We are inundated with information these days. And much of the information we are getting is online, and often tied to roundabout advertising and marketing. What looks like an informative article turns out to be selling a gizmo, gadget, lotion, potion, or pill. Whether you want to lose weight, heal from a health condition, look younger, have more energy, or get better sleep, there are steps you can take that are simple, safe, and proven to help.
Before purchasing some root powder from a remote tribe in the Himalayas, hooking yourself up to some electrical shockwave superconductor device, or even taking the latest, greatest new drug therapy your doctor promises is “safe and effective,” you might want to start with the basics.
I know I sound like a broken record, saying the same things over and over, but the truth is the truth. As exciting as it is to hear about getting a 6-pack in 6-weeks, removing wrinkles in just days, or improving your love life overnight, the pills, devices, and creams that come with these claims are expensive, potentially dangerous, do not address the actual cause of your issues, and almost always do not work.
Lists of testimonials, lots of positive reviews, referenced scientific studies, and images of professional models can help make any product appear convincing. Add in unbelievable discounts (“buy one, get two free”), urgency (“only if you order today”), and money-back guarantees (“easy 30-day, no questions asked, returns”), and whatever it is they are selling sounds like you’d be foolish not to buy it.
A great starting point, before delving into the latest trend or hottest fads, is to go with what we know to be true. We know for sure that whole, real foods are what humans are designed to eat. There is no disputing that moving our bodies daily leads to better outcomes than if we sit and are sedentary all day. Deep, meaningful work motivates and sustains us. Seven to nine hours of sleep is not just a suggestion, but a requirement for just about everyone. Loving, trusting, fulfilling relationships are an absolute necessity. Less toxins in our daily life is better than more toxins. And a positive attitude results in a better life than a negative attitude.
So, if you are currently eating highly processed, high-sugar, fake, and/or fast food, you will be healthier if you switch to more whole, real foods. If you sit all day in your car, at work, and on the couch, then getting up, getting out, and doing any form of exercise will be healthier. If you dread going to work because you hate what you do, explore different opportunities, or at least find ways to make your current work more enjoyable.
Going to bed super late when you have to get up early is not a good strategy. Get into a routine that allows you to get ample sleep. Continuing to tolerate being used, taken advantage of, and underappreciated in any relationship is unacceptable. Do what you can to enhance the quality of your marriage, friendships, and work relationships, and if repair is not possible, distancing yourself from those might be required.
If you aren’t paying attention to the quality of the water you drink, the air you breath, and the products you use, start now. Organic, non-GMO, humanely-raised, chemical-free, real, and less artificial anything all help. And if you are looking at what’s wrong with the world every day, of course, you’re going to find it. Wake up asking what’s right with the world. Start noticing the good all around you, express more gratitude, and focus more on how amazing your life is.
Mark Twain summed it up beautifully… “It is easier to fool people than convince them that they have been fooled.” Well, we’re being fooled. The answers to our unhappiness, anxiety, obesity, loneliness, and ill health aren’t coming from Amazon, won’t happen overnight, and can’t come from one source. The truth is that the answer is in the basics…the fundamentals. It’s much simpler than those selling stuff want us to believe. It’s not the sexiest, the most high-tech, or super complex answer, but it works. Implementing more of the stuff we know works and has worked for all humans, for all time, is a way of guaranteeing better health, better outcomes, and a better life. No matter how well the newest, hottest, most trendy products work, they can never substitute the foundational truths of healthy living.
