Once again I found inspiration in my church service this AM for Monday’s Daily Sprout. I find the blame game very interesting, because it doesn’t take pre-meditation. Rather, it is the momentary BLURT of emotion that tends to inspire the blame game. It is usually in that moment of accusation, when we feel like we need to defend ourselves that we shoot a retaliatory accusation back.
As I listened to our guest speaker (Darren Youngstrom) today, and he did such a good at keeping us laughing. Laughing at ourselves, at how ridiculous we can be when we find ourselves in the situation of shoving blame on those around us, when we are causing trouble and strife. And of course, it got me thinking of our health.
Now, when our health fails, it isn’t necessarily the first thing we do… blame someone that is. But, as I consider the thousands of patients I have had over the years, I can come up with many different versions of the story of blame.
So below, I have summarized what you would say, and you would be very justified in saying it, then what it really means to say this, and then what my response would be.
- I have this rare genetic condition that developed in my thirties, and it won’t change.
- Not my fault, probably my ancestors fault, nothing I can do so nothing to be held accountable for.
- I agree, probably not your fault. But, when we consider that genetics are a blueprint, and the architect is your lifestyle (read up on epi-genetics), then it makes all the sense in the world to hold yourself accountable to the life that improves your genetic expression.
- Not my fault, probably my ancestors fault, nothing I can do so nothing to be held accountable for.
- I have high blood pressure, and I haven’t tried to change my exercise or diet because the doctor says I need to take medication to control it.
- You have not read the thousands of pieces of literature that talk about how radical the changes to blood pressure can be from diet and exercise alone. How about the study from the University of Chicago Medical Center showing chiropractic changed it more than meds! Basically, this is the easy way out, but also the dangerous way. Did you realize that there is a cancer rise from diuretic use?
- Chiropractic, Exercise and Diet are your first steps to health. It is ridiculous to NOT look at these, regardless of the condition, before meds. Your nervous system controls it all, your diet provides the building blocks for it all, and your exercise drives the energetic action to build it all.
- You have not read the thousands of pieces of literature that talk about how radical the changes to blood pressure can be from diet and exercise alone. How about the study from the University of Chicago Medical Center showing chiropractic changed it more than meds! Basically, this is the easy way out, but also the dangerous way. Did you realize that there is a cancer rise from diuretic use?
- My family all died of cancer, so it doesn’t make sense for me to worry about lifestyle, I am going to get it one day for sure.
- The ultimate cop out. I don’t need to try at anything, because there is no hope. Which is really an excuse to have no accountability.
- The reality is, that most familial cancer is more associated with familial practices, not familial genetics. This has been demonstrated in research, and in many anecdotal cases.
- The ultimate cop out. I don’t need to try at anything, because there is no hope. Which is really an excuse to have no accountability.
There are so many more cases that we can go into. Blaming immediate family for keeping the donuts in the house, or for buying snacks for the kids that undermine your ability to change. Or blaming the traditions of society… “well, I can’t get healthy when we are in November, December or January… who can eat right then”.
I don’t expect it to be easy, but I do expect you to take a hard look at yourself, and consider how you are using this blame game to stay in your current cycles and habits. Try to find some self realization that breaks at least one mold. Be well and be blessed! – Dr. E