Discipline and Health...

Today's post is a musing on the need to be disciplined as we approach all aspects of our life. Most importantly, the discipline to do the things we need to do and avoid those unhealthy behaviors that lead to our disease (individual and communal). Self discipline is uppermost on my mind as I am in dialogue with a certain 14 year old male in my house. He embodies a culture of instant gratification and ego-centrism that is somewhat appropriate for his level of development, but in other ways is descriptive of much of what is currently wrong with our world and world view.

We live in a time where everything is packaged for us and we need to do nothing but plug-in and tune-out. Easy to prepare meals, microwave and convection ovens, fast food restaurants, sound bite "news" programs, "30 minutes to a better you". The world narrative continues to get faster, more banal and superficial, less useful and helpful, more destructive and isolating. In healthcare, we wonder why people are not more committed to healthy behaviors - yet we live in cities and countries rife with social injustice and lack of accountability. When we look at ourselves, do we see paragons of virtue and discipline, or do we reflect the culture just as much as anyone else?

Is there a way out of this place? The answer is a definitive "yes". It is not an easy way, it is not a way filled with quick and easy solutions. It is a narrow way, a challenging way, a long way, a way that leads to dying to the ways of the world so that we can discover heaven on earth. It is a way of discipline - through prayer and discernment, we find a path to mindfulness (ala Thich Nat Hanh) and to serenity. We find a place that is not in a hurry, that savors each day as if it were the last; that spends time getting to know people as neighbor.

Spiritual disciplines lead us to a different world view and life narrative. To a healthier and more full life lived in the here and now, not in a hoped for nirvana. Discipline and the resulting improvements in our health will lead us into a new place where we can all discover what we are meant to be. This week, take on a new discipline. Turn off the T.V. and other electronic devices; leave work a little early or start your day a bit earlier with some walking; eat an extra piece of fruit or an extra serving of fresh vegetables; drink more water and less alcohol. Each small step can lead to bigger and better things. Each act of self dicipline makes life better.

Peace for your week,
Dan