With all the information readily accessible to anyone with an internet connection about HEALTH, you would think that as a society we should be getting healthier year on year. Well, the stats tell a different story. Chronic disease is continuously on the rise. This is LIFESTYLE disease. Disease we get from not eating, moving and thinking in ways we are designed to.
One of the big reasons for this continual rise in chronic disease is that there is a reward system in place for it.
We get SICK days off work not WELL days.
We get SICK pay not WELL pay
We get chicken soup made for us when we are SICK but how often does tat happen when we are WELL?
We get extra cuddles and attention the new are SICK not WELL.
Companies make BILLIONS of dollars the you’re SICK , with no commercial interest in getting you WELL.
Conversations are endless when we’re SICK - just sit and listen to conversation happening around you - “I’ve got this…” “My ____ is playing up” “I’ve got an appointment with the specialist ……” and on it goes.
Our whole society is set up for us to be SICK, and to be REWARDED for it. At the extreme it can become someone’s whole identity - without the illness / sickness / complaint, they would have nothing important in their life - so the rewards for keeping the status quo are huge.
So what can we do about it? Is it all doom and gloom?
We can start rewarding people’s HEALTHY behaviours. Give your kids a wellness day off school (when they can actually enjoy a day off), teach and be a role model for our kids that being HEALTHY is rewarding.
High five someone for going for that run, for riding to work, for eating clean, for saying no to the after work drink. You’ll also feel better for it.
Be well.
Dr Tony.