The HealFast "Golden Ratio": A self-reflective formula to live by

Ever wonder what it all means? Why we’re here, what the purpose of life is and what it is we want to do with it?

Fear not, these thoughts are perfectly normal if not discomforting at times to think about. It’s ok to sit quietly and reflect on how far you’ve come and where you want to go.

Often times, these thoughts or ideas cannot be quantified, but I’d like to offer a thought experiment to help get the ball rolling and jumpstart your self-psychoanalysis [1] and bring your life goals from subconscious to the conscious (about the only thing one can still credibly take from Freud’s research).

I call it the “Golden Ratio” and to me at least, it has become one of the most important and tangible formulas I can think of in my daily life to calculate whether things are on the right track.

Before I list this simple yet powerful ratio, the HealFast medical team said I would be amiss if I didn’t warn those prone to depression that this thought experiment can lead to some deep reflective moments. Proceed with caution.

So what it is the “HealFast Golden Ratio” and how can I use it to help chart my life?

The “HealFast Golden Ratio” - distinct from the idea of a mathematical Golden Ratio, is simply the number of days you have lived divided by the number of days you, at the present time and health condition, think you can live to.

That’s it!

No overly complex math, no regression analysis or weighted averages. Write it on your whiteboard or daily task list, store it as an alarm on your phone, you ready for the next step! 

The power, I feel, of this formula is its blatantly simple approach to a very real and difficult internal conversation. Let’s discuss.

While the numerator of the ratio is straightforward and changes only linearly, i.e., each day you add one, the denominator does require you to be a tad creative and honest with yourself on your current style of living.

With all the modern technology, improving understanding of the human body, and advanced nutrition for healing and diet; the future looks bright and the opportunity for humans living to 100 looks promising.

So let’s use that as our benchmark and use a 30-year old (on her birthday) to bring about the power of the formula.

which gives us...

Now mathematically, this answer is obviously 30%, but that in itself is not the most important part of the process. What’s important in the formula is that you take a good long look at the denominator. Notice anything?

It’s a very real, tangible, and small number for such a grand age!

Think about it, the average American within a 2-3 years of working has paid more in income taxes alone [2] (discounting all the other hidden taxes) than the number of days you will have lived on this planet!

If that’s not humbling, let’s consider that the current National US debt is roughly $21,145,000,000,000 at the time of writing this article. That number is unfathomable! What does that even mean? Again, 36,500 if in dollars would be roughly the average price of an American car[3].

Remember, some people live on a dollar a day; let that sink in and realize 36,500 days (i.e. living to 100) is a tangible and very small number in the grand scheme of things.

This formula, while albeit slightly depressing, will provide a tangible number to help ground your present self and plan your next steps.

The last step in the process is simply to keep a track of the ration each day and to add “1” to the numerator every night and ask yourself “did I live today to the fullest?” Ask yourself what you could do better, make yourself happier, and if you are any closer to completing your goal. Reflect!

If you feel that the answer is “no”, ask why. Remember not all days need to be “work, study, exercise, save”, some days are meant for relaxing but if you are going to relax do it in the most enjoyable and best way available to you. Let no day be wasted.

Part of this exercise is to also make good choices to push out the denominator as far as possible. Get in shape, stop smoking, improve your diet and nutrition, and maybe ease up on the drinking.

Lastly, remember to smile and enjoy the moment.

You might first need to get through some anxiety caused by the existential fears of death we all face, but once you do, and decide to live the best you can in the moment guided by a very real and tangible number.

Once you start using this formula daily, you will notice you find the happy moments last a tad longer and seem a bit sweeter, and the bad moments tend to fade faster.

Just remember, every second counts. Seconds turn to minutes, turn to hours, to days, and then years, take each moment for the beauty it brings and build on who you are as a person, friend, lover, parent, etc.

Give it a try and let us know what you think on Twitter, Facebook, or our Instagram!

References:

1. https://www.simplypsychology.org/Sigmund-Freud.html

2. https://usat.ly/2z4rTxM

3. https://usat.ly/2xPwAva

General Disclaimer: All information here is for educational purposes only and is not meant to cure, heal, diagnose nor treat. This information must not be used as a replacement for medical advice, nor can the writer take any responsibility for anyone using the information instead of consulting a healthcare professional. All serious disease needs a physician.