ESCAPADA E-MAGAZINE

Turning a Crisis into an Opportunity

What’s happening around us is unprecedented. The future is uncertain and this creates a lot of anxiety and fear, which has spread across the globe because fear is more contagious than this virus. Covid-19 has pushed a certain ‘pause’ button that many of us have never experienced before, the ‘go go’ lifestyle has slowed and we have less plans with little to none social interactions. It has given us time to go within and at times this can bring a lot of issues to the surface, whereas previously we may not have had time to think about them or work on them. Perhaps this crisis has brought forward an opportunity to really focus on our health and what that means to us as individuals.

The Chinese word for "crisis" (simplified Chinese:危机) is, composed of two Chinese characters signifying "danger" and "opportunity"/change point”.

Where do I Start?

When we think of our health it is important that we take an integrative approach. Integrative Health is an individualised system of medicine that encompasses us as a whole with all of our story. It teaches us a way of life with preventative health at its core. This holistic approach has a remarkable capacity to help each of us get in touch with our truest inner nature, develop our strengths, focus in on our challenge areas and offer real support where it is needed. With this approach it gives you your individualised natural health toolbox.

1. Decide To Change

   The word decide comes from the Latin decidere, which means - to cut off from. It means to take all of your options, select the one you want, and throw the others out the door. When you truly decide to do something, it gets done regardless of the obstacles because you have cut away, any other option from happening.

2. Dream Big

   What do you want? Many of us have forgotten how to dream outside of our current world, think about possibilities rather than limitations and excuses. Re-ignite the child in you that dreamt of living in a castle one day and dream big when it comes to your health. Imagine what your optimum health might look like. For some that is losing that extra pounds and for some it might be doing activities that brings joy into that life. As you start to think towards your health goals - first understand what the destination looks like in your mind.
   

3. Know Your Obstacles

   Obstacles will come no matter what; It’s not a question of whether obstacles are going to come. They will, the question is what are you going to do about it? With this in mind, it is important to at least be clear on what’s currently stopping you. Write down what limitations you might have. Write down what limiting behaviours you might have experienced before when making changes to your health journey. Once you know what you want and what’s in the way, the next step is to figure out the plan to get you where you want to go.
   

4. Setting Your Health Goals

   It can be useful when setting your health goals to use the SMART method. This means that your goal needs to be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and has a time frame. For a goal to be accomplished, it cannot be described in generalities - You do not want to lose weight; you want to lose 20 pounds of body fat over 16 weeks. Write your goals down and keep them in view - on the fridge or in your journal so that you see them and are constantly motivated to achieve them. Otherwise they can be forgotten about very quickly.

And then get moving. The current situation has never showed us how important our health is and prevention is key. So let’s not wait for the hurricane to hit - let’s be proactive.