Culture of Health

Mehak Gupta Grover
Being healthy is the most important objective of human beings. But, is health really important these days? Appreciating good health should be a daily occurrence rather than an occurrence once we experience pain, suffering, illness or loss of life.
Culture of health is trending a different shape and style. Everyone wants to look best, healthy and fit. But, being actually fit and flaunting one’s looks and body are two different perspectives. In this era of SHOWING fitness instead of actually being fit, people are becoming empty from inside. Gym selfies, smart gym outfits, artificial drinks, six pack abs all of it has become a fashion rather than an actual workout. Instead of following a healthy lifestyle, people prefer going for fat reduction surgeries and cosmetic surgeries.
Health, in simple terms is the state of being free from any illness or injury. In a broader sense, It is a state of complete physical, mental and social well- being and not merely the absence of disease. WHO (World Health Organisation) remains firmly committed to the principles set out by it. It believes that the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being, without distinction of race, religion, political belief, social and economic condition. Government has a responsibility for the health of their people which can be fulfilled only by the provision of adequate health and social measures.
WHO measures, government policies, these are all legally sanctioned matters. My perspective is little different. Health is not just a physical aspect. Today, the man is a psychosomatic ( that is, pertaining to both mind and body). What happens in the mind, naturally happens in the body. What happens in the body in turn happens in the mind. The way we are living, our attitude, our emotions, the basic mental state, the level of activity we are going through, how streamlined our minds are, all these are very much a part of our health. We definitely have to create an atmosphere where our body, mind, emotions and energy are in good harmony.
A large number of people in the world, including many who are considered medically healthy,  are unhealthy. There is no sense of peace or joy. Healthy means our whole self.
In words of Sadhguru-
“No doctor or medicine can ever give you health. They can assist you when you have fallen into ill health and help you out of it a little bit, but health has to happen within yourself.”
There is an old proverb- ‘A Healthy mind lives in a healthy body and vice versa.’ This hold true in today’s world as well. In fact, I must confess, it applies more in today’s generation. In our times, unnecessary tensions have made a cloud on everyone’s head. And this anxiety can be as ridiculous as having a perfect selfie, a perfect dress, a perfect hairstyle. Imagine!
Eventually, our mind makes our body. Health is not just what we are eating. It is also more about what we are thinking and saying.
Dalai Lama explains it beautifully-
” A happy mind is a healthy mind, and a healthy mind is good for the body.”
The secret of perfect health lies in keeping the mind always cheerful- never worried, never hurried and never borne down by any fear or anxiety. Think, when we had a big belly laugh? Did our body feel relaxed? When the mind, body and soul work together, we experience wellness, and it is the brain that helps them work together. Make positive thinking your ultimate objective. Feel and show generosity, be grateful and forgive. Overtime, we become more resilient in the face of adverse situations. On the contrary, negative thoughts leads to various health problems. Mind and body are interconnected. Make your mind clean, your body will undoubtedly show wonders.
feedbackexcelsior@gmail.com