Motivate Healthy Living

Our Personal Stories About Health Consciousness

admin — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 18:49:21 +0000

One of the purposes of this blog is to present examples and stories of how people have been motivated to adopt healthy actions using the principle of engaging the whole person. My own road towards more health conscious living provides an example.

I had read and heard over a period of 4 or 5 years that it’s important to read labels on foods before purchasing, but I had not changed my actions. Then a series of actions drove the point home.

I participated in a cooking activity in which I tasted herbs and spices, and then put the ones I liked into a stir-fry. In addition, I needed to monitor the amount of fat that I ate to change a test result. I listened to my body in a way that enabled me to distinguish the difference in how I felt when in a meal was high in fat versus when it was low.

Now I read labels. It’s fun. I look for ingredients that add variety. The motivation came from a series of experiences.

Could you share a story in the comments section about how you adopted a more healthy action?

Engaging to Motivate

admin — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 18:47:49 +0000

Most activities intended to motivate individuals towards more healthy living present and preach. For example, they explain that it’s important to exercise every day, and present research findings supporting the idea. They may give examples. There is engagement only through words and logic. Listeners are not engaged through questions, actions and feelings. Not surprisingly, these methods are not very effective. The percentage of people who exercise has not risen.

What percent of the activities in your wellness program are experiential and fun?

Deciding to Be Healthy

admin — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 18:45:35 +0000

Sometimes change to better health comes with an abrupt decision to act in a different way. More often the best way to become a healthy person is not to make a sudden change. It’s to gradually begin to do healthy things.

Everyone can think of a person who woke up with an enlightened feeling, and decided to change their life by adopting a more healthy lifestyle, such as eating differently or refraining from eating sweets. In that situation, change is sudden. Just as often, however, the change is more gradual. It comes from engaging in actions that turn out to be fun and to have a positive effect.

For example, a recent article described a person who made small changes in diet and activity level. When the lbs. started to fall off, a positive reinforcement cycle was set up.

What are the health giving activities in your organization that are fun and engaging, and what else is possible?