Breakfast news talked about the discovery of the genetic code of hereditary breast cancer this morning. At present patients with this dilemma can have mastectomies to prevent the cancer occurring. In the future, I am sure a “cure” for cancer and even other chronic life threatening conditions will be found,but does that mean we will all then enjoy everlasting health? I personally don’t think so.

In life, you reap what you sow; the success, achievements and life you have is a testimony of your journey . If you believe that “life is a bitch and then you die” , so be it. If you believe that life is nothing more than amassing as much material wealth as you can and getting through life with as little difficulty as possible, then so be it. Or you might feel that life is a journey for growth, understanding and enlightenment through challenging and empowering lessons; in which case having a relationship with our physical body, respecting it and maintaining it is vital for our growth. But do we?

Over two decades as a naturopathic practitioner, I consistently see patients who are completely dis empowered by the medical profession and even from complimentary practitioners. Anybody that you consult for you health who foster dependency from you and don’t teach you anything are dis empowering you. You don’t have to be qualified in anything to tell someone that they should eat healthily and exercise. But when you profess to be  qualified in conventional or complimentary medicine, then you advice must be clear,  concise, practical, achievable and effective ……..it is also not about flogging as much drugs, supplements and merchandising to vulnerable patients either.

Time and time again, patients come to me with no knowledge of what they can do to help themselves. Even with life threatening conditions like cancer, people will say that they were told that they don’t have to do anything other than follow the treatment, which would be drugs, surgery, chemo/radiotherapy.  Are we really that gullible ? Or are we just relieved that someone has given us permission to sit on our fat arses and do absolutely nothing to help ourselves. “We can’t do anything because it’s hereditary”, “The consultant said there is nothing I can do to help myself”, yeah right! Another very common displacement  is someone who has been helped with a life threatening condition, then go on to raise money tirelessly for charity…….but still not doing anything to improve themselves!!!!!!

I tell my children that I don’t care what they do in life. Whether they empty dustbins or are brain surgeons, be extraordinary, give it 120%, always be kind and be nice. If I have raised a child who is a kind and nice person, then I have succeeded as a parent. So am I saying that if you have the hereditary breast cancer gene, you shouldn’t have your breasts removed? No. Your life depends on the choices you make and the things that you do, not on the things that other people do. Don’t just listen to the “experts”. Take control, make changes in your life to improve your health. At the end of the day, whether you fail or succeed, you can hold your head high and know that you did the best you could, not the best that someone else could for you.

Be in control, be aware,make a relationship with your body, learn stillness, find joy in all that you do, look inwards rather than outwards for        happiness, be alive, but most importantly be extraordinary.