Does it feel like there is a seemingly endless amount of information available to us from the health and wellness industry? I imagine it is because there is a large market for guidance, advice, and validation to tell us our choices are going to lead to a happy, healthy, and fulfilling life.

In other words, we’re all trying to define and live our own health philosophy, but sometimes we don’t know where to start. However, by looking outside ourselves, are we looking in the wrong places?

For those who have gone through a intention setting, manifestation, or other self-improvement exercise, we realize that the strongest output often starts from within. The same logic applies to our health and wellness. Just as there is no ‘right’ approach to living, there is no ‘right’ approach to these concepts; we must look inward to chart the path and find the answers we seek.

So, if you’ve come to this site looking for healthy living templates to plug and play into your own life, I’m afraid you may be disappointed. Instead, if you’ve arrived with a curious, open mind and are willing to think critically about these topics and take action, you’ve come to the right place.

Ultimately though, what guides our actions is the extent to which we have contemplated which elements of health, wellness, and longevity are most important to us – this constitutes our why. I’ve always found the financial concept of opportunity cost helpful in this exercise.

Opportunity Cost

In deciding which components of health and wellness are important to us, one of the most important concepts to first understand is opportunity cost, or the sacrifice of choosing one action over another. Opportunity cost can be thought of literally, as in dollars and cents, or figuratively, as in time or effort.

For example, if we value the ability to run around and play with our children, we may choose to purchase a gym membership and spend our free time exercising, at the sacrifice of watching TV or spending money on socializing with our friends. Similarly, if we are foodies who enjoy experiencing all the flavors the world has to offer, perhaps we may choose to have a more relaxed diet, at the sacrifice of likely not winning the local bodybuilding competition. And so on…

By deliberately weighing the opportunity cost or tradeoffs of a certain lifestyle, we are well on our way to developing our unique Health Philosophy. While not an exhaustive list, each of the following pillars can play a critical role:

• Physical Health
• Nutrition
• Cognitive, Mental and Emotional Health
• Relationships
• Purpose

Start by considering a few fundamental questions about each of these topics, such as:

• How much do I value physical strength, mobility, and vitality?
• How important a role does food play in my life?
• How satisfied am I with my work, relationships, and hobbies, and do I derive fulfillment from them?
• How do I want to spend my time?

By being as detailed as possible in answering these questions and others like them, we lay the foundation for prioritizing the most important components. However, don’t be discouraged if nothing immediately comes to mind. Health and wellness is always evolving, and our knowledge, thoughts and opinions about these topics will undoubtedly change over time. That said, being aware of our starting point is a critical first step in defining and living our Health Philosophy.