Reprinted in The Science of Well-Being by Wallace D. Wattles, 1860-1911, and Dr. Judith Powell

The 12 Warning Signs of Health

Brain/Mind Bulletin, Los Angeles, CA, 1993

1. Persistent presence of support network.
2. Chronic positive expectations; tendency to frame events in a constructive light.
3. Episodic peak experiences.
4. Sense of spiritual involvement.
5. Increased sensitivity.
6. Tendency to adapt to changing conditions.
7. Rapid response and recovery of adrenaline system due to repeated challenges.
8. Increased appetite for physical activity.
9. Tendency to identify and communicate feelings.
10. Repeated episodes of gratitude, generosity or related emotions.
11. Compulsion to contribute to society.
12. Persistent sense of humor.

If 5 or more of these indicators are present, you may be at risk for full-blown health.

This article has been on my web site since 1998, when I first discovered Wattles’ trilogy, The Science of Getting Rich, The Science of Becoming Excellent and The Science of Well-Being (3 little books that I treasure over my BSBA –  more to come on that in future posts). In my quest to never look, feel or act my age (the latter was never an issue), this list really resonated with me. I figured 5 out of 12 was easily doable – heck, I was already there. Scanning this list today, however, finds me knowing 12 beats 5 and compulsively noting certain words that now seem obsolete in light of what I now know to be not only possible but true. Episodic is not nearly frequent enough; a “sense of” is far short of being or living in and as something; repeated is not as delicious as perpetual; compulsion melts into action if birthed in passion; and “health” is merely an outcome of well-being.

Still, what’s especially masterful about the original list is that without actually using any of the three words, the author connects all the dots that point to body, mind and spirit being inseparable, as they always have been despite our best and continued efforts to segment or separate them.

While focus on one area cannot make up for the neglect of others, without item #4, sense of spiritual involvement, the rest cannot take form. Ultimately, this is Consciousness with a capital C. And a mere sense of spirit, even combined with the best of food, water, exercise, thought, practices, gurus and efforts barely scratches the surface of our innate, untapped, unlimited potential for well-being through greater consciousness, God’s greatest promise that still awaits excavation on a large scale. Tap in to that and the rest of your list might come to fruition effortlessly. Tap in to that and the term “health care” seems even more of a misnomer.

There is no better way to define my tag line, “The Package Deal Approach to Well-Being”, a perspective based on first changing your soil, and no better way to begin my posts.  More to come as we excavate our way to well-being. For now, may this list bring a smile, perhaps incentive to hit “12 for 12″ as I invite you to join me in creating a “greatly at risk for full blown well-being” category. For sure, there’s plenty of room here.

Abundantly & playfully,

Judy