I have issues, we all do don’t we?
Issue: Gut Health
I have struggled with gut health nearly my entire life. Acid reflux started in 3rd grade when my negligent or unaware doctor put me on a proton-pump inhibitor (Prilosec, later Nexium) until I chose to take myself off 15 years later. These drugs are designed for short term use!
From the NEXIUM website: “Do not take for more than 14 days or more often than every 4 months…”
I was ignorant and it was not bliss. I have been trying to fix my gut ever since.
My answer to “What are YOU going to do about it?”:
– I took myself off of my medication (I AM NOT
RECOMMENDING YOU DO THIS WITHOUT A DOCTORS APPROVAL).
– I have experimented with countless diets from paleo, to low FODMAP, to fasting, to vegan, to elimination, to autoimmune, to ones most people have never heard of.
– I have seen gut doctors, acupuncturists, natural health physicians.
– I have read book after book on gut health, stomach acid, stress reduction, gut-brain axis.
– I have sought out nutrition certification and master’s courses.
– I have tried a myriad of supplements for aloe vera to bone broth to honey.
I have not fixed the issues yet, but I am closer than I have ever been. I did and am doing something.
Issue: Overreaching
I have purposefully run my car into a snowbank from rage due to overwork and lack of sleep. I have accidentally run my car onto a snowbank from overwork and lack of sleep. I need to stay away from snowbanks or get more sleep, likely both. (just so you don’t think I am completely crazy this was in high school, I am happy to report I have had no run-ins with snowbanks since)
In high school at one point, I was working 5 jobs and going to school and playing sports (I don’t recommend this). One of these jobs started after the closing of business (9 pm) and ended around 1:00 or 2:00 am and the next one, a paper route, started immediately after, then it was off to school.
My answer to “What are YOU going to do about it?”:
– First, I dug my car out of the snowbank which took a solid one to two hours.
– After the rage incident, I went to a psychologist to ensure (after “interrogating” me about my relationship with my dad) simply said, “Brett, you just need more sleep.”
– I have researched to heck out of sleep. If there is something we as humans know about sleep I have probably researched it.
– I focus on making sure my sleep hygiene is up to par albeit I will be the first to admit even with the knowledge I have of sleep and the issues I have had with lack of sleep in the past I am still not perfect.
– A relentless pursuit of efficiency, effectiveness, and reflection.
– I try to best I can to temper the expectations of myself with what is feasible, although this is difficult.
Issue: Deformity
The bones in my chest and ribs are deformed. A doctor told me I could never be a bodybuilder (which I am okay with now, but it was demoralizing as a 14-year old athlete as I didn’t even know what a bodybuilder was, but what stuck was that I was told I couldn’t do something). I have also been told numerous times by health professionals that this deformity may be part of my gut issues, back issues, etc. I am self-conscious of it every day.
My answer to “What are YOU going to do about it?”:
– I get on with life.
– I keep myself fit and healthy as a coping mechanism.
Issue: Self-Diagnosed Second-Best Syndrome
In sports I was good, but there was nearly always somebody better than me who was first. Even though I worked the hardest and had the best numbers on paper I was second-best on the field. After years of thought and rumination, I believe I was second best not because the other guy was actually better but because I have some sort of limiting belief stuck in my way. I performed at a level below what I was capable of due to my psychology. There is a very small mental shift between second and first and I had yet to make it and I possibly due actually have a mild case of second-best syndrome.
I have not won his battle yet.
My answer to “What are YOU going to do about it?”:
– Constant obsessive research on performance in all areas of life, but especially mental and physical.
– Worked my bootay off, most would say I work excessively
– Never-ending quest to be “the” best when in reality I am starting to learn to be “my” best
These “issues” (and many others) have molded me. I would not be who I am or where I am without theses “issues” for good and bad. You have issues too and if you “do something about it” they will strengthen you, fortify you, and help you become YOUR best and the person you were destined to be. BUT, there always is a fork in the road and YOU have do choose which fork to take.
So, what are your issues and what are you going to do about them?