Taking a Chance on Healthy Living!

One of the most important aspects of living a healthy and prosperous life is understanding "risk". By this we know how to understand and analyze situations in life that affect health. Being able to accurately weigh the benefits and risks when making health decisions is very important! Too often decisions are based on incomplete or inaccurate information, and this is a big mistake with significant consequences!

Failure to accurately assess risk keeps people locked in all kinds of unhealthy situations including poor eating and exercise habits (lifestyle), relationships and jobs. Sometimes people are just afraid to come forward and make a change. They see "risk" in making a change when the real risk comes from NOT making a change. From our perspective, living with stress, dissatisfaction and frustration of indecision and poor health is the greatest risk of all and one that is definitely not worth taking!

Accessing "risk" is nothing more than collecting information, weighing the alternatives and then making appropriate decisions based on the information.

Some risks to our health is more "real" than others. For example, it is widely known that obesity is associated with numerous health problems. On the other hand, there are some health risks are so remote we rarely think about them. On a practical level, eating highly processed foods and avoid a daily dose of fresh fruits and vegetables is rarely considered serious. But, as too many have already discovered the many consequences of this practice are real and devastating.

Failure to accurately assess risk limits us in many ways. We imagine that the "risk" to talk to our kids about drugs, dating or sex and we began to "talk", although the risk of not talking is infinitely greater. Fear of flying and public speaking are two more "risks" affecting millions of people. But practically, this fear is unfounded. People traveling by car every day, even though cars are far more dangerous than commercial aircraft! It is a not possible to accurately assess risk, and it limits our health, prosperity and happiness in life.

The goods news is that failure to accurately access risk is reversible! The impact of these decisions to eat inappropriately or not to exercise is that the common expression goes, "do-overs." We can effect positive change in our lives by following a few simple steps to accurately access risk:

1. Accurately define your current situation and get access to your health "risks". Are you eating a healthy diet? Are you getting enough exercise and good quality sleep? What are the consequences if you do not change? Balancing the benefits of a healthier lifestyle against the potential risks, such as increased costs, inconvenience or discomfort.

2. What do you stand to gain if you change your current situation? Assess the "up-side potential. Too often we see only the "negative" risk and forget the benefits. What good things can happen if you take the risk and win?

3. Limited "down-side" if you were to make a wrong decision. Do not continue down a path if it does not produce results. This is especially important when following weight loss programs. If the pounds are not coming out, or if weight loss is only temporary, find a new program! You not only want to lose weight, but want to maintain weight loss as long as possible. Take steps to ensure this will happen. Clear, concise, realistic objectives will definitely help.

4. Reduce your risk by being smart! Understand the situation and seek advice from experts in health and nutrition. This includes finding and forming partnerships to receive support and advice.

5. Have a fallback. If the decision you make does not give the desired results, be prepared to take a long, hard look at the circumstances and be prepared to change what you do.

Everything in life involves an element of risk. Driving your car, meeting someone new, crossing the street ... but we do them every day. Winners in life are willing to accept the risk and continue on their way! Get involved, be smart about how you play the game, come prepared for a few mistakes along the way, but not quite. You will reap the rewards of your efforts and live a happier and healthier life. We like to remember the words of the great Winston Churchill when he said: "Never, never, never give up!"