One of the cornerstones of Dr. A’s Habits of Health Transformational System is behavioral support. In short, your health is the sum of the hundreds of choices – big and small – that you make each and every day. In order to make those choices healthier, we need more than willpower and good intentions; we need to be surrounded by people, places, and things that enable us to make the best choices, even on our worst days.
For example, scheduling a workout with a friend makes you less likely to skip that session because you don’t want to let that friend down, and if they are a true friend, they will encourage you when they see you struggling.
What kind of support system works best? Well, as you can see in the above diagram, your support system can have several different kinds of elements. Everyone needs something different, so your support system may not look exactly like this, but these are the key ingredients.
Everyone is an Influencer
I represent your system visually as if it’s a bubble, a circle of protective influences that build you up and guard you from Habits of Disease, but this is important: You are not cut off from the world around you.
Take another look at these pieces:
- Your coach
- Healthy peers
- Social community
- Online support
Every one of these people has their own health bubble and their own support system, but they are also vital parts of other people’s support systems.
Your support system doesn’t separate you from the outside world. It’s actually much more exciting than that. Your support system empowers you to positively change the world around you. It’s a radiating beacon where every healthy choice you make brings more light to the people in your life.
Passive vs. Active Support
By building Habits of Health, you passively influence your environment. Getting restful sleep gives you more energy for your spouse and children. Practicing mindfulness helps you to navigate difficult situations. Being more active gets you out in the world. And the longer you’re on this earth, the more time you have to share these benefits.
That’s all passive, though. Today, I want to challenge you to actively and deliberately play a positive role in someone else’s support system. Here are some ideas:
- Check in with a friend or family member for no reason other than to connect and show them that they matter to you.
- Be friendly and more free with compliments, even with strangers.
- Fill your social media with positive messages (no more sharing divisive news or arguing with strangers).
- Volunteer with a charity whose cause is near and dear to your heart.
- Think more deeply about how you interact with others and consider what you might do differently to make their lives better.
- Encourage and celebrate others who are on their health journey by being active in our Habits of Health Facebook Group.
- Talk to your health coach about becoming a health coach yourself.
What would you add to this list? I can’t wait to see how you apply these ideas to your journey!