In many ways, it is only natural to stop doing something after you have gotten the result you wanted.
Want to save $1,000? Save $100 per month until your bank account reads $1,000.
Want to lose 15 pounds? Eat healthier and exercise until the scale reads 15 pounds lighter.
Want to catch up on laundry? Wash and dry your clothes once per week until the basket is empty.
Often times, once a desired result is achieved, most people revert to their old habits instead of continuing the new way of life that helped them achieve that goal.
But, what happens when we revert back to our old ways?
The $100 we set aside for savings each month gets spent. Then, we pull $10 out of the $1,000 in our savings account. Then, we use another $20. Before long, the $1,000 turns to $0, and we are right back where we started.
The 15 pounds we lost starts to fade away. The 60 minutes of exercise each day turns to 30. The cheat meals turn into cheat days. And all of the sudden, the 15 pounds has returned.
The empty laundry basket becomes full again. But this time, we skip our weekly laundry schedule. We say, "I'll get it next week." Then, the basket is overflowing.
Perhaps, the problem is not with our actions but with our goals. We fail to clearly define the type of results we really want.
When we take a closer look at our goals, we uncover the purpose behind these aspirations...
When we set a goal to save $1,000, did we really want to have exactly $1,000 in our bank account? Or, did we really want to have more financial freedom?
When we set a goal to lose 15 pounds, did we really want to hit a number on a scale? Or, did we really want to look and feel healthier?
When we set a goal to finish our laundry, did we really want to see the bottom of our laundry basket? Or, did we really want to provide clean clothes for our families?
The same principle is true when it comes to our health. The problem is that many patients often forget exactly what kind of results they truly want.
Of course, we want the pain to go away. But, what we really want is for the pain to stay away...which means we ultimately want our bodies to heal.
When patients receive treatment, they often find themselves accepting temporary symptom relief rather than long-term healing.
It is tempting for patients to think, "it worked!" once they begin to experience pain and symptom relief; however, what they should be thinking is, "it is beginning to work!"
It is important to remember that there is almost always an additional process of strengthening and correction that must occur after initial symptom relief begins.
The continuation of treatment is essential in helping our bodies restore its full strength and ensuring that we don't wind up with the same problems in the future.
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*This article includes excerpts from "Made Whole: Regaining the Health Your Body Was Born to Enjoy by Working With the Missing Pieces of Wellness" written by chiropractic physician, Dr. Douglas B. Cook, D.C. To purchase this book, visit the Nutrition Store inside the Oklahoma Health and Wellness Center.
**The information in this post is based on the opinion of the authors and is intended for general consumer understanding. Read our full disclaimer here.