A New Way Of Seeing: Health Is A Resource, Not A Problem
MEDIA PREVIEW. Key points of the forthcoming paper by Joyce Young, MD, MPH:
Bet you’ve never asked this question
Why is it so hard for people to think of health as anything other than a problem?
Stuck in the past
We still view the human body as a machine—a 17th century concept. This outdated way of seeing reduces the body to parts and negatively skews the way we think about health.
3 thought-shapers keep us focused on disease and problems
Health reporting
Media and advertising
Personal perception
You can test this for yourself. Messages about health are everywhere.
The way we see health shapes our confidence about it
The most powerful thing to improve health is to change our concept of what's possible.
Reality check: Humans are living systems, not machines
We must shift our thinking from seeing the human body as a machine that breaks down to the body as a living system with innate abilities to restore and renew itself.
Health is a resource—not a new idea!
Since 1946, the World Health Organization (WHO) has urged us to see health as a resource—a state of “complete physical, mental, and social well-being.” Scientists have acknowledged the limitations of viewing the human body as a machine and have promoted the value of measuring and reaching for a state of complete health and well-being.
Choosing high health
Health is actually a resource for living well and doing what matters most. Real health comes from within. Cultivating it requires three things.
A new way of seeing health
Our current approach to health will never lead to high levels of energy, resilience, stamina, and well-being. It’s time to see health as a resource and take action to strengthen it.
High health is necessary today
Anyone can strengthen their health using new, science-based methods. Especially in today’s world of disruption and constant change, high states of health and well-being lead to personal and professional success for individuals as well as a competitive edge for businesses.
from the Radical Concepts in Health series
by Joyce Young, MD, MPH
Managing Director, Advanced Wellness Systems
Joyce M. Young, MD, MPH
Managing Director, Advanced Wellness Systems
Lead expert for the High Health Network
Dr. Young is a curator of innovative practices for vibrant living and a champion of high health, well-being, and the pursuit of mastery. She founded Advanced Wellness Systems to provide effective, science-based solutions to high-health leaders seeking greater health and well-being for their teams. Dr. Young is board certified in General Preventive Medicine and Public Health and is the author of numerous peer-reviewed publications on wellness program design and outcomes. She holds an MD from Cornell University Medical College, an MPH from Harvard University School of Public Health, and completed post-graduate training at Johns Hopkins University Medical Center. A voracious reader, she also loves to laugh, run, practice piano, garden, brew kombucha, and enjoy delicious home-cooked meals.
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