My health is my responsibility

In addition to taking control of my thoughts, I also snatched control of my health tight out of my oncologist’s grasp. In our western culture, we are taught that when you feel ill, you go to a doctor and the doctor will fix your problem. The problem with this mentality is that it places all the responsibility for my health into the hands of a physician who cannot possibly understand all the dynamics of my health in a seven-minute appointment. And the traditional physician offers pills and procedures rather than teaching the patient how to make his or her body healthy through lifestyle choices. So, while I had initially been like a sheep being led by my oncologist, doing anything that she suggested, I divested her of the responsibility of my care.

My health became my responsibility. I choose what I eat, how much exercise I get, how much water I drink, and what time I go to bed. I also choose my mental attitude and outlook on life. If I don’t feel well (which isn’t very often because my diet and lifestyle are now so healthy), I seek to visit a physician who believes in lifestyle medicine, and then I work with the doctor to create the best plan of action. I do not abdicate my responsibility to a physician just because s/he wears a white coat and has a medical degree. I have a degree in my own body—I’ve lived in it for 52 years and have mastered a thing or two about keeping it healthy. What do you need to do to take control of your own health?

I’ve got an amazing list of resources to get you started if you’re interested.