Sharing health and wellness with others can be a daunting task. We may not be very gifted speakers and struggle to express how important something is to you. You may get flustered like I sometimes do when you don't know the answer to a question and that just avalanches into a disaster. So what are some things we can do to equip ourselves as we try to share potentially life-changing information with our family and friends? Here are a few things to keep in mind
"Practice what you preach". This one should be obvious. What credibility do you have if you don't do for yourself the things you're recommending others do. If I tell my friend to use essential oils to maintain a healthier lifestyle, doesn't common sense say that I should be using those same essential oils. There would be no reason for my friend to believe me when I tell him about the health benefits of the oil if I don't use them myself.
"Study, study, study". Take time to actually study what you want to share. You'll become more comfortable with the information and find it easier then to tell someone else about it. There's nothing worse to me than getting caught in a position where I can't answer someone's question. I understand infinite knowledge is unattainable but there's an importance in sounding educated as you try to convey information to someone else. Do you really think I'm going to listen to what you have to say if it sounds like you have no idea what you're talking about? Again, this is common sense. Study, study, study, people.
"Remember that you haven't always eaten this way/took this supplement". This is my most important and stressed point because it grinds my gears the most. There is nothing more frustrating and uninviting than being scolded or talked at in a condescending way. Yes, I understand you're passionate about what you're sharing because for a lot of us, it really has changed our lives. But please, don't make me feel like the scum of the earth because I haven't been eating the way you do or taking this certain supplement my entire life. Chances are, if it was life-changing for you, it was because you didn't do it your entire life either. So why would you share that information to me in a way where even if I liked the product, I wouldn't want to use it because of how you presented it?
We need to have an element of grace and humility when we speak to people. 1 Peter 3:15 says, "but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,". This is written for believers who are sharing the gospel but I feel this is a principle we can apply to anything we talk about with others. If someone asks us a question about what we're doing because they notice we look a lot healthier, it's a chance to approach them in a way that is respectful. It is NOT an opportunity to lord over them and tell them why we're better then them.
Hopefully these simple tools can encourage you and make the process a little simpler.
-Jordan
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