Despite what your family thinks about your obsession with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there are some very worthwhile lessons. For example, be upstanding like Captain America, or smart like the Incredible Hulk. The concept of becoming a new person like the Black Widow, or using archery skills become a superhero like Hawkeye. However, here I wanted to discuss two health lessons from Loki and the multiverse.
There are countless places to learn from, and each presentation style will click with some, and not for others. Despite your interest in the MCU, there are some applications to our health journey that can be gleaned from this. Just a heads ups, I’m presenting this in a way that even those not geeking out on the MCU will be understand. So you MCU experts, bear with me.
Let’s get into some health lessons from Loki and the Multiverse.
Just a little background
In the most recent TV series, Loki, there is a character who is considered the “God of Mischief”. Within the show, he comes into contact with an organization that controls everything. They review what could, and would, happen in what is considered a “multi-verse”.
To break the multi-verse down, a simple example would be that each time you are at a stop sign. You could turn right or left. Regardless of which way you choose, you only see the result of the way you chose to turn.
Within the scientific idea of a multi-verse, they propose that there are countless stop signs where the world would be different. There is a world where you would have chosen to turn left instead of right.
Now that we have the multi-verse covered, let’s continue the conversation. There is a character, He Who Remains, who feels that the idea of a multi-verse is too chaotic. As a result He Who Remains limits the multi-verse to only one scenario. He controls time and choices. If you were to make a choice that would deviate you, and consequently the world, from the course He Who Remains has chosen, that future would be ended.
Again, that means that instead of a multitude of options that could be occurring all at once, we only have once life to live.
Taking that one step further, if you’re not allowed to deviate from your “pre-approved” future that means that your future and past is known. That would mean your life is predetermined and that you have no real choice. Because the choice is made for you.
So how does this relate to health?
Easy.
First Health Lesson From Loki
Choice is not predetermined
Your future is not known, you have the ability to choose.
In our world, it can be the case that people have tried to adopt healthy practices in the past. Maybe those changes created weight loss, or healthier eating habits, or a change in how your body feels. Unfortunately, those changes don’t always stay, and it can be defeating.
When we have tried and “failed” it can be discouraging and reduce our willingness to try again in the future.
We settle into the idea that, “this is just the way it is, it will always be this way and I’m just going to have to learn how to live with it.” If you feel like this is you, and you need to get out of that mentality, check out this article on how viewing health an experiment can help you have lasting health.
In terms of health, while you may not have liked foods in the past, or everyone in your family has an illness, or you just “know” you’re going to die from cancer – remember that your future is not written. Knowing that your future is not predetermined should be an empowering realization. Now you are able to step into the drivers seat and take steps to prevent an illness. If you already have an illness, it should encourage you to care for that illness. If you lead a sedentary life you should be reminded that it is your choice to try new foods/physical activity.
Know that you are not required to get diabetes. You are not destined to have heart attacks. You’re not locked into a life of sitting on a couch rather than being physically active. While family history and lifestyle behaviors can increase your risk, you can do a lot to reduce that risk and improve your health.
Second Health Lesson from Loki
Check your self-perception
Continuing on with the story of Loki, in his past he has been a villain, creating chaos wherever he went. However, throughout the series he starts to know what is like to be loved, appreciated and seen as more than just a troublemaker. Once he understands the multi-verse he realizes that he could make different choices and be a different individual. There could be a scenario where he is the hero rather than the villain.
The way we are treated, or allow others to treat us, impacts our self-perception. The way our wife, girlfriend, boss, or parents treat us can demonstrate, or shape, how we see ourselves.
This self perception impacts our physical, mental, occupational and financial health. If you think highly of yourself you will expect more from yourself. If others see you as a failure and you buy-in to that mentality then your self-esteem may drop. As a result, your desire to continue to try to improve, learn, and try new things will diminish.
Also, remember that you are the one who allows others into your life. You are the director of your own life. You do not need to take the role of spectator to how life happens to you. The old adage goes, you can’t choose what happens to you, you can only choose how you react. This is true, but I would take it a step further.
You can take steps that will allow more favorable outcomes to find their way into your life. The more schooling, hard work, respect, networking you do, the better equipped you would be to have future opportunities open up to you.
Similarly, the more you eat healthy, and are physically active, the more you’ll seek joy in life and surround yourself with a strong community. From there your self-perception will change as you are more empowered, able, and confident because of your life choices.
Health Takeaways from Loki
So, what do we take away from this then? What is it we can learn from Loki about our health?
Forget the multi-verse and seek to master your current reality. Take steps to find what healthy looks like for you. It can be running, hiking, swimming, biking, vegetarianism, becoming a better cook, or simply having vegetables at every meal.
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Author by Zach Cordell, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist of www.cordellnutrition.com