When it comes to improving our health, it’s easy to focus on what we need to fix about ourselves, such as correcting a weight level that goes beyond standards, altering eating habits that don’t embody good health, or forcing ourselves to exercise on a regular basis. Scientifically speaking, standards of good health that work together to improve our quality of life and to increase our chances of living longer do exist, but when we enter into the fix-it mode it’s easy to operate as if something is broken. What would happen if we were to see ourselves as a whole – not perfect, not flawless, but whole?

Think about the last time you tried to fix something you thought was broken. Last spring, the breaks on my daughter’s bicycle mysteriously stopped working. After several hours of trying to fix them, I tiresomely towed her ride to the bike shop. After we’d stood in line for almost 45 minutes, it was our turn to see the bike mechanic, who quickly noticed that the break cables were wrapped around the base of the handlebars. There was nothing to fix; I simply had to untwist the cables. Embarrassed, I left the bike shop and went home to recuperate from the unfruitful and exhausting process.

Similarly, when we try to fix ourselves with the newest diet or exercise program, the process itself can become mechanical, robotic, and lifeless, lacking enthusiasm, drive, and zeal. On the other hand, when we see ourselves as whole, we can enthusiastically implement good health practices and look forward to doing more, being more, and living life authentically.

With wholeness as our starting point, we can view wellness as a journey. Along the way, we might come across patterns of behavior that enable complacency. We might discover what is blocking the illumination of our magnificence. We might see clearly what we need to have more of in order to reach our goals. This is all part of the journey. With each step, we give ourselves the chance to reflect, act, and evolve.

So if you are thinking about losing a few pounds, exercising regularly, or giving up an unhealthy habit, instead of trying to fix yourself, focus on making a contribution toward what is already there – a whole human being waiting to be unleashed to live out your potential. Now, that’s exciting!

How would better health enhance your God-given talents, skills, and attributes?
How would better health illuminate your wholeness, magnify your attributes, and contribute to your magnificence?
What are you waiting for?