by David Krueger

You're writing a story that you may not know how to tell. It's a very personal story with its own history and language. It's highly visible to others but often not to you.

It's a story that you talk about every day, think about several times a day.

This story is about the longest relationship you'll have in your life. Your parents discussed it before you arrived; people will deliberate it after you die. Maybe you'll get ten years out of a car, perhaps fifty with a spouse, but this story you can never stop writing or living. You can't break up with it, run away from it, or coax into loving you more.

Even though it's unexamined and elusive--you orient life decisions around it.

When I spoke with a well-known self help guru, his response was, "You know, Dave, I don't know how to tell this story to myself in order to know what to change."

This story ghostwrites every aspect of your life story. From what you eat, drink, read, to what you plan, and dream. Health, recreation, stress--even the water you drink--are all impacted by this story. At times you've used this story to regulate your moods, increase self-esteem, influence others, or to soothe emotional pains. And, how you live this story will be what you teach your children.

It speaks to you. You speak with it. It's... your money.

Dr. David Krueger is Dean of Curriculum for Coach Training Alliance. This article is excerpted from his book, "The Secret Language of Money," an August 2009 release from McGraw Hill.

Wellness is currently a $500 billion industry and just getting started. It is about how simple choices profoundly affect our lives. Wellness integrates mind, body and spirit with a balanced flow of energy. It is an ongoing process of choices that become the stories of our lives.

Proactive or Reactive?
Sickness is reactive: people react to a specific condition or ailment. Products and services treat the symptoms of a disease or attempt to eliminate the disease.

Wellness is proactive: people seek activity, products, and services to feel healthier, reduce the effects of aging, look better, and prevent illness. Wellness is characterized by problem avoidance and prevention.

The Need for Wellness Coaching
In studies of coronary bypass patients--when their lives are at risk unless they adopt healthier lifestyles--only one in nine is able to change their habits by themselves. Other findings:

• 70% of health-care costs stem from preventable diseases.
  (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Stress undermines work productivity in 9 of 10 companies.
  (Industrial Society Survey)
• 70-80% of physician visits are stress related.
  (US Public Health Survey)
• Obesity, diabetes, and heart disease have reached epidemic proportions--almost all are preventable.
  (American Medical Association)
• Every dollar invested in worksite wellness yields 300-600% return through reduced absenteeism, increased productivity, and decreased health-related costs. (Partnership for Prevention National Coalition)

People don't need more advice about vitamins, supplements, how-to exercise, or 1700 calorie diets. They need a clear, specific, step-wise program for change and an informed guide to help them.

Shouldn't that guide be you? Become knowledgeable about integrating mind, body and spirit and you're well on your way to guiding your clients to wellness.

David Krueger MD was Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine and is now CEO of MentorPath™, an executive coaching firm helping professionals write the next chapter of their life. You can join Dr. Krueger in Coaching the Wellness Revolution. See below...

Coaching a New Life Story

What if there were an Owner's Manual for living your ideal life? Now, there is...

Live a New Life Story™ is a complete, turnkey system for coaching clients to the life they've always wanted. With this program--and the guidance of David Krueger, MD--you coach clients in writing new chapters into their lives they never thought possible.

New Life Story Coaches Training™ is a licensed, specialty-certification program for Professional Coaches wanting to mentor clients' new life stories. This unique and effective system blends the insights of psychology, dynamic neuroscience, and the principles of strategic coaching. Starts Wednesday, January 21st. Learn more...