The Intellectual Circle of Wellness: THINK CLEARLY

“If you want to understand any problem in America, you need to focus on who profits from the problem, not who suffers from that problem."  Amos N. Wilson, PhD.

I was born curious. It guided me into a fulfilling career in health promotion—one I never anticipated - and it's still what drives me. Not a day passes that I’m not thinking of how I can reshape the way people view health.

Every dimension of wellness matters, but intellectual wellness is the one that gets talked about the least. Amos Wilson’s quote helped me better understand why - intellectual wellness focuses on thinking critically. It asks you to keep your mind active, engaged, and open to new ideas -things the shot callers in our sickcare system would rather you not do. Why? Because it would cut into their profit.

The more I challenge our thinking, the more questions surface, so this week I’ve decided to share a few of them with you. Keep this in mind as you read through the list: America’s sickcare system views health as the state or condition of the body and mind based on checkmarks that the system puts in place, whereas wellness is an ongoing practice that supports a balanced and meaningful life.

So, here’s what keeps me musing:

Who defines health and who profits most from the definition?

If I listed every party profiting from sickness in the U.S., how long would the list be?

Who sets the salary for the highest-paid CEO  ($60,938,062 in 2025) in the health insurance industry? Who makes the biggest profit?

How many doctors are fed up with the way they’re forced to practice medicine? Who profits from their burnout? Who loses? Who suffers?

Who sets sickcare treatment costs, and why are these costs hidden from the general public? Who profits?

Why is the cheapest food the least healthy? Who profits?

Who funds the nutrition research and guidelines we’ve been taught to trust? Who profits?

Why isn’t “health education” a required subject in schools? Who made the decision? Who profits?

Why does it take sickness to get us to pay attention to our health? Who profits?

What are you doing, right now, to keep your mind engaged in health and wellness issues? Who profits?

When one of us children was out of control, my mother would say, “ It’s a mighty bad wind that don’t never change.” I think America’s sickcare industry is out of control – it’s a runaway train. And when it crashes, consumers will be forced not only to change the way they think about health but also their behavior. Perhaps then we’ll ask “Who’s profiting?”

In the meantime, here’s something I know for sure: Thanks to the gift of curiosity, I’m in my happy place when I’m learning – it’s a joy that’s hard to explain – so I’ll keep learning, sharing, and hoping that my tips inspire you to:  

Think clearly; Be Well!

For additional wellness tips, subscribe to my small change Weekly Wellness Tips at https://www.myrtlerussell.com/contact-us.