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By Linda Dulicai
Deprivation is the “removal of or withholding of something from the enjoyment or possession of a person or persons.” No one likes to feel deprived, and taking care of yourself should never equal deprivation. That’s why our website says, "We will never, ever take something away without replacing it with something of equal or greater value. This is especially true when you start on your path to better wellness."
People often look at getting well as punishment for getting sick. They go to the doctor, get some "bad" numbers and are told to stop eating this and that, take these things they don't want to take start going to the gym and do other things they don't want to do. There could be any number of reasons they don’t want to follow the doctor’s recommendations. Maybe they feel they “can’t” give up certain foods. Maybe they believe they will get sicker if they take medication the doctor orders. Maybe exercise causes them pain. Whatever the reasons, they feel they are being deprived – of pleasure, of living a more natural life, of living pain free.
Deprivation can make us do silly things that we’d not generally do. We become defiant and start working against ourselves. Some people, for example, when told not to eat a certain kind of food, will eat more of it because they don’t think anyone should be telling them what to do. Or maybe they talk themselves into failure, believing they don’t have whatever it takes to give up that food, so they get depressed and eat more of it, almost like they are punishing themselves. These are very common reactions to deprivation, and all they do is create more illness.
I never say, “Just do it,” without giving options or help. When clients come to me, I always have them understand the why. Let's talk GMOs. GMOs are terrible. The Institute for Responsible Technology says, “The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) urges doctors to prescribe non-GMO diets for all patients. They cite animal studies showing organ damage, gastrointestinal and immune system disorders, accelerated aging, and infertility. Human studies show how genetically modified (GM) food can leave material behind inside us, possibly causing long-term problems.” Even so, many people still think ingesting GMOs doesn't matter. So, I have them taste something or talk about how much longer non-GMO or organic food lasts or give them options they can live with.
The other part of not feeling deprived is removing negativity from slip-ups. If we get down on ourselves for slip-ups, we start to feel deprived of happiness and start associating health with unhappiness. So we celebrate successes and refuse to batter ourselves for slip ups. We simply start again and let the new practice becomes habit.
Research scientist and expert in amino acids Dr. Luca-Morretti taught me compliance is everything. I find ways that people can comply. I will not just give clients a suggestion and send them on their way.
If you like the sound of getting healthy without feeling deprived, contact me, Linda Dulicai, today to set up a no-obligation consultation.
A practitioner for more than 38 years, Linda Dulicai is a Certified Natural Health Professional and an Advanced Loomis Digestive Health Specialist educated in more than 25 modalities of wellness. She is CEO of The Healthy Zone.
