Why Should I?

The Best Way

So what is the best way to “be healthy”?

Whoa buddy. Slow down.

Why do I even need to be healthy? Why should I want to be?

Everyone knows they should be healthy; everyone is told to be healthy, and everyone is told (rightly or wrongly) how to be healthy. The fact of the matter is, there are many people who just don't care that much. Maybe they are too busy, or too lazy, or too overwhelmed. Why should we be healthy anyway?

Sometimes people pursue healthy living for “unhealthy” reasons. You know, those people who are so happy to be healthy it makes you sick? When their personal fulfillment depends as much on you not being as good as them?

Not-So-Healthy Reasons to be Healthy:

1) Elitism: if you are healthy, you can legitimately know that you healthier than almost everyone else.

2) Narcissism: the healthier you are, the more you can focus on yourself without feeling self-conscious.

3) Authority: as someone who lives the “healthy lifestyle”, you will have the moral authority to critique the lifestyle choices of others with impunity.

Why?

None of this really has to do with health; it's about attitudes and motivations.

It's always that way. The reason why you chose to do something is really the whole point.

You can find lots of reasons to pursue health, both good and bad, but the desire to be healthy depends ultimately on a long-term valuation of your own self. If you don't care about yourself as an individual, you really have no reason to make any kind of positive change. You gotta want it. It starts with desire. That's not all it takes, but that's where it starts.

For me, this whole concept of self-worth comes from trying to see myself as the Creator sees me. If the creator of the universe values me as an individual, giving me the chance to chose a better life, then I need to learn to see myself in that same light. My respect for my Creator teaches me respect for myself.

So, my point: if you can't find a good reason to “be healthy”, then you need to find that first. It starts with desire. Knowledge matters nothing without the desire.

Am I preaching to the choir? You probably would not be reading this if you didn't already want to be healthy. Still, I think it can be a good thing to reevaluate from time to time. Why do I want/need/chose to pursue better health? Is this consistent with my core beliefs and values? Are my choices lining up with my true desires?

It's a baseline question: why do you want it?

Hit up the comments: what motivates you to pursue a healthier lifestyle?