What is Confident and Informed Self-Advocacy?

How to go about becoming your own best Health Advocate!

Author: Esther Sarlo, BA CEO | Founder | Myndful Spark of Mynd Myself

I cannot emphasize strongly enough how significant and important it is that you are taking proactive measures to be your own best health advocate.

Jim Rohn, Author, Speaker, and Philosopher says, 

“Take care of your body.
It’s the only place you have to live.”

Wow! When I think about how much time we spend on our houses, condos, apartments, dwelling places of whatever sort…in contrast to how much time we spend on taking care of ourselves…it raises some questions.

In our physical living spaces, we are often very intentional about colour schemes, structural design, the comfort and layout of furniture, the placement of tchotchkes—favourite decorative pieces that evoke certain memories or whimsies, tending to plants, keeping the place in whatever state of cleanliness and organization matters to us, doing yard work, etc.

No Blame No Shame Here…and…

What overarching plan do we have for our bodies? Are we, in fact, as intentional as we could be, to nourish and nurture this physical structure that is so much more than ‘an inconvenient receptacle housing our brains?’

What would happen if you:

• Generate as much excitement about moving into your body as you would about moving into your dream home?
• Think deeply about the colours you wear—how they make you feel when you wear them, which ones suit your personality and skin tones.
• Consider the shape of your body and how to celebrate it, move it, and support it—in ways that feel great and fun—with activities that promote your strength, suppleness, and flexibility.
• Surround yourself with beautiful things that inspire you to be your most expressive and creative self.
• Build time into your schedule to treat yourself regularly to a luxurious practice of selfcare—whatever that means to you (e.g. a long, hot bath with bubbles, a beautiful walk in fresh air and greenspace, regular yoga practice, etc.)
• Revel in the spiritual practice of food harvesting (whatever that means to you), purchasing, prepping, and feasting with the highest quality ingredients available to you.

What if your primary filter in all of this becomes choosing those things that bring you delight and serve your highest good? THIS is nurturing your body and your whole self.

For your health journey, the same things apply.

• Do you search out sources of information that align with your values?
• Do you look for Healthcare Practitioners who embody your values and whose energy feels like a good match with yours?
• Are you willing to value yourself enough to get a second opinion? 
• Are you willing to be accountable and responsible for your own choices and actions?
• Are you willing to keep going and take the necessary steps to expand into the next phase of your healing journey?

All of these things are possible when you are intentional and continue to get to know yourself ever more deeply.

You are magnificent!

The more you take the time to know yourself, REALLY KNOW yourself, the more confident you will be and the more clarity you will have about exactly what you need to do to advocate for yourself in whatever areas of your life require tending.

As you consider these thoughts, I leave you with a beautiful poem from a friend of mine, Ambika Devi,

Mindful Haiku (May 15/22)
Flexible choices
Mindful spontaneity
How will you invest?