What’s the first thing you think of or do when I ask you to visualize biting into a lemon? For most, you wince knowing how tart a lemon can be on its own, though when added to other ingredients, it can be quite flavorful and useful. The same seems to hold true when we visualize health care. This word conjures up images of sick, unhappy people in bad hospital attire being offered flavorless meals lacking nutrients where they are apt to get sicker from their visit rather than better. It’s no wonder the general population is afraid of discussing their health based on the attributes attached to the word. What happens if we change the conversation from one based on negative outcomes to one that embraces positive results? Can health care be presented in a new light to encourage the population to be more proactive on a daily basis?
Let’s look at the shift that has taken place with pets. The term used in the past was Pet Shelter. A place to hold the animals in the hope that someone will come adopt them in time before they are put down if no home could be found for them. While the word shelter is not a necessarily a bad one, over time, the stories of over crowding and euthanasia have tarnished it in a negative way. However, by changing the name from Pet Shelter to Adoption Center, it casts a positive light on the type of outcome that is desired. The goal when animals are brought in is to find them a good home, plain and simple.
The term health care implies that one will be responsible and take care of their overall health, yet it has come to represent actions that take place only after you are sick or injured. Just like with the pet example, what happens if we change how we refer to managing our overall health by using the word Wellness instead of health care in our conversation. This term begins to promote steps towards the positive outcome and leading a healthy lifestyle. The root of wellness is “Well”, which is defined as being in good health or sound mind and body. The more we utilize aspirational terms, the more likely we are to see a shift towards the desired goal of healthy habits. Talk negative, you get negative actions. Talk positive, see positive actions take root. The final outcome may lead towards more happy, smiling people who are well rather than a sick and unhealthy population.
In this time of soaring health expenses, this one is free and may surprise people of the results!