Want to Change Your Health? Change Your Perspective

Do you want to change your health? It all starts with changing your perspective.

No, I’m not going to give you mantras or affirmations, nor am I going to tell you just think positive.

What I will do is point out something that guides how we make decisions about our health that is right in front of us but is something we don’t stop and critically evaluate.

Right now the conventional thought about health is pathogenic. In other words, it’s about the factors that cause disease. This method has very distinct characteristics and principles.

In a pathogenic mindset, you are either healthy or sick. The attention is directed toward the specific diagnosis of the specific disease of the patient. The focus is also aimed at the risk factors for the disease being considered.

The starting point is the disease or problem.

Now let’s try a new mindset.

The Salutogenic mindset. The word Salutogenic comes from the Latin salus (meaning health) and the Greek genesis (meaning origin).

A Salutogenic approach to health focuses on what makes us healthy instead of what causes disease. In this approach you are not either healthy or sick, you’re on a continuum in which you are moving towards health or towards being sick.

The attention is focused on the overall state of the health/illness of a person. Instead of just looking at the risk factors of the particular disease, the focus is on where the patient is on the health spectrum.

The starting point in this approach is the health potential of each patient instead of the patient’s disease or problem.

A pathogenic approach is reactionary. Decisions are made in response to signs and symptoms of the disease.

By definition, a Salutogenic approach is a proactive approach. Decisions are made to enhance each patient’s overall well-being.

Exercise, eating well, and taking supplements are all examples of a Salutogenic approach. Another familiar example is brushing your teeth and seeing your dentist regularly. Taking care of your spine and nervous system would be a less familiar example but can be essential in helping you realize your fullest health potential.

The next time you make any decision about your health, ask yourself, am I being reactive or proactive?

Am I focused on the disease? Or am I focused on creating health?

This change in your mindset can make all the difference.