Aristotle once said, “Health is a matter of choice, not a mystery of chance”. This quotation emphasizes the importance of one’s role in their health, which is what comes to mind when I think of what health means to me. My philosophy of health education is rooted in the knowledge and experiences I gained in the health field, as well as the values I identify with most strongly, including balance and personal growth. I strive to maintain a balance in my personal and professional life, while continuing to grow and become a better person every day. The importance of these values became even more evident when I entered college at the University of Florida and started down a new path toward health education. I acquired first-hand experience in the health field, as well as knowledge through my degree in health education. These experiences show me that, through health education, the key to creating a healthier world is fostering balance, prevention, and behavior change.

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Health is multidimensional; it consists of one’s physical, emotional, spiritual, and social components (Cottrell, Girvan, & McKenzie, 2002). As a health educator, it is my job to help people achieve multifaceted wellness in all aspects of health to improve their quality of life. I value physical health because I believe one’s body should be cherished and taken care of, especially regarding long term health. Emotional and spiritual health are equally as important, however, because I think our mind has a direct connection to our body. “Spiritual Wellness, Holistic Health, and the Practice of Health Education”, a study by Hawks (2004), contributed to my philosophy regarding a multidimensional approach. According to Hawks, “High levels of spiritual, emotional, and social health can positively impact physical and intellectual health outcomes, including a heightened enthusiasm for practicing positive health behaviors—the real goal of health education” (Hawks, 2004, pg 13). As a society, we should work to reduce stigmas against mental health disorders and treatments and promote mental well-being just as we promote physical well-being. By doing so, we can begin to permanently change outdated views on mental health and improve the overall wellness for future generations. Lastly, social health is important because our health is greatly influenced by who and/or what we choose to surround ourselves with. Health educators play an important role in the balance of health and wellness by educating others on how to achieve this harmony, largely through prevention.

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Another vital part of health is emphasizing prevention and separating preventative actions from cures. The correlation between the leading causes of death and preventable diseases is no

coincidence and is partly caused by the fact that medicine and healthcare focus attention and resources on treating existing disease and finding cures rather than prevention of disease. Health education can change this downfall of medicine and healthcare for the better by educating individuals on things such as precautionary measures they can engage in. Emphasizing prevention can also help make a difference in health inequality. The lack of education regarding health prevention has a detrimental effect on the health of communities—especially in developing countries and underprivileged societies. Health education, with the goal of prevention in mind, provides people with the knowledge and resources they need to make educated and informed decisions about their health. Health educators can then foster education into successful behavior change, another key component in creating a healthier world.

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Positive behavior change is one of the most significant aspects of my health philosophy because health is a lifelong process—we must continue to work toward health every day. The behavior change philosophy best aligns with my personal and professional philosophy because it focuses on modifying unhealthy habits and making goals to improve oneself. Dr. Lara Church, my primary care doctor for the past 10 years, has helped shape this part of my philosophy because of all she has taught me about health behavior change. I admire her greatly for showing me how to take charge of my health and for providing me with the knowledge and skills I needed to make health behavior changes. Because of her, my asthma and my overall health improved immensely. In my opinion, long term health is largely determined by an individual’s behaviors and choices, and health education is a powerful tool in motivating individuals to take an active role in implementing behaviors to benefit their health.

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In conclusion, it is through my values, knowledge, and experiences that I created the framework for my health education philosophy: balance, prevention, and behavior change. I believe fostering balance through a multidimensional approach to health and emphasizing preventative measures prior to disease are the main driving forces behind positive health behavior change. In the future, I hope to see several outcomes in the healthcare field, including less stigma on mental health by highlighting the importance of recognition and treatment, and increased preventative efforts in underprivileged communities to reduce health inequalities. Like Aristotle said, health is a matter of choice. Through empowering others to take an active role in their own health and incorporating my health education philosophy into my professional work, I want to one day show my patients that change may not be easy, but through persistence and determination, it is possible

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Works Cited

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Hawks, S. R. (2004). Spiritual wellness, holistic health, and the practice of health education. American Journal of Health Education, 35(1), 11–18. doi: 10.1080/19325037.2004.10603599

 

Cottrell, R. R., Girvan, J. T., & McKenzie, J. F. (2002). Principles and foundations of health promotion and education (2nd ed.). San Francisco: Benjamin Cummings.

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Aristotle Quotes. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://citatis.com/a4519/16238f/