Insiders' Health: Values, Priorities, And Wellness

By Dr. Jim Starr

For those of us living in San Miguel, the challenges to maintaining our health are different than for those living in the United States, but they exist nonetheless. This quote is true wherever we live. 

You can have 100 problems in life. Until you have a health problem. Suddenly, the things that used to stress you, money, relationships, and deadlines, seem so insignificant. Without health, even the best things in life lose their meaning. Health isn't just a small part of life, it's everything. 

Wellness means different things to different people. To some, it is exercise, meditation, and diet. Others relate the term to the level of peace and happiness we can perceive and achieve. Both are valid and contingent upon our values and priorities. Below is a list of five simple questions that, if answered truthfully, will identify your actual values and priorities; not the ones that you, your family and friends think you should be living. 

• Where do you spend your time, energy, and money?

• What are the first things you think about when you awaken?

• What are your last thoughts before going to sleep?

• What are your dominant conversations concerning, with those in your circle?

• What surrounds you in your home or office? (books, trophies, family pictures, diplomas)

• Whatever your highest values and priorities are, you will never make decisions that go against them.

If you are a mother of young children, there is no question where your thoughts, energy, money, emotion and time are spent. If financial security is your priority, you will focus on ways to earn more income, generate more wealth, or protect what you have already accumulated. If personal recognition is paramount, you will express your opinions through social media, public talks or private group meetings. 

All these values are honorable and none are better than the others. Your unique values and priorities are based on your life experiences, lessons, or perceived voids, and may change as you age.

Whatever you perceive as missing, you will attempt to fill. A person raised in a family with limited financial resources may pursue financial independence or security. A person who has experienced hopelessness or a sense of mortality may prioritize spiritual clarity or religious growth.

How does this relate to your health and wellnessin San Miguel? 

Your Authentic Being is comprised of your body, mind, spirit and emotions. When you live congruently in what you think, say, do, and feel, you are in harmony and life flows along its most natural path. If your decision violates your values, your life demonstrates incongruence and encounters obstacles that may manifest as illnesses or accidents. These lesions are actually lessons, like a feedback mechanism, to point you back to the path of being congruent. A chaotic love relationship or heartbreak, may cause arrhythmia or even a heart attack.

Most incongruencies that we cause are based on selfish desires such as jealousy, envy, greed, or apathy. The lesions may be experienced as illness or I´llness.

When you live congruently, you feel more generous, humble and grateful. You recognize that we are simply human and no better than others. This could be described as wellness or We´llness. This harmonic flow is healthy and allows you to avoid many illnesses. Remember, there is always a perfect order in this world and everything has a reason. Every crisis has a blessing, and wisdom is recognizing this truth. 

The wonderful thing about living in our community is that We’llness can be expressed in the plethora of service-oriented volunteer programs offered. With introspection to identify your highest values, living congruently according to those values, respecting them as unique gifts, and honoring the values of others, you may start your healing process simply by donating time to serve others. 

A recipient of Mother Teresa´s loving service was so grateful that he told her he would do anything in return for all that she had done for him. Her reply was simple. “If you really want to show your gratitude to me, wake up tomorrow morning at 4 am and walk the streets until you find a homeless person. Tell him that he is never alone and that he is loved. That's it.”

Dr. Jim Starr is a practicing chiropractor and resident of San Miguel. He is an author and public speaker on topics of wellness, health and spirituality. He can be reached via email at drjimstar@gmail.com or Whatsapp 415-151-0983