A profound exploration of the dichotomy between health care and self care is presented, with an emphasis on the often-overlooked significance of the latter. The episode critiques the traditional health care system in the U.S., which is characterized as reactive and largely ineffective in preventing the chronic diseases that plague many individuals. Instead of fostering wellness, health care often only kicks in once a person is already ill or in pain, leading to a cycle where individuals are continually treated for symptoms rather than supported in maintaining their health. This discussion sets the stage for the vital role of self care, which is portrayed as a necessary counterbalance to a flawed system that neglects the holistic well-being of individuals.
Self care is articulated as an intentional practice that encompasses various aspects of life, including nutrition, physical activity, mental health, and emotional resilience. The speaker challenges common misconceptions about self care, emphasizing that it is not about temporary pleasures or distractions, but rather about making choices that genuinely support one’s health and happiness. The narrative encourages listeners to reflect on their habits and consider how they can integrate more self care into their daily routines. By taking ownership of their health, individuals can not only improve their physical state but also cultivate a sense of vibrancy and empowerment that transcends mere survival.
Ultimately, the podcast serves as a rallying cry for listeners to become their own advocates in health, emphasizing that the journey of self care is both a personal and transformative experience. It invites them to envision a life where they are not just managing illness but actively engaging in practices that enhance their quality of life, building a foundation for long-term well-being that can inspire others in their communities.
Takeaways:
- Health care in the United States often focuses on treating illness rather than prevention.
- Self care involves actively promoting and maintaining your own health and well-being.
- Chronic diseases like cancer and diabetes are better managed through proactive self care practices.
- Being your own chief medical officer empowers you to take control of your health.
- Self care includes eating well, getting enough sleep, and staying active regularly.
- Investing time in self care can lead to a more vibrant and fulfilling life.
Transcript
Self Care versus Health Care
Health care in the United States would be better called sick care. You go to the doctor when you're sick or when you're worried about being sick. You go to the doctor when you're injured or in pain.
Frequently they patch you up, give you some medication, make a few suggestions like eat better, exercise and lose weight and send you on your way. In the United States, health care is not great at prevention, but it is really good at keeping you alive.
Health care rarely addresses your lifestyle choices that create or have a big impact on on the four main killing diseases of our modern world. Cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer's. These chronic modern lifestyle diseases do not kill you quickly.
They just make the life hard and limiting while you fight them or fail to Healthcare looks like an annual visit with your primary healthcare physician and that takes maybe 15 minutes of doctor time, but more like two hours of your time.
Health care is an annual blood draw where you only get a conversation about the results if you are so unhealthy as to gain a disease diagnosis or prescription.
Healthcare is that routine colon cancer screening kit that showed up in your mailbox after years of chronic constipation, that constipation that creates a sick colon. Health care is generally care done to you or for you, but self care is care done by you to you.
Self care is not routinely choosing to have a bottle or two of wine with your girlfriends followed by a night of disturbed sleep. Self care is not retail therapy because you had a stressful week. Self care is not taking an awesome vacation because you hate your job.
Self care is not saying yes to dinner at Chick Fil A because you didn't make time to consider your other options every damn week. So what is self care? The act of promoting and maintaining your own health of your physical body, psyche and environment.
Self care is often accomplished better with some partners and resources, but not everyone is so lucky. You consult with yourself first and other second.
Self care is eating the way your body needs you to, prioritizing and facilitating sleep, moving your body in safe, purposeful ways to stay strong, pliable and balanced, taking supplements and medications as needed by your body's current state, checking in with your body in many ways, including testing, exams, checkups, and simply paying attention to your messages from the inside. Self care is focusing on your own quality of life, supporting your spiritual aspects, engaging in relationships that feed you as a human.
Self care is balancing stress and relaxation, working on both self improvement and self love. Self care is spending more time in the real and natural world and self care is spending more time alone doing what pleases you.
So what is a smart woman to do? Health care or self care? I suggest you take it upon yourself to be your own chief medical officer, your own doctor, your own caregiver.
Hire the people that you want as resources on your wellness team. Practice self care. I know that I want to be more than just alive. I want to be vibrant. I want to feel like a goddess.
I want younger women and men to look up to me for guidance on how to age as gracefully as I did and will continue to do so. I choose to focus on self care. Do you?
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