Wellness Begins With The Mind

“Have some tea” or “take manuka honey” are my usual replies to anyone who laments about any physical discomfort, ranging from headaches, chest pain, a bout of flu, sore throat to just about anything, because, really, what do I know? I’m not a doctor.

- Wendy Long

Though I too occasionally have my doubts about whether the general practitioner knows any more than I do, given that I’m always told to “get more rest, drink more water and, here, take some Panadol.” Of course it’s a generalization of the situation, and there are times (thankfully more often than not) it’s best to leave it to the professionals. (I recall once self-diagnosing a presumed ailment based on what I had uncovered on the internet, which was in contradiction to what my doctor advised, and he diplomatically replied, “So what else did Dr. Google say?”) Don’t we all feel “empowered” by the vast amount of information that can be found online, to the point where we even start doubting what doctors advise? At the rate information gets shared through even more channels than ever, it becomes more challenging to sift through facts, pinpoint the relevant ones, and make decisions.

With growing affluence and advancement in technology, people are spending more time on wellness, not just on curing ailments but on preventing illness and improving their health and general well-being. It’s cliché, but health is indeed wealth, and more people are dedicating time, effort and money to ensure not just longevity but a healthy and youthful one, because we all want to look younger than our age, right? Otherwise, what is the point?