Is it REALLY Better to Look Good Than to Feel Good? 
Most of us have had the experience of eyeballing a cool piece of clothing or something online we don’t really need but kinda’ want. We visit it online and even put it in our shopping cart but don’t pull the trigger because it’s pricey, we don’t need it and even wanting it makes us feel a little stupid. But then the thing goes on sale, 40% off and we think – OK that’s fate I’m buying this. Well everybody else must have been thinking the same thing because when you go to your cart to pay for it, you get a no longer available prompt. You’re mad at the company, you’re mad at yourself. They stole it out from under you. You waited too long, if you wanted it, you should have just bought it. You call customer service to see if they can find you one somewhere. Well, your perseverance paid off. The customer service person found one in California and ordered it for you at the sale price. You get a great deal of satisfaction from that purchase and no buyer’s remorse.
Now imagine how ahead of the game we could be if we apply the same passion to taking care of our own health. Maybe it’s high cholesterol, or you need to lose some weight, cut down on this, quit doing that, whatever. You know it’s important. You’ve been meaning to do it and putting it off for no good reason. Well maybe it’s just that health care feels like work. Personally, when I think of it that way, it unnerves me a little. Buying stuff is sexier than being healthier and maybe living longer? NO, of course not. But it sure seems like it. I think it’s that very premise that prompts ad agencies to come up with TV commercials for various drugs featuring people dancing in the street. fitting into those sexy clothes and snuggling up with someone.
It got my attention. Ad agencies know if you can’t get them to do it for health, get them to do it for beauty. Twistedly brilliant!
So I guess, if beauty is the motivation, go for it. Nothing is wrong with it, especially when the health comes with it.
But still takes a bit of discipline to do the un-sexy bits even if they lead to the sexy ones. Here’s where we get tripped up. We procrastinate because we think getting tested and staying on whatever regimen the doctor puts us on isn’t sexy. And when you’re facing something, we think is going to be tedious, it’s hard to see past that. But it doesn’t have to go down that way.
Sure, going for a test and listening to the doctor say you should do this and not do that is less than thrilling. But right after that, the world is your oyster. You can design a healthy food plan with exciting stuff you’ll love eating. You can ease into an exercise program that will make you look and feel fabulous. You can get those health issues under control. You’ll look and feel like a new you and you’ll like your new lifestyle so much better than your old one. It’s like that 40% off deal because you’re outsmarting the grim reaper and looking good doing it.
Health is sexy! Living longer is sexy! Quality of life is very sexy.
Mirabai Holland is CEO of NuVue LLC, a health education and video production company. Her wellness and infotainment programs are implemented in hospitals, MD practices, fitness facilities, resorts and corporations worldwide. She is also an artist who believes creativity enhances health. Visit http://www.nuvuellc.com Contact: AskMirabai@movingfree.com
