I just watched a movie called the PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS, starring Will Smith. In it he plays a hard working, persistent family man trying desperately to get ahead. He is relentless in his daily attempts to earn enough money to house and feed his family. I can only imagine the many people who so closely relate to this character’s sacrifice and required dedication at this time of our country’s financial woes. It is a sad story but in the end, because of his never ending quest for a better life he wins and goes on to be a successful businessman!

This story could be an analogy to pursuing optimal wellness. Without it, we are not able to fully be in the game of life, able to pursue our dreams and happiness.
To pursue wellness requires perseverance and hope. Many with chronic degenerative diseases like diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, heart disease and others run an uphill battle pursuing better health or at least attempting to not get sicker. They are tired and frustrated, and many have lost faith in the US medical system.

The climate of health care is changing, however, to a model of wellness rather than disease. Chiropractic doctors have championed this cause for years since their beginning in 1895. They and other wellness care providers learn how to utilize modalities that address the cause of disease and more importantly prevention of disease in the first place. Our new president-elect Obama even said that our country needs to do more on the preventive side, which will certainly bring down health care costs.

Utilizing wellness modes of intervention such as preventive chiropractic adjustments, changes in diet with comprehensive nutrition, prescribed exercise, yoga, acupuncture, massage, stress management, meditation, positive thinking, volunteering to help others, etc. all contribute to a person of greater wellbeing and good health. Health is different than wellness. Health is a continuum of ill health at the low end and optimal health at the higher end and this is where wellness comes in.

Making consciously mindful changes in lifestyle toward greater wellness does take time and diligence and a new mindset that says for example, “I’m not going to engage in that activity or eat that nightly bowl of ice cream because it’s not good for me”, or “I’m choosing to drink water with my lunch instead of that coke, which contains 10 teaspoons of sugar.” Once this is ingrained in your being you are on your way to a better life. It is your choice to make these sacrifices, or to continue down the path of ill health

Article courtesy of Dr. Lisa S. Brown, DC, RN, CFT
Natural Life Chiropractic
323 Williams St., Ste. C, Bel Air, MD 21014
410-420-0200 • 410-420-9486
drnatural@verizon.net • www.NaturalLifeChiropractic.net