Change! We Can Do It

“Dr. John Travis’ definition of wellness includes the belief that wellness is a choice, a decision you make to move toward optional health and a lifestyle you design to achieve your highest potential for well being” (Hales, p.9). Many factors can affect our well being but more significantly, are our health behaviours. Our health behaviours can also be classified under one of the twelve key determinant “Personal Health Practices and Coping Skills.” As per the information found on the Public Health Association of Canada’s website “this key determinant refers to those actions by which individuals can prevent diseases and promote self-care, cope with challenges, and develop self-reliance, solve problems and make choices that enhance health.” The key word here is choice. Most, if not all of our behaviours are inspired initially by our choices. Behaviours that we could adopt that could be harmful to our health are things like smoking, using drugs, not wearing our seat belt, etc… All of these choices could affect our well-being. As per page eleven of the text book “An Invitation to Health”, a report by the Chief Public Health Officer states that “if trends continue, six out of ten people in Canada in 2008 will die of either circulatory diseases, such as heart attacks, heart failure, or stroke, or from cancer.” This is a very frightening number considering that most of these diseases are often preventable with proper healthy behaviours and by keeping in mind that there are six dimensions of health that we can strive for.

The six dimensions of health include: social, occupational, spiritual, physical, intellectual, and emotional. Below are brief descriptions of each of these dimensions. A more thorough evaluation can be found on pages ...

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...liminate all items not nutritious and will focus on eating according to the Canada Food Guide

2. I will exercise for a minimum of one half hour, three times a week.

3. I will drink more water.

The commitment is to lower my current body mass index from 23.75 to twenty two by 2011. When I have achieved this goal, I will reward myself with a brand new wardrobe. In the mean time, I will look for support from my family and friends and ask them to remind me of my strengths when I need it most.

Everyone can make a change if they set their mind to it. It takes dedication and a lot of hard work, but it will most definitely be worth it in the end. Remember to evaluate your goal and the obstacles surrounding your goal. Inform yourself so that you are prepared for anything that comes along the way. I am ready to make this commitment. I am ready to change. Are you?