5 Ways to Prioritize Health in a Sick Culture

This is a difficult thing to do - prioritize health in a sick culture. One of the reasons this is hard to do is because most people don’t even realize they’re in a sick culture. Toxins in our food and everyday use products, lack of sun and movement, an increase in stress, and less meaningful relationships are factors contributing to a culture that makes us sick.

There are a lot of things we can do to aid in being less sick, but it can easily get overwhelming to know where or how to start in prioritizing health in a sick culture. Not only where to start, but because the culture is sick, it means we are being counter cultural in deciding to prioritize health in a culture that says health issues are normal and just a part of the living and aging process. If you’re reading this, you’re probably in the school of thought that believes that living and aging shouldn’t be a struggle, but rather, we can thrive with our health and have the energy and mental clarity to enjoy life.

So, to help encourage you on your healing and wellness journey, here’s five ways to prioritize health in a sick culture:

1. Hold strong boundaries in your house

   If you don’t want plastics, fragrances, food additives, and all sorts of other toxins in your home, this is the place that you have the greatest ability to actually implement the low toxin lifestyle you want and need. While you don’t want to alienate yourself from friends and family, there’s nothing wrong with respectfully asking friends and family to be respectful of your wishes when they visit. For instance, ask them not to wear perfume or not wear freshly laundered items if they use heavy fragrances on their clothes. It’s similar to asking people to take their shoes off before walking around the house. While some people don’t do it at home, they understand that it’s important to the people they’re visiting and will normally comply.

   
   

2. Follow likeminded people and companies

   I’m going to say something that might sound controversial. You basically have to brainwash yourself. Okay, maybe that’s a little strong, but it’s like the old saying. You become the five people you hang out with most. So, find people you like and have credible information about the health issue you’re dealing with or the lifestyle you want to live. This will help keep the story you want to lead at the forefront of your mind and keep the inspiration and motivation consistent.

   
   

3. Know your why

   Yes, this one is cliche, but it’s important. You need to know why you chose to live differently than the vast majority of people around you. If you’re being counter cultural, you need to know why you are. When the pressure to conform comes, knowing your why will help you stay strong in your values and remain on the healing journey.

   
   

4. Make decisions through the lens of health

   We make numerous decisions everyday. Keeping a health lens at the forefront will help us make decisions that will lead to the life we want to lead. It means that as we consider big changes, such as a new job, we have to consider how that impacts our sleep, our stress, how and when we eat, whether or not we can get outside during the day, etc. This lens can also be beneficial for making smaller everyday decisions, such as what to eat for a meal, whether or not to take the stairs or park further from the store entrance, which friends to hang out with, etc. Keeping the health lens on makes the priority of health clear and keeps you on track to reaching your health goals.

   
   

5. Ask for help and support

   Find someone who you can trust to help you hold strong to your healing journey and live in a way that prioritizes health over cultural norms. This might be someone you already know, but it might have to be someone new from a community of people who live life the way you want to. The help and support from a real person who speaks to you and has conversations with you can make a world of difference in being successful and holding strong to prioritizing health. While they might not be 100% on the same page as you, they’ll likely have their own health goals and will be respectful to not lead you into situations that tempt you or sabotage you (like walking down the ice cream aisle in the store, or wearing fragrance around you).

While prioritizing health in a sick culture is difficult and can feel isolating and perhaps make you feel like “the freak”, it’s vital for living a prosperous and amazing life full of vibrancy, energy, and clarity. You can do this. You can be counter cultural and still feel like you belong in the world. While I’m sure you can add more to this list, these five ways to prioritize health in a sick culture are a great starting point.

Cheers to you and your success on your healing journey!