THE WAY OF HAPPINESS - Physical Health and Resilience

CHRONIC ILL HEALTH OR DISABILITY CAN HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT ON A PERSON'S LIFE.  After becoming physically paralyzed, a once active and healthy man named Ulf said:  "I became deeply depressed.  My strength, courage, and power drained away . . . I felt deeply 'destroyed.'"

Ulf's experience reminds us that none of us have complete control over our health.  Still, we can take reasonable measures to reduce the risk of ill health.  But what if our health deteriorates?  Does that doom us to unhappiness?  Not at all, as we shall see.  First, though, let us considerate some principles that promote good health. 

BE "MODERATE IN HABITS."  (1 Timothy 3:2, 11) Habitually eating or drinking to excess is obviously bad for our health-not to mention our finances! "Do not be among those who drink too much wine, among those who gorge themselves on meat, for a drunkard and a glutton come to poverty." - Proverbs 23:20, 21. 

DO NOT POLLUTE YOUR BODY.  "let us cleanse ourselves of every defilement of flesh and spirit."  (Meaning alcohol) (2 Corinthians 7:1) People defile their bodies when they chew or smoke tobacco or abuse drugs.  Smoking, for example, "leads to disease and disability and harms nearly every organ of the body," says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Next time: THE WAY OF HAPPINESS - Continue with Physical Health and Resilience

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