Me: Five Years From Now - the Life-Planning Book You Write Yourself!

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Chapter One

I. Physical Condition and Health

Focus

* * *

Do I consider myself healthy or unhealthy and in good or bad physical condition?

This is my medical history:

________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________

Just get it down on paper, and then we'll see what to do with it.

—Maxwell Perkins

This is my current state of health:

________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________

    Make two lists side by side (see page 9). On the left, list those things about your health that you feel good about and are satisfied with. On the right, list the things about your health that trouble you or that you would like to improve. Think of everything, general and specific, important and trivial, but circle everything that is very important to you, because these are the things that will deserve special attention later.

    Ask yourself any of the following questions that apply to you. If you like, jot down your answers right on the page. Then, later, transfer each answer to whichever list it fits; it's possible that some things will go on both lists.

Food, Weight, and Nutrition

Do I know what constitutes a healthy diet?

Do I eat a healthy diet?

What foods do I eat too much of?

What foods do I not eat enough of?

Do I overeat or undereat?

Do I have trouble losing or gaining weight?

What do I weigh and what would I like to weigh?

Do I feel healthy at my weight?

How do I feel after I eat?

General Health and Habits

Do I take any medication on a regular basis?

Do I still need these medications?

Am I addicted to anything?

Do I have any specific medical complaints right now?

Do I suffer from any chronic ailments?

Am I satisfied with the medical care I get?

Do I see the doctor too frequently or not frequently enough?

Do I see other practitioners, such as chiropractors, acupuncturists, nutritionists, etc., and if so, how do I feel about my alternative practitioners?

When was the last time I had a checkup?

Am I honest with myself about my health?

Am I honest with others who inquire about my health?

What are my bad health habits?

What are my good health habits?

Have I successfully broken any bad habits?

Have I tried unsuccessfully to break any bad habits?

Have I stopped pursuing my good habits?

Do I take care of my teeth?

How is my eyesight?

How is my hearing?

Do I suffer from frequent colds or other common ailments?

Do I pay too much or not enough attention to my health?

Do I feel I'm aging well?

Exercise

How is my energy level?

Am I able or better able to do most things that healthy people of my age can do?

What kind of exercise do I get?

Is exercise important to me?

Do I get enough exercise?

Do I enjoy my exercise?

Does exercise make me feel healthier?

What are my physical limitations?

Do I wish I could do things I used to be able to do?

Am I prevented from doing these things because I am "out of shape" or as a natural consequence of aging or because of some other physical limitation?

Do I have any physical limitations that prevent me from achieving my health goals, and if so, what are they?

Appearance

Do I like my body?

What do I like best about my appearance?

What things about my appearance bother me?

Do I pay too much or not enough attention to my body?

Do I sacrifice my health for the sake of my appearance? If so, how?

Do I sacrifice my health for any other reason (i.e., no time to floss my teeth, too expensive to visit the doctor, no health coverage)? If so, is it worth the sacrifice?

Health Programs

Do I enjoy taking care of my health or do I feel it's a bother?

What are five other specific things about my health that I like and don't like?

Am I on the road to good health?

Do I do anything good for myself and my body on a regular basis (massage, facial, reflexology, etc.)?

Are my current health programs and habits long term or short term?

Do I want to be following the same programs and habits in five years?

Realistically, how do I see myself in terms of my health one year from now and five years from now?

Is my present course taking me there?

What other issues regarding my health do I want to explore?

People waste more time waiting for someone to take charge of their lives than they do in any other pursuit. Time is life. Time is all there is.

—Gloria Steinem

  Things I Like About               Things I Don't Like My Physical Health:               About My Physical                                   Health: _________________________________________________________</blockquote>
  List as many things as possible.
 
 
  _________________________      _________________________ _________________________      _________________________ _________________________      _________________________ _________________________      _________________________ _________________________      _________________________ _________________________      _________________________ _________________________      _________________________ _________________________      _________________________ _________________________      _________________________ _________________________      _________________________ _________________________      _________________________ _________________________      _________________________ _________________________      _________________________ 

    Now that you've made two lists, it's time to examine them. First of all, which is longer? Which is longer when you consider only those items that are circled (the things that are important to you)?

    If the list of important things you don't like is much longer than the list of things you do like, you might then consider asking yourself whether or not you are really taking care of your health in a satisfactory manner. If the list of things you do like is much longer, you might then consider emphasizing maintenance over the next five years. In either case, it's time to work on changing whichever circled items on the list of things you don't like that are within your control to change.

    So that's the next important question to ask yourself: Which items on the list of things I don't like are within my control to change? (It may help to examine the reasons these problems exist in the first place.)

Worry a little bit every day and in a lifetime you will lose a couple of years. If something is wrong, fix it if you can. But train yourself not to worry. Worry never fixes anything.

—Mary (Mrs. Ernest) Hemingway

Plan

* * *

What are three things I can do to change each item on the list? List everything now. Later go back and think about the consequences and repercussions of each possible action. Think then, for example, if rectifying a problem will negatively affect any of the things on the other list, the things you do like about your health.

Things I Can Change About My Physical Health

A.

B.

Ways to Change Them

A. 1.

    2.

    3.

B. 1.

    2.

    3.

Possible Consequences

A. 1.

    2.

    3.

B. 1.

    2.

    3.

If at first you do succeed—try to hide your astonishment.

—Harry F. Banks

    Following is a list of general and specific actions you may want to consider taking. Not everything on the list of suggestions will apply to you nor will they all be right for you. It is hoped, though, that the list will inspire you to come up with your own ideas about how to help yourself, plan for the future, and improve your life. Not forgetting to weigh the risks and consequences, could you see yourself taking any of these actions?

Food, Weight, and Nutrition

I could improve my condition regarding food, weight, and nutrition by doing the following:

I could lose/gain ___ pounds.

I could have more fiber, more vegetables, less fat, less sugar, more fruit, less processed food, less salt, less coffee, more protein, less cholesterol, less soda, less alcohol, etc.

I could eat a more balanced diet.

I could eat more/less often.

I could join a weight reduction program.

I could eat more slowly.

I could read a book about dieting.

I could try some new recipes.

I could _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________

General Health and Habits

I could improve my condition regarding my general health and habits by doing the following:

I could get a checkup

I could take a vacation.

I could get or change my health coverage.

I could get a massage.

I could see a specialist.

I could ask my friends to recommend doctors.

I could _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________

Exercise

I could improve my condition regarding my exercise by doing the following:

I could join or use my health club.

I could walk up stairs instead of taking the elevator.

I could learn a new sport.

I could do yoga.

I could ride a bicycle.

I could dance.

I could combine activities, such as reading and exercising.

I could make an appointment with a personal trainer.

I could _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________

Appearance

I could improve my condition regarding my appearance by doing the following:

I could get a new haircut.

I could consider some cosmetic changes.

I could wear more flattering clothes.

I could buy a new perfume or cologne.

I could get a manicure or give myself one.

I could vacation at a spa.

I could _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________

Health Programs

I could improve my condition regarding my health programs by doing the following:

I could ask people who have been successful how they did it.

I could ask the doctor to recommend programs to help with my bad habits or addictions.

I could try to locate an expert by asking people, by looking in the Yellow Pages, or by researching at the library.

I could read a book about natural cures.

I could do a workout video or TV workout program.

I could _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________

Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire; you will what you imagine; and at last you create what you will.

—George Bernard Shaw

Now it's time to ...

Act

* * *

Look at your new list and ask yourself the following questions:

    Which of these things could I do or start doing today?

    Which of these things take time?

    Are there any first steps I can take today to achieve any of my long-term goals? (For example, if you've decided that you may want to join a health club, today you could call a few or visit one.)

    What are the general things I will try to do?

    Tell yourself, I will do at least one new thing per day until I am satisfied with the state of my physical health. I will do everything in my power to work within my limitations. I will try to set realistic goals and will note each accomplishment. I will perceive myself as successful just for trying, and I will be gentle with myself if things do not turn out the way I expect. If I do not accomplish something I have set out to do, I will consider the possibility that I have tried to change something that is not within my power to change, and I will try to learn lessons that will help me in this and other areas of my life. I will not expect to change everything all at once but will take things one step at a time.

  _________________________________________________________ Things I Could                  Things That Take Time: Do Today: _________________________________________________________
  _________________________       _________________________ _________________________       _________________________ _________________________       _________________________ _________________________       _________________________ _________________________       _________________________
  _________________________________________________________ I will do the following things today: _________________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________