I wished I had listened to my mother when she told me repeatedly that you have to love yourself. I wished, but you know, I did not, at least not until many years later. Unfortunately, by then I had made some stupid mistakes and destroyed my TOTAL health.

Understand What Total Health Means

Many people are under the illusion that they are healthy if they have a good job, pay the bills, and have some friends. I am asking you to examine these concepts and then decide:

1. If you have to drink more than two glasses of alcohol at night to feel happy, think again about the idea that you are totally healthy.
2. Spending a lot of time binge watching reality television, that’s not reality folks. Reality is living your life and being mindful of how you are coping. Are you coping in healthy ways?
3. If someone asked you, “Are you satisfied? On the deepest of levels, is there a sense of joy, peace, and contentment daily?” Do you find yourself stuffing your face with food, trying to feel satisfied; however, you don’t feel satisfied? Unfortunately, you have eaten so much that you feel physically sick.
4. Perhaps, it is more subtle. There is a certain sense of dread. You can’t quite put your finger on it, but you feel fearful, anxious, stressed, or unsettled daily.

I define TOTAL HEALTH as a fluid state of being that leaves you feeling maximum joy, peace, and contentment daily. Does that mean you never stress and have trials? No! It means, you have learned to respond from a state and place of love, accepting the reality, and trusting that all things will be worked out for the good. This is not delusional, and it’s not living in a state of denial, but rather it is believing in the source of my unconditional love, strength, and power in every moment.

When We FAIL To Recognize the Cause of Our Symptoms

Ok, perhaps you have examined your story. Cause I know that I was examining my story since I was sixteen years old. What was wrong, why could I never be quite comfortable in my skin? Why did I have a hard time being me and living in the moment? I spent a lot of time escaping reality and living my life vicariously through novels. Why? I did not like my life! Franky, I did not like me! Why? I did not think I was worthy of love, because I felt that as I was, I was “not enough.” Therefore, I hated myself. The combined pain of not loving me and feeling unworthy tied me up in knots daily and I used food to drug myself daily. Then I went to the gym and worked out for six hours to try and prevent the inevitable weight gain. Of course, only to repeat the process the next day.

Examine Your Story To Uncover The ROOT Cause

If you are not living abundantly, then it is time to check your story. If there is a sense of dread, fear, or chronic panic daily, check your story. Perhaps it is a sense of disquiet, dis-ease, or dissatisfaction, check your story. Then it may simply be your inability to be still in the moment, the inability to sit still and relax, be comfortable with self. I ask these questions, “What are you afraid of?” “What are you running away from?” Many people run away from the truth. More than likely, it will be the reality that you do not like what you see in the mirror. You are afraid to confront the reality that you don’t like yourself. Still, you have to identify the problem before you can start the process of fixing it and healing.

After You’ve Identified The Cause, What Next?

You start the process of healing, of getting totally healthy. You only have one life, and only you can live it. Decide you want to live that life to the fullest. Then get the help to make that become a reality. Yet, accept that it will require you to make the commitment daily, and sometimes the process may cause you some discomfort. However, know that you are WORTHY of the investment of your money, energy, and time. YOU ARE WORTH IT! There are no qualifiers, and it is accomplished with unconditional acceptance and love of self [and others].