Don’t Let Shame Get in the Way Of Making Changes to Your Health

When Darcy received his diagnosis of sarcoidosis and COPD, he felt ashamed and scared. 😔

That’s common. Like Darcy, we have all made life decisions that led us to where we are now health-wise. You may have eaten what Darcy describes as his “beer and pie diet.” 🥧 You may be overweight or obese and have been, or still are, a smoker. 🚬 Maybe you put up with a high-stress job for too long, or 10,000 steps a day, yoga and the gym haven’t been your reality.

Some people will judge you for that, even though loads of people smoked in the ’70s and we all grew up eating pies. This judgement, whether perceived or actual, can leave you feeling like you don’t deserve help. When I speak to people at rock bottom or in poor health, their tone of voice tells me they feel guilty and ashamed. That’s awful, and I would never want to add to that. 💛

And you know what? Even when you are in an acute medical crisis, needing urgent medical help like Darcy was, you have a right to feel a glimmer of hope. ✨ Why? Because small habits repeated over time can really add up and improve your health.

The onset of a chronic disease happens over a long time: extra kilo by kilo, centimetre by centimetre, and ciggie by ciggie. What few people realise is that you can ease symptoms, partially reverse, and in some cases completely reverse the state you are in, by taking tiny steps in the opposite direction: one less kilo, one less centimetre and one less ciggie. 👣

Small cumulative steps got you to the bottom of the cliff, and small cumulative steps in the opposite direction will get you back to the top. 🧗 It’s hard to believe Darcy went from thinking he only had months to live to swanning around Africa, which is where he is now! 🌍

I’d love to hear what you are chipping away at health-wise. I am working really hard on having zen time every day. 🧘 It’s a weird shift for me, because I have always thought of exercise as something I need to hit hard (I still make some time for that). What I have found is that my zen time helps me sleep. 😴 When I sleep better, I eat better. 🥗 When I eat and sleep better, I want to exercise. 🚴 And when I sleep, eat and exercise better, I have more energy! ⚡

Little steps, tiny steps, every day can make all the difference, and no matter where your health is at now, you can strive for improvements without shame 💚