Human beings are the most confused species on the planet when it comes to health and wellness. No other animal on the planet has difficulty knowing what to eat, how much to move, or how to live congruently with its genetic needs. The result? We are the sickest species on the planet.
There is so much contradictory information out there these days. One medical expert will say one thing, (such as “eat more fat”), while another medical expert will say another, (“eat less fat”). It makes things very confusing. You end up asking a lot of questions.
I am a big fan of questions. If you are asking questions, it means that you are thinking and that you are engaged. To follow blindly would be silly, not to mention irresponsible. Of all the questions you can ask, I believe one of the absolute worst would be, “Who is the cheapest?”
I have seen many people shop around when it comes to wellness. They are looking for the least expensive solution to their health concerns. One big problem… you often get what you pay for.
Don’t get me wrong, I encourage you to look around, ask questions, and make sure you do not overpay for your health care choices. This is especially true when it comes to products. It is very easy to check the internet, find the best price, and be able to get what you need in a matter of a couple of days. So, by all means, shop. But make sure you are not getting an inferior product.
If there is a particular product you are looking for because you know it works based on what you have read or heard from family or friends, then make sure you get that particular product. You will often find less expensive versions of the same product, but it will likely be of a lower quality.
This is also true of medical care types and providers. Make sure that you are choosing your healthcare specialty and health care specialists based on reputation and certainty. Most people will find that they get the best results while getting a particular type of care. For example, someone may take medicine, get chiropractic care, and meditate for pain relief, but find that they do not get much relief from the medicine. In that case, I would invest more time and money in the chiropractic care and meditation. Why spend the money, take the time, and incur the risk on something that really isn’t helping too much?
Now, if the meditation is extremely helpful, I would commit more time to that. However, if the chiropractic care is the most effective treatment you have found, the I would do more of that. “But,” you might say, “I can do the meditation on my own time, and it doesn’t cost anything.” Or, “My medicine is free because my insurance pays for it.”
The key is to spend the time and money on what works best. Your health needs must be fulfilled. If that takes more time and costs more money, bummer. But, oh well! You must put your money into whatever it takes to get and stay well.
I used the word invest above. This is another critical point. Make sure you look at these health and wellness initiatives as an investment, not an expense. And like any investment, you put your time, energy, and money into whatever would pay the greatest dividend. If you are seeing a doctor that is not helping you, or using products that are not working well, your money is being wasted. Spend the money on things that produce results.
The one area of your life that you do not want to skimp on is your health. So, don’t ever go with the cheapest products or providers just to save money. Invest in the best. Your improved health will be the best dividend you can get.
