What is possible?

2008 is here. It is a new year with new hopes and ideals about the many ways we can live a more healthy life. I am optimistic about the possibilities. It seems that this is a very common occurrence. People say good bye to the old, welcome in the new, and expect that this is the year for change. The enthusiasm is a vital part of the requirements for change. But it is only one of the pieces. For things to happen differently, there must be a shift in thoughts and behaviors as well. A new paradigm where eating healthy and exercising regularly are fully conceivable, even if these behaviors have been absent from the past.
2008 is an opportunity to imagine and create what is possible. Imagining and believing are the very first steps.
Who do you want to be in 2008?

Simple in theory

Most Naturopathic recommendations are simple... drink more water, eat more whole foods, exercise daily, get a good nights sleep, manage stress effectively, etc. The reality is that these simple recommendations are not always easy to actualize. This type of change requires discipline, structure, and foresight. It can feel restrictive, and on the surface it initially is. Ultimately the result of the structure and discipline is liberation. No longer a prisoner to ill health; no longer struggling through the day while depleted of nutrients and energy; we are free to reach a state of health where "the vital force reigns supreme and governs the physical body to reach the lofty goal of human existence" (paragraph 9, "The Organon of Medicine" by Samuel Hahnemann). This is a divine state in which to live and grow.
There is an overwhelming reluctance for most to embrace this change and freedom. The reluctance is born of fear. A fear that it is all too difficult, or that I am not worthy of this change. How can we succeed against societal and marketing pressure constantly promoting a lifestyle void of health, balance, and meaning? It is scary! Internal and external, conscious and subconscious, we have much to overcome.
It is vital to remember that while striving to heal and grow there can be no failure. It is a journey with triumphs and setbacks. The cumulative progress is always forward, moving us toward our goals. We need only to take the first step. Embrace the opportunity now, and welcome health into your life.