What Real Health Means to Me – Dr. Anne

Written by: Anne Zauderer, DC

The idea of “having health” has changed for me over the years. I’ve come to realize that it’s not just about taking all the right supplements or eating all the right foods. True health comes from a place of happiness and contentment with who we are as individuals.

It is very easy to want to superficially compare ourselves to the world, and find that we are lacking. There is always someone out there who has more and can do more than we can. We perceive that everyone else has their lives together, which makes our own lives appear inadequate in comparison. We let the world’s standard of beauty, power, wealth … and, yes, even health dictate our feelings about our self-worth.
Here’s the secret: most people get it backward. When you let the world dictate the standard for what will make you happy, you will never be enough to attain that standard. The world has set a bar that is unattainable, because it doesn’t exist. It is an illusion.

True contentment starts with the understanding that you have been made to be enough. Determine what makes you happy. Surround yourself with people that will reinforce good values. Prioritize the relationships that are life-giving. As you set the standard for what your own happiness is you will become more and more comfortable with being content in who you are.

I have no doubt that our emotional state influences our physical health. As a chiropractor, I have seen physical ailments disappear as the emotions of a person changes. Stress can be one of the most nutritionally-draining states that the body has. It is a short-term solution to help us survive. No person was made to exist in a state of stress all the time. It can affect almost every system in the body.

Setting your own standard of happiness will reduce your stress. Truly enjoy being in the moment. Life is going to pass, whether we are prepared for it or not. Why not savor every bit we can? You might just find that with contentment you have better health.

• Find the time to take a walk and feel the sunshine on your face.
• Do a vigorous hike and feel the physicality of your movement and heartbeat.
• Relish that first sip of hot coffee or tea in the morning.
• Take a nap in a hammock feeling the breeze on your cheeks.
• Enjoy an expensive bar of chocolate as every morsel melts on your tongue.
• Volunteer your time to help someone in need, feel compassion and love for them.
• Meditate or pray with open arms.
• Enjoy the company of friends that make you laugh.

Each month we have guest authors write a column for our Health Hunters newsletter with the prompt “What Real Health Means to Me”. We’ve been blown away by the content, and the variety of answers, that they have provided. We know that Real Health is very personal and health goals vary. We hope that you find their stories inspiring and will share with your friends and family as well!

All “What Real Health Means to Me” articles

If you’d like to write an article of your own, please email us at newseditor@riordanclinic.org.