What if efforts of healthy living don’t yet show up in your life?
I was pondering this question recently when I received an epiphany.
Nothing earth shaking, but my mind and heart were suddenly opened to increased understanding.
It was something I already knew, but now understood in a deeper way.
I’ve been feeling sorry for myself of late, wondering why my efforts of healthy living have not yet yielded the results I felt they warranted.
It wasn’t that I’d recently started making changes. I’ve been incorporating better choices for weeks, months, and years.
For the last ten years I have been consciously making changes in my thought patterns, physical habits, and spiritual goals.
I’ve experienced some ups and downs in that time, but overall my decisions have been moving me in a more healthful direction in mind, body and spirit.
Then, why wasn’t I seeing the improvements I wanted?
In the midst of my personal pity party, the understanding dawned on me.
How I feel today, mentally, physically and spiritually, is a result of decisions I have made, not just a day or two ago, or even months ago, but years ago!
Of course, there are circumstances beyond our control, but even then, we have an immense power of choice in how to respond.
My health today is what it is because of the combination of choices I made yesterday, last month, last year, even 20 years ago.
This was not a discouraging thought to me. In fact, it felt empowering.
With this insight, I understood that the decisions I am making today will determine how I feel tomorrow, next week, next year, even 20 years down the road!
Understanding this truth encourages me to stay the course.
Just as the Chinese Proverb says, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”
So too, the best time to start to achieve the health I desire was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.
Don’t give up if you’re not seeing the improvements you feel you merit.
Stay the course and continue making those good decisions so that tomorrow, next week, next month and future years, you will experience the results!
Much love,
