Surviving vs. Thriving

When I think of the 'survive' part of 'survive vs. thrive,' I picture being stranded in the ocean with only tiny, brightly colored pool floaties. There is at least an average depth of 2 miles between me and the ocean floor, and aggressive sharks are swimming toward me.

Thankfully, in my real life, I live with the general comforts of life, meaningful work to keep me busy, and relationships I enjoy. My day-to-day circumstances are not as desperate and hopeless as being stranded in the ocean. But for many years, I DID feel desperate and hopeless. It took a while to finally recognize I was only surviving and another time before I began feeling like I was thriving.

Surviving means continuing to live or exist, especially despite danger or hardship; continuing to live or exist despite (an accident or ordeal); remaining alive after the death (of a particular person - or a beloved pet); managing to keep going in difficult circumstances…

Common phrases/terms that may indicate a survival-only thought process: "If I can only pull through...," "We'll see if I make it til...," and "I'll try to hold on..."

More severe statements: "If I haven't lost my mind by then..." "If I'm still alive by then..." or "If I don't die before then..."

Why are so many wonderful humans (who are not facing slavery/poverty/inevitable illness) only thinking about surviving? Can we change our mindset and our efforts? Can we change our hearts and behavior? Can we change our energy and begin living with a channeled perspective toward a thriving life instead? I believe we can!

Life will sometimes be rocky since we naturally encounter adversity and opposition. But life can allow happiness and fulfillment for every person who is not born into bleak circumstances. And even in such situations, many have defied the odds to rise above an inevitable demise they (and everyone else) previously believed they would face.

While we live in a world that is mainly impossible to control, we have a certain amount of control inside our homes. We should create or change the home environment to focus on overcoming roadblocks to excellent health.

Here's a peek into 'stuff' I'm focused on improving my life.

As a kid, I was underweight and pale with minimal appetite. I was burdened with moderate to severe asthma when I climbed stairs or tried to run, jump, or dance. My parents were concerned I might never gain enough weight. My ankles were thin and weak, twisting frequently when I tried to run. I got sick often. We had a mortar and pestle, and I was taught to grind vitamins to mix into mashed potatoes, cooked cereal, or ice cream. My parents bought me expensive goat's milk that I had to use sparingly.

I have no idea which efforts worked, but I stayed alive and out of the traditional doctor's office. I never used antibiotics. At 13, I learned to swallow vitamins, and I no longer got sick as often. By age 17, I had finally begun to look and feel 'normal' and 'healthy.' My ankles stopped twisting when I ran, but asthma and allergies were still a big problem.

I gained a lot of weight from birth control and stress during the first year of marriage at age 25. My asthma was not well managed, and within three years, I was diagnosed with a thyroid disorder and an autoimmune disease. I lost myself emotionally and didn't recognize myself physically. I didn't know who I was or what I could do to improve my circumstances. All that time, I was only surviving...and barely. Years later, I'm divorced and relying on myself (and my Higher Power) to make my life whole.

For the past 16 years, I discovered many different resources for growing, healing, releasing, changing, and thriving. I don't see aggressive sharks approaching, but I still encounter many challenges that need constant attention. And now, I feel much better equipped to overcome the difficulties I frequently face. If I'm not thriving in a specific area, I now have a good idea of how to "change my stars" (have you seen the film, 'A Knight's Tale?') and start feeling like I've begun to set myself up to live well.

At work, I can read and study during my shift. I keep a notebook to reflect on what I learn from my research. From my efforts with my downtime, I can learn how to practice wellness techniques and habits to improve all areas of my life. The bonus is that I can also encourage others to practice life-changing habits.

I don't want you to feel stuck, barely surviving with a tiny pool ring in shark-infested water! I want to encourage you to see a new path in your life. And I want to help you start on this path Right Now. Thriving implies that we can have a good life without someone else pulling us out of the ocean. Let's look at what 'thriving' means.

Thriving: To gain in wealth or possessions; to progress toward or realize a goal despite or because of circumstances; to do well and be successful, healthy, or strong; to improve physically; to grow vigorously or luxuriantly; to flourish

One way to begin changing our mindset from surviving to thriving is to ask ourselves tough questions like these:

'Am I happy right now?' ('Have I ever been happy?')
'What do I need to say no to to be happy?' What can I say YES to?'
'Do I rely on others and external circumstances to feel happy?'
'Am I content with my health (physical fitness and body condition) right now?'
'Have I been doing the same thing with no results for as long as I can remember?'
'What would I be willing to let go of, or give up, to be happier and healthier?'

No amount of talk therapy or medication has ever inspired me to self-evaluate the way I do now. A trusted family member, friend, or therapist asking me the questions does not have the same effect that impacts me to my center the way I feel when I ask myself the questions.

Our ultimate goal could be to THRIVE no matter what comes our way. It's tempting to think, "Easier said than done." But I invite you to work on having an open mind and prepare to see things differently starting today. Mental preparation before action is monumental. It's astonishing what people can do with just one little thought!

If you have been waiting for inspiration to make one small change toward thriving, I invite you to let TODAY be that day! One small step in a healthy direction can bring you the optimal health you've longed for.

By, Kaari Branham