Continuing with my earlier theme of the ABC’s of Health, I’d like to shed some light on the importance of beliefs – a vital component for making meaningful lifestyle decisions and creating lasting change with those pending New Year’s Resolutions.

I’m very confident that you’re still thinking about them… After all, we have less than a week to complete our 2010 list of transformational behaviors that will catapult us into that altered state of euphoria… Btw, are you still with me on this quest?!?… I really hope so, I’d really like to work with you to create the right context for these shifts that you’re seeking to make in your daily behaviors, as well as your overall health status.

Based on my personal experience, the ABC’s of Health are what drive lasting change in our lifestyle. They are as follows:

• What is your “Attitude” regarding change?…
• What are your “Beliefs” about your health, and?…
• What is your “Commitment” to changing your lifestyle?…

This week’s post will focus on the second of those ABC’s: “Beliefs.” (Three guesses on the next blog’s focus…) As noted previously, if our attitude is the lens through which we see and perceive the world, then it is our beliefs that solidify and create our reality. It may come as a surprise to learn this, but we all have a tendency to see what we already believe to be true. This is the reality of our professional interests, our political choices and positions, and most importantly, how we approach our personal health. Said another way, “We are what we believe…”

I recently completed what I regard as one of the best books on our beliefs about our health, Counter Clockwise by Ellen Langer, Ph.D. In this deceptively small, but very powerful book, Dr. Langer, a noted psychologist at Harvard University, has redefined the field of psychology with her groundbreaking research and insights on “mindfulness,” the “social construction of reality” and related topics that have a profound effect on our perception of aging and our overall health status.

In one of the early key passages, she makes the following provocative observation: “If our beliefs have influence on our well-being, surely we can learn to influence our beliefs. To begin to do so, we must make a critical choice. We must choose to believe that we have control over our health.”(Emphasis added.) In my humble opinion, this is the bedrock issue for making changes in our daily behaviors that lead to improved health status.

If, however, we don’t believe, at a deep level, that we have that control over our health, then regardless of how sophisticated the nutritional regimen is, or regardless of the degree of intensity of the exercise protocol, we are simply working against ourselves at a very fundamental level. And despite what you may think, this “conflict” in our beliefs and our actions is far more prevalent than you might think. Let me share a recent case study to highlight this.

One of the little known facts about heart disease is that 50% of all people who have heart attacks, in fact, have low cholesterol levels. (Did you know that?!?…) Well, it’s true, despite what your doctor and what Big Pharma ads may be telling you. But our contemporary (and I would stress “temporary”) belief is that cholesterol is not good for you, especially the “BAD” cholesterol. (A topic to be furthered explored in a later post…)

In any event, I was with a colleague recently who was coaching a client on their diet. The discussion turned to the importance of fats in her meals, and her client became concerned and said, “You can recommend anything you want, but don’t try to take my Lipitor away from me… I’ve finally gotten my cholesterol down and feel much better for it…” And no doubt, she does feel better. But it seems reasonable to ask: Is it the Lipitor, or her belief that this pill is making her better? And this kind of mindless devotion to medications is happening millions of times a day across our country. And yet, study after study continues to prove that placebo’s are completely effective anywhere from 1/3 to 2/3 of the time. It’s not always the drug – it’s our belief in the drug!

Based on this premise and my coaching experience, I have developed another two-minute test to assess “your level of belief.” This test is more directional than statistically tested, but it is intended to assess just where your beliefs are and just how much they may be affecting your health status. Outlined below are 10 quick questions (as well as a scoring key) to assess your “belief quotient,” or said another way, how in control are you of your health?

(The scoring is: 1=Strongly Disagree; 2= Disagree; 3=Neutral; 4= Agree; and 5=Strongly Agree)

1) It’s genetic, I’m predisposed to contracting my ancestors’ illnesses _____
2) I’m getting older, it’s only a matter of time before I get sick, too _____
3) The medications that I’m on are what’s keeping me healthy _____
4) I am afraid to eat any “fats” for fear of clogging up my arteries _____
5) I monitor my cholesterol levels regularly and keep them low _____
6) When I get seriously ill, I never seek a second opinion _____
7) I expect to get at least one cold each year _____
I worry about getting the flu each season, especially the H1N1 _____
9) I have at least three or more good friends, or family members
who are dealing with challenging health issues _____
10) I routinely think that every minor ailment is something very serious _____

Now, just like before, please take a moment and assess your beliefs about taking control. Based on my client experience, if your score is near or above 40, it’s likely that you lack sufficient belief in your ability to take control of your health. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that if your response to just Question #2 is 4 or 5, then you have a very self-limiting belief in your ability to stay healthy, despite your age. This may seem harsh, but it’s true.

Don’t get me wrong. I know we’re all eventually going to die. But “age” doesn’t stand for “a grueling end…” How we see ourselves and our aging process is a major driver in the development of symptoms and health conditions that affect our daily lives. A bit disorienting, I realize, but please read this wonderful book if you have doubts.

One of the more provocative findings from Dr. Langer’s research is that individuals who seek a “second opinion,” are less likely to have poor health as profiled on CDC surveys of health status taken across the country. It seems that your degree of engagement in your health, as evidenced by seeking the advice of several consultants, is very much good for our health. Hmmm…

And as for Question #1 regarding genetics, well, Bruce Lipton, Ph.D., in his book, The Biology of Belief, profiles numerous research studies that have proven that it is our environment (our beliefs, our thoughts, our physical environment, etc.) that triggers and defines the actions of our genes, NOT the genes, in and of themselves. He likens this blind belief that “genes drive everything” to suggesting that it is your car key that controls the direction and speed of your car. Without question, the key is vital, but we all know it responds to an external stimulus to “turn on.” And so do you, at a genetic level.

The point of all this discussion is to underscore the vital importance of taking control of our beliefs and being mindful (i.e. being aware) of just what our expectations are as they relate to our health. Without supportive and health-affirming beliefs, we will simply sabotage our efforts to pursue healthy and sustainable lifestyle change. And that’s a fact.

Forgive me for upsetting the applecart, yet again. I know you’re anxious to get started with that “diet” or “exercise plan,” but the more you do to strengthen these ABC’s of Health, I’m certain the more successful you’ll be with your New Year’s Resolutions. Gaining mastery over your “health beliefs” is critical to creating a powerful context for that new level of health and well-being that’s sought.

Thank you, again, for taking a few moments to “size yourself up,” and for reflecting on what might be driving your current health beliefs. And as unsettling as it may be to see this in print, just know that the new you is “all in your head!”

À votre bonne santé