Introduction

1. Introduction

1.1 The Gift of Potential

At the moment of birth, all humans are endowed with a common gift, the gift of potential: potential to think, to solve problems, to dream, to accomplish.

Perhaps the greatest of all the potentials with which we are endowed is that of achieving a level of health and functional capacity far beyond our present knowledge, experience, and expectation.

Most of the data which gives us a glimpse into the enormous possibilities for superior health and achievement in our endowment is derived from gifted and highly trained individuals. Only rarely do we catch a glimmer of understanding of achievement of some aspects of the dimensions of human potential as it is revealed in a Leonardo da Vinci, the artist; or in a Socrates, the philosopher; or in an Owens, the Olympic gold medal winner; or in a Spitz, the swimmer, who captured seven gold medals; or in a Mozart, the child musician; or in a Buddha, the ethical leader of billions of people.

It has long been established that few achievements in any field of endeavor, except perhaps in the bizarre, are ever accomplished by persons sick of body or mind. It would appear reasonable to assume, therefore, that the basis for full achievement in any field or endeavor is to be found only on a base of perfect health, a commodity so rare in our day as to be practically nonexistent.

But, the potential remains inherent. The potential for achieving perfect health lies in us all so long as we are not fundamentally deranged. We know that the possibility of a long, happy, productive, sickness-free life is there. Only the conditions for fulfillment must be established.

We also know that the organic requisites of life that sustain humans in perfect health are relatively few, very simple and easily possessed.

We have also learned that these fundamental needs of the living organism apply equally in sickness and health; that when a healthy individual satisfies all his basic needs adequately, but not in excess of need, he will retain his health; and, conversely, also, that when a sick person changes his attitude and lifestyle so that it now adequately answers these same needs, that sickness ceases. An evergrowing state of health then permeates the whole being. This is one of the miracles of life.

On a sliding scale of 0 to 100, we rarely, if ever, witness either extreme, most individuals falling somewhere within the middle, with some few failing greatly and, at the other end of the spectrum, some few achieving mightily. Some few dally on the outskirts of life, some few are high achievers. Generally speaking, the individuals who seek the help of a Hygienist are on the outskirts because they suffer some degree of diminished health. However, while they may have lost some part of their health, they still have potential.

It is the purpose of this lesson to impart to you the ways and means of inducing clients to make whatever changes in their lifestyles that are necessary for the restoration of any possible higher level of health considering the potential they presently possess. Changes made, of course, must be based on established Hygienic principles.