HIGHLAND, UT | 2 May 2008 | Government wishes to regulate what its citizens eat. New York City on several occasions recently sought to ban greasy, fattening foods from restaurant menus. Similar measures have been considered locally and federally. These measures always seem to run into roadblocks. The American people simply do not want to be told what to eat. Nutritive consumption is a right of choice Americans cherish. Yet, principles govern. If you eat fat foods, you are bound to get fat. And since those same principles govern, sometimes the consequences of unhealthy diets act as a catalyst to the individual to make necessary changes. In a cnn.com report, Jackie Adams tells the story of one who followed principles and improved his life.

Key Points

• Faith begins with self-interest. Growing up with a family history of overweight and corresponding illnesses, Brandon Hollas struggled with weight issues. He reached a weight of 380 pounds. He was always overweight and depressed as a child, but Adams reports that while Hollas attended Texas A&M University, he had life changing experience that helped him recognize his new-found self-interest: a younger cousin and a grandmother were diagnosed with diabetes. HE decided to make a change. He recognized that it was within his own self-interest to live a better life.
• Perspective determines action. Education, self-awareness, new perspective—as opposed to forceful legislation—incite an individual to effective, lasting action. Hollas showed just that in his resolve to lose weight. Adams reports that he has lost 180 pounds in total. No government program could motivate him to accomplish that. It was his own perspective that determined it. Further, his initial success (he began by immediately discontinuing drinking sodas) spurred on a desire to learn more about healthy lifestyles, which helped him change his perspective even more.
• Agency implies stewardship. When one thinks of the proper role of government, usually it is the 11th Principle of Prosperity™ that comes to mind. Certainly, a misuse of government usually results in force, but more related perhaps is the principle that teaches about agency and stewardship. Brandon Hollas recognized (though he may not express it in this term) that his body was his stewardship, and that if he were going to live a better, more healthy life, it was up to him to make the change. He therefore used his own initiative (agency) to effect that change for himself.

Conclusion

The old adage, “A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still,” has deep meaning when placed in the context of government control of actions. The creation of a new law that forces a person to take care of his body in a certain way does not convince the person to the “better” way of thinking. Only true, heart-felt, perhaps emotional, mind-changing conversion will create the lasting  perspective change necessary to alter actions in the affirmative. Government cannot control that. But a person’s coming to the knowledge of his self-interest will change his actions accordingly every time.

Action Items

1. Reflect upon your own struggles and challenges. Are there areas you have not been able to make desired changes similar to Brandon Hollas’ weight loss challenge?
2. Deliberate upon your true desires in the matter. Do you really want to make the change you say you do?
3. Resolve to learn more about the challenge and the actions necessary to make that change on your own.
4. Don’t wait for the government to create a law forcing you to act in a certain way. Use your own agency and act.

MRFC Principles:  (2, 3, 4, 11)

Resources

Jackie Adams, “Student educates himself, loses 180 pounds”cnn.com. May 2, 2008