person in your life that you can tell everything to that never judges you. The same one who knows what you need and when, yeah, that person. Give them a call; talk, vent, and let them help you through this. You don’t need to do this alone.
- Show Gratitude: Remember how you felt when you first started to restore your health? Yes, it may be a challenge now. But stop and remember. Let yourself be grateful. Feel the joy of healing. You’re on your way.
Start again, or start for the first time
I know these past few months have challenged us all. Many of my patients tell me they’re struggling emotionally or even fallen off the wagon. Maybe you have too. Or perhaps you’ve only just begun to connect with your why? You haven’t started to heal yet. It’s ok, but today is your day. Wherever you are right now, you can be a touch better tomorrow and the next day and the next.
The healing journey can begin right now:
- Click here and completely for free download my prescription for healthy immunity. These will protect you from the wayward virus (hello again, pandemic!) and also begin the process of healing from whatever ails you.
- Click here and visit my contact page. I would love to see you for an introductory telemedicine call. We can craft a personalized plan for you to restore your health!
Yes, it will be hard, but being in pain, lack of energy/focus and not being in good health are so much harder.
Theodore Roosevelt once said “Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty… I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life. I have felt humbled and learned from those souls who led very difficult lives and led them well.”
What’s your why? Remind yourself today and keep pressing forward to that healthy life you’re building for yourself.
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