Health Is a Long Game: The Power of Personal Investment (Part 2)
The Long Game Mentality
Our Western perspective often assumes that the cure comes from the outside. We show up to the doctor expecting a magic bullet to take away our aches and pains. A supervisor in acupuncture school once told me, “It’s 30% me and 70% the patient.” Meaning, the doctor can intervene with acupuncture, adjustments, bodywork, or medication, but real healing comes from the individual—the daily work that enables our innate ability to heal.
Having a care team that helps uncover the root cause of issues is invaluable. But they can’t do the work for you. As I used to say, “There’s no way you can out-PT (physical train) a bad diet.” Your body isn’t betraying you when it starts to fail—it’s giving you a loud signal that what you’re doing is not sustainable.
Sustainable health is about playing the long game. It’s about embracing the process, not just the outcome. Small, daily actions—choosing water over soda, taking a walk instead of scrolling on your phone, prioritizing sleep over another Netflix episode—may seem insignificant in isolation, but their cumulative effect is profound.
Practical Steps to Take Ownership of Your Health:
- Find a Care Team That Aligns with Your Goals: Seek out practitioners who prioritize root-cause healing rather than just symptom management.
- Set Realistic Health Goals: Define small, achievable steps instead of overwhelming, drastic changes.
- Track Your Progress: Use a journal or an app to log workouts, meals, sleep, and mood to recognize patterns and areas for improvement.
- Learn to Listen to Your Body: Notice signs of fatigue, pain, or stress and adjust your habits accordingly.
- Stay Consistent: Long-term health is built through consistency. Even if progress feels slow, trust the process and stay committed.
Your Health, Your Responsibility
No one else can do the work for you. While guidance from practitioners, trainers, and mentors is invaluable, the responsibility for daily choices rests in your hands. The more engaged you are in your well-being, the more empowered you become.
Health isn’t a sprint. It’s a marathon. And the finish line? A life lived fully, with energy, clarity, and vitality.
So, what investment will you make today?
Have a question for me?
Reach out at hello@meridianpassagewellness.com. Want a consult with me? Click here to schedule a one-on-one.
