Getting Your Selves Healthier

By: Margaret Moore, aka Coach Meg
Co-author, Harvard Health book, Organize Your Emotions, Optimize Your Life

In a companion article, Meet your Inner Family, we introduced the new Harvard Health book Organize your Emotions, Optimize Your Life, proposing a new model of the human psyche that is an adult version of Inside Out, positing that the human psyche has nine internal life forces sculpted by evolution, speaking as our inner "voices," with distinct needs, agendas and emotions. Here's what your nine inner family members might say about getting healthier:

Autonomy:    

I'd really like us to get healthier. We can't be the captain of our ship if we don't have good physical energy. And at the same time... I don't like others telling me how to be healthier. Let's do it our way.

Standard Setter:

We really need to be healthier so we have the energy to perform well. I can be pretty critical about our state of health and fitness. Maybe it would help if I was more grateful and less critical.

Confidence:  

I would love to be more confident in getting healthier. But I feel defeated when the Standard Setter keeps criticizing me. Please let the bar down and set a lower standard once in a while. I'll procrastinate less and be more optimistic.

Relational:     

I want to be a good role model for my family. I don't want to be a burden on others later if my health goes south. I wonder whether helping others get healthier would help me too.

Curious Adventurer:

Getting healthier is an adventure, one interesting experiment after another. Being curious and open makes it less stressful and more fun. Heck, we don't even know exactly what will work, so let's just try some new things and find out.

Creative:        

I have untapped creative resources to help us navigate around all of the challenges of getting healthier. Call on me for bright, new ideas, especially on how to have fun and enjoy the journey. Forget about deprivation!

Executive Manager: 

Did you know how GREAT good fitness is for the brain, to get fed the nutrients and oxygen it needs to work at its best and not age too fast? I'll get us organized to get healthier and stay on track. Let's go!

Body Regulator:       

Hey, I'm good at figuring out how to be healthy. I know how to find the balance, not too many changes too fast. Just ask me! You'll see, we will fall in love with being healthier and won't want to go back.

Meaning Maker:       

It's interesting that we have universal support for getting healthier. We have lots of ideas and resources. Let's involve the whole inner family and get started today.