Understanding the inputs and outputs related to the framework of complementary healthcare is important to guide our practices.
Dr. Darin Davidson partners with Learner+, a CME/CE reflective learning platform for healthcare providers. For the opportunity to reflect on this article and earn CME/CE credits, Launch here. Check out all past articles which are also eligible for reflections and CME/CE credits.
For downloadable, actionable strategies and tactics to leverage biology in the pursuit of health, wellbeing, and sustainable high performance, visit the resource store, Launch here. Chapters are arranged by topic so those of interest can be selected and each are also eligible for reflections and CME/CE credits through Learner+.
The previous article described the framework of complementary healthcare. Specifically, the various levels were discussed in detail. The understanding is that at the core, a solid foundation of nervous system balance is essential to the pursuit of health, wellbeing, and sustainable high performance. The focus of this article will be to discuss in further detail the inputs of the process of pursuing and applying this framework and the outputs we are hoping to realize.
Prior to further discussing the topics of this article, it is first helpful to better define what is meant by inputs and outputs. The inputs are the various skills, strategies, and tactics which we train, develop, and implement in order to realize particular outcomes, or outputs. In this context, the broadly defined goals of interest are health, wellbeing, and sustainable high performance.
It is important to further define and specify these various outputs. When we consider health and wellbeing, what is specifically being addressed as the outputs of interest are a reduction in chronic stress, a decrease in chronic inflammation, and optimization of cellular health, in particular mitochondrial function. As has been described in past articles, by achieving these three factors, we are able to directly improve our overall health and wellbeing.
When we consider the output of sustainable high performance, we are considering the ability to be at our best in a durable and consistent fashion over an extended duration of time. This output requires health and wellbeing at the foundation. Without a baseline of health and wellbeing it is impossible to perform at our highest level on a consistent and sustainable basis. In addition to a foundation of health and wellbeing, it is also necessary to develop the ability to reduce the impact of fear based hindrances, leverage our biology to shift towards optimal performance states, and optimize recovery and restoration following performance situations. These elements have been described in more detail in a past article.
When we consider the inputs in the framework of complementary healthcare, this incorporates the psychological skills and body-based strategies discussed throughout this article series. From a psychological skills perspective, this includes developing cognitive skills, such as confidence, reframing, adjusting our self-talk, directing our attention, and re-focusing. From the body-based perspective, this includes somatic practices, such as breathwork, adjusting posture and muscle tone, social interaction and engagement, as well as strategies to optimize cellular health and mitochondrial function. This latter category includes diet, physical activity, and sleep.
When we consider the relationship between the various inputs described above and the desired outputs, it is important to recognize that we do not directly control the desired outcomes. Rather, the strategy is to emphasize our influence and control over the inputs we utilize and, essentially, trust that in doing so we will have the greatest opportunity to realize the desired outputs. Ultimately, it is important that we use the information obtained from whatever outcomes result from our efforts to adjust and update our skills, strategies, and tactics related to the inputs we utilize.
It is important to recognize that things will not always go our way. We need to emphasize our ability to control those factors and elements under our influence. This specifically relates to the inputs we utilize. We can always learn from the scenarios and situations we encounter and adjust the inputs we utilize to increase the likelihood of achieving the outputs we are seeking.
As a part of the overall strategy, it is important to develop an understanding of the effectiveness of the various inputs under differing circumstances. It is important to recognize that various inputs will be more or less beneficial under different situations and scenarios. By developing as robust and varied a toolbox of inputs as possible, this allows for a greater ability to match the most useful inputs with the situation we are facing in order to optimize the potential for the desired output. Over time, it is often the case that the most useful inputs will change and the scenarios in which we select various inputs will differ and evolve. This is to be expected. It is also important to recognize that the most effective inputs often differ amongst various individuals. The key is to identify which are most useful and beneficial at a given time, utilize these specific inputs, and then use the information provided through the outputs to adjust and revise our strategies and tactics.
The above understanding reinforces the importance of regular check-ins with our biological state. Ultimately the inputs we utilize are chosen to adapt and match our biological state to the situation we are encountering with a view to optimizing the likelihood of achieving the outputs we desire. By assessing our biological state, we can evaluate whether or not the inputs we have utilized have resulted in the desired biological state shifts and whether such shifts have led to the desired outputs. We can then use this feedback and information to guide and revise future strategies and tactics in response to the scenarios we encounter.
In addition to regular check-ins, an objective measure to determine our status and improvement over time can be informed through heart rate variability (HRV). As discussed in past articles, this metric is a reflection of nervous system balance and flexibility. As these attributes are at the foundation of health, wellbeing, and sustainable high performance they provide another means by which to assess our progress in implementing chosen inputs in the process of pursuing our desired outputs.
The above strategy provides a means through which we can develop the framework of complementary health and the skills, strategies, and tactics to develop as robust a toolbox of inputs as possible. This allows us to have the greatest potential to achieve and realize the outputs we desire. As noted above, it is important to recognize that we do not control the outcomes of the situations we encounter. Rather, our emphasis is on the process of developing the best inputs we are able and trusting that this process will lead to the greatest chance for realizing our desired outputs. Part of the journey of continuous growth and development is that we acknowledge the results of our efforts and learn from the situations we have encountered. This information can be used to either reinforce or revise the various skills, strategies, and tactics we utilize in the inputs we implement.
In order to fully optimize the likelihood of pursuing health, wellbeing, and sustainable high performance it is important that we optimize the likelihood of achieving the outputs described above. We do not directly control this and must place our trust in the process of developing the necessary inputs. This provides the greatest opportunity for achieving the outputs we desire, thereby leading to health, wellbeing, and sustainable high performance.
To learn more, including about biologically complementary coaching for healthcare professionals and others in high demand domains, please visit www.darindavidson.com.
Dr. Darin Davidson partners with Learner+, a CME/CE reflective learning platform for healthcare providers. For the opportunity to reflect on this article and earn CME/CE credits, Launch here. Check out all past articles which are also eligible for reflections and CME/CE credits.
For downloadable, actionable strategies and tactics to leverage biology in the pursuit of health, wellbeing, and sustainable high performance, visit the resource store, Launch here. Chapters are arranged by topic so those of interest can be selected and each are also eligible for reflections and CME/CE credits through Learner+.