Good health is a virtue

I declare good health a virtue. It is the key to attaining and enjoying lasting success and fulfilment and a gauge of your life as a leader. The other virtues are not easy to master and execute without good health.

An Arabian proverb says, "He who has good health has hope and he who has hope can do almost anything." When people are coping with heart disease, diabetes, depression or other chronic debilitating condition, it is difficult to contribute to a team or implement new strategies. When illness becomes all-consuming, talents or advanced educational degrees do little to overcome health challenges. Therefore, it should be clear that good health is one of the most important virtues.

Unfortunately, cultivating good health is not currently a priority of modern education compared to fame, money or career. No wonder, many people don’t take it seriously unless they become sick, which is sometimes too late. I know a super-wealthy business leader who had a stroke at age 55 because of over-work, stress and vices. Paralysis left him bedridden for many years. He told me his millions didn't mean much to him after that.

I have worked with many successful people who were the best in their field, but one day lost their health, their mobility and their ability to make meaningful contributions to life. I can’t over-emphasise the need to take care of your health.

For many of India's technology specialists and others working in the country’s burgeoning high–paying high-pressure occupations, the effects of work and family stress, grab-as-you-go fast food and sedentary lifestyles are being linked to the dramatic rise in heart disease and diabetes. Add smoking and/or drinking and the risk of negative effects on health skyrocket.

Together, these factors are also robbing people of their ability to enjoy restful, rejuvenating sleep. Medical researchers are beginning to recognise the importance of sleep for good health.

For me, good health is not only the absence of physical ailments or discomfort. It is complete physical, emotional, mental and spiritual wellbeing. It comes from wholeness and balance in all aspects of a person resulting in physical health, vitality health, psychological health and spiritual health.

Will-power

Many people have the mental awareness that changing their diet, reducing stress and getting more exercise can improve their health. They may even feel an emotional desire to make these changes. So why is it so hard to stick to a new diet or exercise regimen? Lack of will-power is the answer for many loving or intelligent people.

Therefore, developing will-power is a great thing to do. And stamina and good health are great to have! It is the power behind greatness. Will-power is the dynamite to blast through obstacles, including the ability to get up earlier to exercise before work and to turn down that sweet dessert at the end of the day.

Stationery Jogging is an exercise you can use at home, making it easy for women to practice as well as men. Check with your doctor if you have heart disease or exercise restrictions. Don’t do this if you are pregnant or have cancer.

• Jog slowly at your on pace.
• Then increase the pace.
• Lean back a little if you want to lose weight. Try to bring your knees up as you jog.
• Then slow down.
• Stop.
• Breathe slowly and deeply for a minute while focusing on the top of your head, the soles of your feet and your navel.
• Repeat.

Vitality

Martial arts practices like stationery jogging build vitality, which affects your physical health. It is easier to overcome stress, disease and pollution when your energy and stamina are high. You can develop vitality through exercise, breathing techniques, sufficient rest and proper food. Here are my recommendations:

• Participate in activities that promote circulation of internal energy in your body like sports, martial arts, yoga and recreation.
• Get sufficient oxygen and exposure to morning sun. A few minutes of sun in the morning will help revitalise you. Open the blinds and windows early morning to ventilate your house or workspace and expose them to sunlight.

Release stress

Stress, so prevalent in modern life, weakens the immune system, drains physical, emotional and mental energy; and lowers productivity and performance. One of the things that make stress so dangerous is the fact it silently impacts the body years before people know they have developed heart disease or diabetes. Here’s a fast way to release stress:

Breathe out to the ocean for five minutes every day. You can teach this to your children as well.

• Imagine you are sitting in front of the most beautiful ocean you have ever seen.
• Breathe out pain, anger, frustration, fear, guilt, grief and any other negative emotions. Then breathe out negative thoughts, tendencies to control or manipulate others.
• Now, imagine the ocean becomes a pink and golden light. Take a few minutes to breathe in the light.

Awaken emotions and mind

Equip your emotions and mind through continuous study, whether at a university or by diversifying your reading and attending cultural events. Keep your emotions and mind alive and active. Use them for service. Be futuristic.

Spiritual health

Practicing a religion or spiritual techniques properly can enhance this aspect of life. Doing service for a good cause that fosters human development and contributes to world evolution is a must if you want to accelerate your spiritual development. The more advanced a person becomes; the more spiritual health encompasses and integrates all the other aspects of health.

In the future, good health will be a demonstration of inner development and balance. It will be treasured and considered a priceless gift equal to professional success. Good health will be the demonstration and barometer of spiritual maturity and a high culture.