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Don't defend, educate
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As a Holistic Health practitioner and educator, and non-vaccinating mom, I am often called upon to defend my choices in health care for myself and my family. Long ago, I decided, rather than defend, I take the opportunity to educate.
Holistic health care and wellness is often misunderstood, and this can frighten people, causing them to become defensive. People are frightened of that which they don't understand, which gives you a wonderful opportunity to share with them new information in a gentle, and helpful way.
Holistic health requires choices, choices we make each and every day. Choices in what we eat, clean with, ingest, and even what we think. It is an approach to life that requires us to take control, and accepting responsibility. It can be difficult to some to say "it's my fault" or even "it was my choice".
When taking the opportunity to educate, it's not your chance to jump on a soap box. No one wants to hear you rant and rave about how smart you are and how wrong they are. Don't preach, converse. Speak to them like you are talking to a friend, or to your parents. Rather than tell someone they are wrong to have a flu shot, or for vaccinating their children, why not ask them if they have explored the possibilities available to them. You don't appreciate it when someone judges you, why would you think that others would appreciate that behavior?
Also, remember that your information is not the be all and end all. I've been doing this a long time, and yet I still have time, and plenty of room, to learn something new. I am always interested in hearing someone else's opinion, and afterward, take the information and decide if it is right for me or not.
The next time you are presented with an opportunity to defend your decisions, take the opportunity to breathe, and educate instead. You may be the change someone is looking for.
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