To the Premier family.
Are you happy with your health at this moment? This is a question that I have asked myself often. I’ve recently realized that maybe I’m not asking the right question. The question I should be asking is, “Am I at peace with my health?” Happy can be temporary with a good cup of coffee, a good meal, a good book, or some good news. All these things may make me happy, but is it the same as having peace? Nowadays, we are bombarded with books, courses, conferences, videos, food, and other ways on how to make us happy. If you ask someone what they want, they will often respond by telling you that they want to be happy. The real question is, does being happy mean having peace? Is it the same?
Simply stated, the answer may be NO. To have peace means not to worry, not to have fear, it doesn’t consume your thoughts. Happy is temporary. Peace is fulfilling. Things can make people happy–temporarily. Having peace in an area of your life is an entirely different feeling. Peace is really the thing we’re all searching for, whether it is health peace, financial peace, spiritual peace, or relationship peace.
I’ve been treating patients for over 20 years, and I’ve witnessed that it’s hard to have “peace” when someone suffers from pain, limitations, disease, or other conditions. Sometimes certain conditions exist that are permanent or very severe in nature. Other times we just push through times of merely feeling bad or hurting. In either case, we should ask ourselves, “Is this the best I can feel” and “Am I doing all I can do?” When you have a loved one that is hurting or sick, it’s hard to be at peace with it. I know when one of my kids is sick, all I’m concerned with is wanting them to feel better, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make that happen. Have you ever thought that this is exactly how God thinks of us? We are his children!
How can you have health “peace?” In other words, how can you be at peace with your health. I’ve offered a few suggestions below:
- Start with your thoughts– keep it positive, grateful, hopeful, humble, and loving. Sometimes we can’t change what is going on, all we can change is our reaction to it, by the way we think about it.
- Develop good habits – we become our habits. What we think, say, and do. Regular exercise, good food choices, “treats” in moderation, proper rest, supplements, quiet time, etc.
- Pray – believe that it is possible to feel better. Sometimes this is the only thing we have. Develop a personal relationship with God. Ask, give thanks, forgive, and believe. Make it a habit.
- Seek help – Someone or something can help you. Ask your doctor, a friend, a family member, a counselor, your pastor, or someone you trust. Seek help and get peace with your health.
Understanding the pain of being unhealthy and how it can affect other aspects of our lives drives me to inspire others to be as healthy as they can. My hope for you is to reach whatever your potential is. Have a hopeful, realistic approach without trying to be perfect. So, are you becoming healthier or less healthy? Ask yourself, “What would a healthy person do?” Seek peace and find it. Seek it in every area of your life. My hope for you is that you will find it.
God bless,
Dennis Riney, PT, Founder Premier Physical Therapy
Matthew 7:7