It does not take a doctor, an accountant, or a lawyer to recognize that today’s health care costs have skyrocketed.  In fact, I just got off the phone 10 minutes ago with my wife’s group insurance plan that is being changed this year because the provider increased rates for the entire group by 33%.  I am sure that this hits home with many of my readers. 

I’ve had the privilege of being involved in some interesting discussions in the healthcare industry and it comes as no surprise to many that if we are to have a sustainable healthcare industry (one in which people can afford to be insured), that a fundamental shift in our society needs to occur.  This shift needs to be one in which society spends time and money on preventions rather than on prescriptions!  In other words, the cost of managing a preventable disease such as diabetes or many of the common problems related with obesity or high stress levels greatly outweighs the cost of managing a disease once it has been onset. 

What do I find promising?

I am one of the few people that is genuinely excited about a shift that I am seeing in the healthcare.  Organizations such as Sutter Health Partners (whom I spend time coaching with) are trailblazers in promoting prevention.  Organizations hiring their services have been willing to make a financial commitment to supporting employees in making lifestyle change.  This business model is one which simply makes sense.  Employee’s become healthy, employers gain efficiencies with healthier employees in otherwise lost time at the workplace, and healthcare costs are reduced (particularly exciting for self insured companies). 

Now we could argue that it is not the employers job to keep employees healthy - shouldn’t people want to do this on their own?  Well, of course the answer is yes they should make this a priority - after all they own their body.  Regardless, the fact of the matter is that as a society our lifestyle’s have changed over the past 100 years, we’ve become more sedentary, our diets have shifted to higher fat, higher calorie, and our schedules have become more packed with to do’s.  As a result, we’ve lost track of our own personal wellness.  Our mind set has changed and we think that if something were to happen it is easier to get the surgery than it would be to make the lifestyle change.  Financially that equates to disaster for everyone.

Perhaps these ‘Wellness Programs’ are sprouting because of these financial concerns.  I like to think that it is because people care and its the right thing to do.  I truly believe we can create a sustainable healthcare system with manageable costs, if we each take responsibility for our own lives and we focus on prevention.  Coaching can be an extremely powerful media to connect a client with their vision of wellness and to encourage a client to take action.

How do we shift to prevention?

As a society, how do we shift to a preventative mind frame?  This is the big question.  Change can come from many venues, here are three that are important:

1. Political Change
2. Social Change (includes our work habits)
3. Individual Change

Most people reading this blog are interested in lifestyle change for themselves, and therefore I’ll skip over the first two bullets - I’ll consider elaborating on these for a future article. 

Fundamentally, we have the capacity to change the world socially, to change it politically, and at the root of change lies the action we take for ourselves.  I can not tell you how many people that I know, who have changed their own lives then slowly their direct family began to change then their friends and other relatives caught on.  Positive change is contagious and it begins with a personal choice. 

How do I change?

If you are reading this article and are thinking to yourself that you fall into this ‘high risk’ profile then read on.  Many people that I’ve met with know what to do however they don’t know how to change.  Even worse, many people know how to change but do not feel as if they can.  As if life has locked them in such that they have no choice in what they can do.  Others feel that there is no time left in the day for themselves.  If you relate to any of these common scenario’s, ask yourself ‘How would it be if I could create a life in which I were able to live healthy and well?’.  If that vision is more empowering than your current situation, then ask yourself how you can make it happen.  You might not know the answer on day #1 but ask yourself every day.  Do this for a month if you need to!  Answers will come.  Become a student of the question and your life will change.

For those that have the time but have simply not started, begin by taking action on the obvious items (limiting fast foods, cutting out soda’s, start exercising), then educate yourself on the less obvious nuances of being healthy (ie: what should I look out for on nutritional labels).  Change is a learning process, we see what works and what does not, and we implement things that provide fulfillment to our lives.  What could be more exciting than to align our actions with what we want? 

Getting Fit for a Cause - Our Future

Many people glean extraordinary results when they are part of a team or part of a cause.  This works particularly well when that cause is bigger than themselves.  Why do you think so many people are able to complete marathons when they run to support a child that has been stricken with leukemia? 

While not everyone will run for a child with leukemia, we are all enrolled in a huge cause whether or not we want to be.  We are all influencing the quality and accessibility of care that our fellow countrymen (and women) have.  You can feel good about choosing a healthy lifestyle not only for yourself, but also for your family, neighbors and the entire welfare of the country as your choices are having an impact on the future economic situation of our country.  Look at your neighbor and know you are not only making a difference in your own life - but also in theirs. 

We are taking steps in the right direction.  You can make a difference as a politician, an employer, an employee and an individual.  This is your call to action - a healthier, happier and more sustainable you. 

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Be Well

Related Articles:

• 10 Steps to Success - Step 3 Develop a Vision
• There’s not enough time in the day
• 10 Steps to Success - Step 9 Consciously Learn, Evolve and Grow

Written by Doug Nau, The Wellness Coach, i-grow.net