As one year ends and another starts it is natural to become a touch contemplative. We often look back and consider learnings, challenges, successes, failures, and more. We often look forward with plans for change or improvement or better or more or less. And the world we inhabit here in the early to mid 21st century, sure is an interesting place. There is no lack of things to consider and contemplate. To worry about and to plan around…..

From a health and wellness perspective, this is also a time where much can be considered, learned, improved and optimised. Here are three thoughts you might wish to entertain…..

  • We all know how we could be more well (we know what we do ok and where we struggle). For many of us it quite a long list. Maybe that’s part of the problem. How about making a disciplined decision to choose only one, or maybe, two, or three if you really must, goals for this coming year. JUST one (or two or three…..but no more). The exercise requires prioritisation and you’ll come to see that it involves choosing one and not another item (goal, in this case). Saying yes. But also saying no. Accepting your limited resources. Not inconsiderable. Just finite. Try this…
  • Look in the mirror. Figuratively! Try to look, specifically look, for the lies you’ve been telling yourself. These might be tiny things (I really only eat chocolate once a week….I am sure….well maybe once a week at home….work….ah, well,….) or more major (I know I have this gambling problem….but I’ll beat it soon….I won last week…..I can win again…..I just need to get even again….). But we have these little cons we play on ourselves. And any psychologist will tell you that lying to ourselves is at the heart of so much mental distress, disease, and much more. Think about it. Really think. And take a look at yourself..…
  • This world is a pretty divided place right now. Everyone seems to have these radical and extreme views. Opposite sides are unable to listen to each other and the rhetoric just gets more and more biased and one-sided. From every side. On every issue (politics, war, gender, money, religion, race, culture, environment…..) and even in sport ! And as we know, this has, in one way and another, put us all in a pretty precarious position as we spin around on our precious Earth. It can seem overwhelming, we know. But maybe there is one thing we could all do. To help. Try listening to “the other side”. Really try to understand their view on the matter. Do it online or face to face with the uncle who thinks XYZ about HJK. Whatever it is and however unlikely agreement may seem. Maybe you’ll learn something. Perhaps you’ll see a nuance or detail you had missed before. Perhaps you’ll appreciate the humanity of the other person, at least. Or maybe not. But we’d like to suggest that we all try. Something along these lines. Listen…

So there are three simple-enough thoughts. We think, and we hope, they may be interesting or helpful to you. We wish you well.

Written by Dr Colin Burns