How do you define healthy? Go ahead, make a list. I prefer pen to paper but a mental list will do.
Our society has MANY different interpretations of what this word means. I myself actually prefer what Merriam-Webster had to say when I typed it into Google:
Lets first touch on the obvious–a healthy body; free from disease or pain; the general condition of the body.
How is the general condition of your physical body? Are you happy with the way it looks? Too pudgy? Too skinny? Not enough muscle? Is it pain free? If not, where are your aches & pains? Are you giving those areas enough TLC? What can you change to free your physical body from any dis-ease that it’s feeling? Take inventory.
Ask yourself these questions & answer them honestly. There is no shame in checking in with yourself to examine what your current state is. These physical bodies are our vehicles in life. I don’t know about you, but I want my vehicle in optimal shape to take me on some epic adventures. (plus you never know when the zombie apocalypse might happen–would you survive?) The point is, we need to reduce the pain that many of us are chronically feeling & get our bodies in shape to not just get through our daily activities but achieve something greater & give us a sense of accomplishment.
Which now brings us to the other part of the definition of healthy–sound mind & spirit. Wait–I thought healthy only referred to how much I exercise & the amount of fruits & veggies in my diet..?
Not necessarily. More & more information out there is pointing to the importance of a healthy mind, our outlook on life & how spiritually connected we are.
Do you feel frazzled? Unorganized? Do you anger easily? Get frustrated/irritable? If any of these sound like you, maybe its time to get to the root of the problem.
How many hours do you sleep at night? Do you wake up frequently throughout the night? Not only that, but are you getting enough vitamins & minerals in your diet? (i.e. fruit & veggies everyday) Do you have a strategy to release anger or frustration when you feel yourself boiling over? (tip: take 3 deep breathes & focus on expanding your stomach on the inhale & sucking your belly button in, emptying out your lungs on the exhale)
Do you have a bigger purpose in your life? Other than making it through another workday or hoping to receive a compliment on your thoroughly planned outfit?
All of these above questions have 1 thing in common–they can take a toll on your body & potentially lead to ‘unhealthy’ habits. Lack of sleep, feeling disheveled or scatter-brained & anxieties are not synonyms for ‘healthy’.
Having a sound body, mind & spirit leads to greater sense of well-being as humans. By having this greater sense of well-being, your mind is in a better state & when your mind is in a good place your entire body has less tension & stress.
Body, mind & spirit all interconnected & it’s important that we make an effort to restore, lift, revive or simply put, love, each specific part in this equation. Take time today to put love into each of these compartments & I can promise that a healthier you will emerge. Go for a walk, stretch, read a book, learn a new fact, clean out the fridge, cook a healthy meal to nourish your body.
Share with me below what your definition of ‘healthy’ is & some tips you use to balance your mind, body & spirit.