Newsletter Archive
The Health Bank Account - Are You Overdrawn? - January 11, 2007
Bank accounts are based on a simple principle. If there are more deposits than withdrawals, you’re in the black. When withdrawals exceed deposits, you get a nasty-gram from the bank.
You also have a health account. It acts a lot like your bank account. Daily stressors create withdrawals. When someone at work drops the ball and you have to pick it up, you experience a health withdrawal if this creates stress for you. Bigger issues, such as a job layoff or the death of someone close, create bigger withdrawals.
Personal habits can also cause withdrawals. When we smoke, drink excessively, fail to exercise, or eat junk food we make health withdrawals.
We can control some withdrawals. Others lie beyond our control. So how do we keep a positive health balance?
There are two main options. We can reduce our withdrawals (e.g., quit smoking), and/or we can increase our health deposits. There are a lot of opportunities to make deposits.
Health deposits center on one of four factors: mind, body, emotions, or spirit. Let’s look at a deposit example for each category.
Mind: We can reframe events we perceive as negative. Stuck in traffic? Rather than sweat it, listen to uplifting music or think through the way you’ll address a problem at work.
Body: A walk during lunch represents a deposit. A trip to the gym represents an even bigger deposit.
Emotions: Many of us bury our emotions. Go ahead, cry. Or talk about your problems with someone who can help. Chalk up another deposit.
Spirit: Here’s the mother lode. This is also the most neglected of the health factors for many of us. When we nurture our spirit or soul, we reduce our stress. When we reduce our stress, we enhance our health. When is the last time you went for a walk in a beautiful outdoor setting, visited an arboretum, or reflected on how grateful you are for the good things in your life? All create health deposits.
Just as our bank account changes over time, our health account changes. There are times with few withdrawals and lots of natural deposits. There are also lean times. We need to actively make more deposits during those times.
Our Managing Stress workshop focuses on a host of deposit strategies, big and small. They are available to us all. For questions or to book a session, email: Nan@valentinecoaching.com. You can also call (515) 253-0646.