You Can’t Stop the World From Burning; Focus On This Instead

In The Wolf of Wall Street — a Hollywood depiction of actual events — Leonardo Dicaprio plays stockbroker Jordan Belfort.

Seeking financial advice from Belfort at that time wouldn’t be the best idea; he was charged with market manipulation and securities fraud in 1999.

Legal troubles aside, Belfort had a way with words, and routinely dropped some thought provoking lines.

In the film, Dicaprio — channeling Belfort — energizes his employees by telling them this: “I want you to deal with your problems, by becoming rich!”

This character, not surprisingly, values wealth accumulation above all else.

But there’s at least one thing all the money in the world can’t buy.

Something our greatest minds — past and present — will tell you is more valuable than gold: Health.

That’s what the title of this article is referring to.

When I say; “Do this instead,” I’m talking about optimizing health, our single greatest asset.

The best thing you can do for yourself, your family, friends, and future is simple: Restore, maintain, or improve your overall health.

Deal with problems by becoming healthier.

Problems are plentiful

Those brave enough to read headlines or follow current events can all attest; there’s no shortage of problems.

And they’re only getting worse.

Prices are rising, viruses are mutating, and humans are increasingly straining an already vulnerable planet.

That’s “The world is burning” portion of the above title. You and I alone can not extinguish these flames.

What we can do though is focus on improving our ability to face these problems. We can focus on making our bodies and minds more resilient.

To alter those famous Wolf of Wall Street words, “I want you to deal with your problems by becoming healthier.”

The healthier you are, the better you’re able to care for your family, excel in your career, and deal with whatever this world will throw at you.

Without health, nothing else matters.

Healthy habits = Healthier planet

This might seem like a stretch.

Healthy habits for humans, translate to healthier outcomes for our planet.

Think about the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions; energy to cool or heat your home, transportation, agriculture.

The healthier you are, the less of an energy footprint you will have.

Walking or biking more frequently decreases our transportation usage. Consuming less factory farmed foods limits greenhouse gas emissions and encourages this industry to incorporate better, more organic practices. Finally, healthier bodies are better prepared for acclimatization, or regulating core temperature.

If the vast majority of us commit to healthier lifestyles — in so doing — we can minimize our impact on Mother Earth and help our planet in the process.

Call it an unexpected benefit, or serendipity. Either way, the single best thing you can do for yourself could just as well be among the best things you can do for this planet.

Health is wealth

While it’s debatable who authored the quote, or the exact verbiage, it rings more true with each telling.

Humans are a perplexing species. They sacrifice health to make money, then sacrifice money to recuperate health. They become so anxious about the future, they don’t enjoy the present. They live neither in the present nor the future; living as if they will never die, and dying having never really lived.

A version of these words is often credited to the Dalai Lama, while others cite much older sources.

Either way, health is wealth.

Leading causes of death — from cardiovascular disease to respiratory infections — can, for the most part, be reduced by moving more and eating less.

I’m sure someone will read these words and find them silly, or even worse.

Nevertheless, I stand by them.

By healing ourselves —which I believe is the single best thing we can all do — we can begin to heal our planet.

It may sound simplistic, but it’s a path forward, both personally and globally.

It just so happens; that which is healthy for humans, turns out to be healthy for our planet.

For those seeking to restore, maintain, or improve their health, check out my profile for more health oriented articles.

Thanks for reading!