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Becoming a Natural Lawyer (part 1)
Before we even get
started on this one, let's be very, very clear. We're going to talk
today about learning to work with the "Laws of Nature." I certainly
have no inside track on the Laws of Man!
We're familiar
with two types of laws. First are the "Laws of Nature," constant
recurring facts or principles that carry on with or without us,
regardless of whether we observe or believe in them. Gravity, for
example, falls into this category.
The second type
of law we're familiar with is "Laws of Man." These are essentially
rules of conduct that we as a society have agreed on (more or less),
expecting that they will make this a friendlier place to live. When
you stop for a red traffic light, you are complying with a Law of Man.
So while I'm
going to talk with you today about the Laws of Nature, my lawyer would
want me to clarify that regarding the Laws of Man, you'll need to talk
with, well, a real lawyer (which I am not). Do we
understand one another? Good.
Specifically,
we're going to talk about 3 of my favorite Laws of Nature and their
relationship to your health. We'll take on the first today. Watch your
email for the next 2, coming soon.
Our Friend, Sir Isaac Newton
Remember him?
Gravity, the apple, that sort of thing? Today, we're going to talk
about Newton's First Law of Motion and how it applies to holistic
health.
Newton says,
"An object at rest tends to stay at rest and an object in motion tends
to stay in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless
acted upon by an unbalanced force."
Or, you can sum
it up simply by saying, "things keep on doing what they're doing until
something gets in the way."
Now, let's take a
look at that principle in your life. What do you think of? What comes
to mind?
What I think of
is our habits. Our daily habits and little rituals run pretty much the
same way Sir Isaac described the first basic principle of motion.
And it makes
sense, doesn't it? We are dynamic beings (dynamic: marked by usually
continuous and productive activity or change). We act and rest and act
and rest.
So here's how it
works. If we have a habit of, say, exercise and healthy activity,
we''ll typically keep up that habit until something happens to change
it. What might that something be? Well, we could get injured, change
jobs, add a new member to the family, or something like that.
Or let's say we
have a habit of eating healthy food. We'll typically keep that up
until something happens to change it, too. For example, we might start
hanging around with a new bunch of people who eat junk. We
rationalize, well, it probably won't hurt me to eat this cheeseburger
and fries just once -- my normal diet's pretty good. Before long, if
we're not careful, that cheeseburger has created a lifestyle change.
Bummer, huh?
Of course it can
go the other way, too.
Maybe you're the
one with the junk food issue. You head to the doctor for your annual
check-up and step on the scale. Much to your surprise, you've gained
10 pounds. Then you get your cholesterol report. Ouch! You can see the
handwriting on the wall.
The question is
-- is it big enough? The handwriting, I mean.
Of course we all
know people who have had heart attacks, strokes, cancer, and other
chronic or degenerative diseases. You know what I call them? Bigger,
bolder handwriting.
Your homework for
today
I know, you
didn't really sign up for homework, did you? Just think of it as bonus
points.
Take a look at
your daily little habits. An inventory, if you will. Some of them are
undoubtedly pretty healthy. Others may not be.
Then ask yourself
this question, "Where did the choice come?"
In the realm of
human behavior, your choices are the force that creates and regulates
your habits; your movement through life.
So where did the
choice come?
It's very helpful
to recognize why you chose something. In fact, the most common comment
I received from the participants in last quarter's Wellness Challenge
is that they were delighted to realize they had more choices than
they'd thought!
Where did the
choice come?
And what would it
take to motivate you to make a different one, if that's appropriate?
More soon-
Your "Stick-To-It"
Coach
Elizabeth Eckert |
