Why Health Is Hard: Balancing Optimism and Realism

This week in building health 👇

How I Balance Optimism and Realism for My Health

I am a big-smile person.

When I went on a 30-day hike across Spain, my group gave me the nickname– “The Smiling Filipino”

These days, when I coach health, I always take a positive and optimistic approach.

But at the back of my mind, there was something bothering me–

I don’t want to be one of those ‘toxic positivity’ trainers who make getting healthy seem like it’s a cake walk. 

That doesn’t fit my style.

And, it’s not what people actually experience

From working with dozens of clients, I’ve learned that for 95% of us, health is hard, frustrating, and often discouraging.

I’m going to talk about why it’s okay if you find health hard to work on, and offer some insight into how you can reframe that to your benefit.

→ Read the Essay here (6 mins)

My favorite health things for the week

// one

Eleven theories for how to achieve true happiness

8 minutes | Spencer Greenberg

There is no one-size fits all solution to being happy.

But—

What you can do is understand what philosophies line up with your own beliefs and experiences.

Because even though there isn’t the one-best theory on happiness, there’s definitely one that best-for-you.

→ Read the Post to Learn more

// two

The Mind-body connection is built into brain

7 minutes | Tamara Bhandari

What is the mind-body connection anyway?

Short definition for today: You can feel your thoughts in your body

Think about how:

• nervousness makes you want to pace

• excitement gets your heart rate up… or

• deep breathing quiets your thoughts

If you find yourself think that it’s only a body issue— or it’s only a mind issue— think again

→ Read the Post to Learn more

// three

What Can We Do About Workforce Wellbeing?

11 minutes | Deloitte Insights

I’ll share one image from the report:

This isn’t just about bosses being out of touch— or employees feeling overwhelmed.

For me, it’s a reminder that we need to be more aware of how work impacts our health. And how it’s a real struggle for people up and down the workplace.

For today, ask yourself, is my work helping me thrive? Or it is compromising my wellbeing?

What’s the next step you can do to work on that?

→ Check out the Report

Until next time

I’ve been training my pull ups and rings movements— and in the process I think I’ve pulled a muscle in my neck.

That means I have to take a break, and train in a different way again. I’m thinking it would be good chance to get back into stretching and mobility, since I’ve neglected that over the past few days.

What about for you? Is there anything you are focusing on for now?

Hit "Reply" and tell me what you're working on now - I'm curious!

Until next week,