There are many things we need to do in order to improve the health condition of our country. But I think that a very important thing for us to do, as individuals, is that we comprehend that there are more important things in life than just convenience and comfort. It sounds like a strange theory to have, yes, but let me explain.
But first, some background info….
Personally, being very interested in health myself, I’ve seen way too many people express severe criticism towards certain opinions about health; simply because these opinions are different from what they’re used to hear. And I think that’s just really sad. Because what a lot of people don’t realize is that many of those “weird” ideas, or points of view, that they so often criticize are quite possibly solutions to a number of problems in our society.
But how can these ideas ever help us if so many of us are being so close-minded? Well that’s where I think that convenience and comfort play some really big roles.
See, I have a theory that… many of us, especially here in western countries, are so used to always being in our comfort zone, that when we hear something that we don’t like, or something that isn’t very convenient for us, we have a tendency to just close off. So I think that, in order to help fix this problem with closed-mindedness that we have, we must at least make a conscious effort to try to stop being so attached to convenience.
What do I mean by being “attached to convenience”? It’s simple. You see examples of it everyday. Say, why do so many people buy food from McDonald’s? Because it’s convenient. It’s pre-made food, it tastes good, it’s quick. (It’s called fast food for a reason). Now, you may say that it’s also because of the price, and well that’s true. The fact that it’s inexpensive also plays a big role in why so many people consume it. But in that case, let’s talk about toothpaste… Why is it that so many people prefer to buy toothpaste from the store when homemade toothpaste is so much more cheap?(1) Because it wouldn’t be very convenient for people to make their own. They probably think that it takes too much effort, or too much time, and therefore, they don’t do it.
Or what if I told you that the big house you’re living in is causing serious harm to the environment? Because it’s true. There are many statistics that show that the bigger the house, the more harm to the environment(2, 3). But of course, since this fact isn’t very “convenient”, a lot of people will try to forget about it, or even ignore it.
And still… you don’t have to give up every single comfort in order to live healthily. You don’t have to go all the way. Some people may be more willing to sacrifice certain comforts than others, and that’s ok! But do keep in mind that you can’t stay in your comfort zone forever. You’ve got to find a middle ground.
You’ve got to think about it, and realize that… Many times, a bit of discomfort and good results are more worth it than comfort and bad results. Weigh it all in, and think. Do you prefer to stop buying certain ingredients in order to maintain your good health, or do you prefer to keep buying them and keep potentially damaging your health on the long run? It’s all up to you.
And yes, it might be hard at first. But like I said, you’ve got to find a middle ground. For me, personally, there are many things I still need to improve on. Like for example, I still use store-bought shampoo (even though I know it’s toxic), I still consume a lot unhealthy ingredients (especially on the weekends!), and there are many more unhealthy habits that I have yet to drop… But it’s ok. Because for the most part, I’m actively working towards improving my overall health; even if that means sacrificing some comforts. And instead of going all the way, I decide to take it little by little every day. And, well… I feel like this is something we could all strive to do, don’t you think? :)
So in conclusion: If we want to improve the overall health condition of our society, we must remember that there are more important things in life than just convenience. We must be open to new ideas about health, even if they’re not always what we want to hear. And we must take steps towards improving our health, even if that means stepping out of our comfort zone. But at the same time, we should know that it’s not necessary that we go all the way. We can think about it, find a middle ground, and subsequently, just strive to improve each and every day. :)