Individualism and its Impact on Health, Wellness and Wholeness

Today's posting has to do with rampant individualism and the impact that those ego-based decisions have on health, wellness and wholeness (HW2). Americans pride themselves on many things (in fact, it is our pride that gets in the way of doing much of what both the Constitution and Religion suggest we should be doing). Historically, "rugged individualism" (ala John Wayne) of the frontier life meant you created what you needed or you did without. That worldview continues in modern days as an unhealthy dose of egotism that states boldly that healthcare is a right, and I'm entitled to as much of it as the country can afford to pay.
Note that I wrote, "that the country can afford to pay", because this is where our "rugged individualism" plays out, isn't it. Our forefathers and mothers made do or did without, we borrow way past our credit limits and then file bankruptcy and ask for forgiveness. We live without limits, eating and frolicking to our hearts content (or discontent in this case) and then expect our technology-laden healthcare system to save us - only so we can go back and do it all over again.
My life in the intensive care units (ICUs) of many hospitals over 20+ years can attest to this philosophy. It is enabled by a healthcare training process which teaches all health professionals to do "everything possible" to "save lives". So, even though someone has abused themselves for decades, and presents to the ICU in all manner of distress, the ICU team dutifully puts them back together (better than "all the King's horses and all the King's men") fully knowing that they will be back. I've often quipped that the doors on both Emergency Departments and on ICUs should be revolving, and that we should give out frequent visitor points ("be readmitted within 30 days and receive half off your next bill!").
In order to have HW2, we need a new worldview - one that is less ego driven. All the Abrahamic faiths believe in a redeeming God and in a God that forgives us our human frailties. However, that redemption and forgiveness need to be humbly asked for (truly repentant). Our current worldview in the U.S. does not allow for this. We are so thoroughly taken with ourselves and our superiority over the rest of the world, that it shouldn't surprise anyone that we are disliked by most of the world. Recovering some sense of humility and that "God is God and we're not", will require a lot of interior work (read as prayer and discernment). Our houses (read bodies and healthcare systems) can be fixed, but first we have to admit that there's a problem. Possibilities Journey, Inc., (www.possjrny.org) is focused on this problem and on returning faith communities to the discussion about, and transformation of, ourselves and our behaviors so that we can reach HW2.

Peace,
Dan