In the first chapter, Dr. Weil talks about motivation: “If you are motivated to seek better health, all that you need to achieve it is practical information (p.7).”

I know that our battle with MRSA has given me that motivation, along with the realization that I am no longer 20 and immortal. Dr. Weil goes on to talk about how with the proper motivation that even something as strong as an addition to drugs can be beaten. I have been following a thread about 12-stepping in another group I belong to in the last couple of days, and between this book and that group, I have thought a lot about addiction lately. I have several addictions myself that I need to address–I am no doubt addicted to food, chocolate and (yes, I am admitting it as much as I hate to) smoking, and could probably come up with a few others if I really tried. I was very happy to read that Dr. Weil has seen success with people quitting smoking, and that he addresses the issue of how difficult it is to part company with an addiction that has become something of a security blanket in your life.

While Dr. Weil is not directly addressing all of our particular addictions in this book, and is not even asking us to quit them, he is putting forth these goals for this book, and hoping that we will find the motivation to put them in to action in our lives (p. 12):
1. Show us his vision of the body’s healing system and encourage us to rely upon it in all health matters.
2. Convince us of the importance of a healthy lifestyle and how to do it quick and easily.
3. Give specific suggestions about the things that he considers most important to health and healing.

I think that if we get these three benefits from reading this book, then we will absolutely be on our way. And personally, I am hoping that getting healthier in some areas of my life will give me the motivation to let go of some of the unhealthier things I have held on to like lovers for wayyyy too long.