What is Health?
By Gloria St. John
Because our ‘health’ system is actually disease oriented, we tend to regard health as the absence of disease. We often hear about people who don’t feel well, but are reassured when their doctor cannot find anything wrong with them. Similarly, we hear stories of people who get a clean bill of health from their doctor and have a heart attack within a few days.
Clearly the definition of health is much larger than getting good lab results or being tested and scanned and not finding anything in the ‘pictures.’ In fact I suggest that the complete definition of health encompasses every aspect of one’s functioning – physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. It also includes the degree of satisfaction one has in relationships. Good health goes far beyond anything that can be measured in lab tests.I almost never see a person who has a number of physical complaints who does not also have some form of anxiety, depression, impaired memory, unresolved grief or anger, insomnia, as well as estranged or difficult relationships. Usually these people do not consider their emotional problems to be as serious as their physical ailments. I see it in quite an opposite way. I believe that the body ‘follows’ the mind and emotions, and will recover more quickly and completely when the mental and emotional blocks are resolved. Careful questioning of my patients usually reveals that their physical complaints came after either a sudden shock or loss or the symptoms developed after a prolonged stressful situation. If the patient did not address the emotional situation, physical breakdown followed. “In each life some rain must fall” goes the saying. We cannot escape hardship or disappointment. Our only freedom lies in how to respond to it. Tyrannical parents, ungrateful children, unfaithful spouses, job layoffs, financial losses all darken our mood, and they cause, to a greater or lesser degree, emotional imbalance. However, the healthy person recognizes that sustained grief, anger, or worry is a dis-ease in itself and will attempt to re-balance as quickly as possible. How? By practicing acceptance, feeling hope, and exercising a spiritual will that brings light and ease into the most difficult situations. A less healthy response is to turn to addictive substances, engage in destructive behavior, or indulge in a sustained low mood. These are pre-cursers to additional disease.
So what is health? In my view it includes the following characteristics:
1.Sufficient energy to perform one’s daily activities without fatigue
Sufficient energy to perform one’s daily activities without fatigue2.Adequate (un-medicated) sleep most of the time
Adequate (un-medicated) sleep most of the time3.Satisfactory relationships – both close and casual
Satisfactory relationships – both close and casual4.Freedom from irritation, anxiety, depression, worry, or sorrow most of the time.
Freedom from irritation, anxiety, depression, worry, or sorrow most of the time.5.Being free of unresolved situations from the past, such as long standing resentment, anger, or regret.
Being free of unresolved situations from the past, such as long standing resentment, anger, or regret.6.Enjoying an appropriate level of self esteem – feeling neither inflated nor rejected
Enjoying an appropriate level of self esteem – feeling neither inflated nor rejected7.Finding pleasure and satisfaction in work or leisure time activities, preferably both
Finding pleasure and satisfaction in work or leisure time activities, preferably both8.Having future plans that are enticing and enjoyable.
Having future plans that are enticing and enjoyable.9.Able to give to and serve others with joy.
Able to give to and serve others with joy.10.Relating to nature and other living beings with respect and appreciation
Relating to nature and other living beings with respect and appreciationGood health also includes optimism, hope and resourcefulness. If you feel you come up short on some of the ten characteristics, be confident that you can change, and, if necessary, find support and assistance in making changes. After all, your health is your greatest treasure.
Gloria St. John practices in Sutter Creek at Gold Hills Homeopathy.
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