This week we talked about 'wrong reasons' for health behaviors in class. And in the end it seems to me that nearly reason for initiating a positive health behavior should be applauded (assuming it doesn't do harm to anyone)...if in the end an individual or group is working to improve their health, even if they don't realize or acknowledge it, that's great! In order to be effective health promoters we need to be in touch with our audience and be open to capitalizing on their actual needs, wants and motivations, even if to those in the health world these fall into the category of the 'wrong reasons' for practicing a health behavior. And just because we are in this field doesn't mean that we can't be motivated by some of these reasons too...the other night I was debating with myself about whether to go to the gym and really having a hard time finding the motivation to do so.
Even though I am in the public health field and know all of the health benefits of regular exercise, in the end what actually got me to make it inside the gym was thinking about the cruise I'll be going on in a few months and how I will be wearing a bathing point at some point. Superficial I know, but that is where I was at that night. If I as an educated health promoter can't even get myself to exercise for the 'right' reasons, how can I expect to motivate anyone else to?
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