I’m on a mission to battle a black-and-white approach to health. Yes, of course you want to make healthy choices, but pronouncing other things you do as bad or wrong — or, worse, calling yourself an idiot or the like — doesn’t do anything to help. None of that negative backlash encourages healthy practices. It may work for a time, but, eventually, you’ll give up. Having some good health habits truly is better than having zero or only a few. Drop the quest for perfection.

There’s a balance between not caring anything about what keeps you well and being so health-perfect that you’re only enduring life, not enjoying it. The reason to build wellness is so you can love life longer —not live deprived and unhappy.

Tips to gain a more balanced, gentle approach to health:

Be kinder to yourself. Give yourself credit when you do it right. Note it, acknowledge it, take it in, celebrate.

When you do something that isn’t the healthiest, look at it in perspective. It was only a moment in time, that’s all. If you overall have a pretty healthy approach, it’s not going to make much difference. There has never been a meal or a day of skipped movement or a day of frustrated moaning and complaining that killed anyone.

Find a better balance in your health choices. Play a game of going lighter in areas where you’re too hard on yourself. And, in return, ante up your game where you generally go too easy on yourself.

Allow 10-20 percent of your life to be indulgent, goofy, not “perfect” health behavior. ENJOY IT!

When making bigger decisions about items that impact your health — or after making a particularly unhealthy choice — stop and take a breath and slow down a moment. Ask why you want to make that decision — or why you did. And, no matter what you discover, it’s all okay still. You’re learning, and that’s what you need to grow.

In short, put a little more peace in the process.