OH! Magazine - Australian Version April 2015 | Page 20

MIKE CAMPBELL WHO’S RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR HEALTH? Mike Campbell discusses exactly who is responsible for your health. his might seem like the most obvious question and answer in the world but, sadly, in today’s world it’s not! T You are responsible for the state of your health, or ill-health if the case may be. people who actually pass the buck and lay blame for their lack of health on external forces. For example, I hear people saying things such as: Every day we have dozens of choices that will either help or hinder our health. Yet, on a very large scale what I am seeing more and more is people avoiding taking the responsibility for their own health. In fact, there is also a growing population of ‘The guidelines from the government are wrong/confusing/unrealistic.’ • ‘My friend told me doing “X” works, so I’ve been doing that.’ • On the whole, each of us has the biggest and most important part to play in determining our day-to-day health, energy levels and overall vitality. • ‘My doctor missed something/didn’t prescribe me what I needed/didn’t advise me on this.’ • ‘Work is just so busy I don’t have time to exercise/eat well.’ • ‘Eating healthy is just so expensive/ tasteless.’ Not only are these kinds of excuses endless, but they consistently show our tendency and willingness to place the blame on forces outside of our control. The reality is though, if you are touting these excuses then what you’re actually doing is simply refusing to accept responsibility for yourself. There is a misguided belief that for someone to be healthy – that ‘mythical’ person who has accepted responsibility for their own health – they have to live with some level of obsession; like it’s all or nothing if they wish to be healthy. But it’s exactly this perspective that spurs people on to lay blame on external factors. So what’s the solution? Well, it’s easier than you think to live a healthy life. First of all, realise that ‘optimum health’ includes your mental health, which means you need to stop trying to be ‘all’ and focus on just ‘being’. Strive for a healthy balanced life. One where you can accept responsibility for your own energy, vitality and health, and stop placing blame elsewhere. Next month I will explore some specifics to help you improve your overall health. The first step though, is to start accepting that you, and only you, are responsible for the efforts and the outcome of your health and wellbeing. 20 APRIL 2015 ( OH! MAGAZINE ) http://unleashyouralpha.com ( Men’s Health )