Healthy

What does it mean to be healthy?

The WHO defines health as a state of “complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

Healthy, Happy, Whole became a mantra for me when I entered therapy for the first time in 2011. It became more than a mantra. Ten years later it is a way of life.  I filter my life choices through this phrase. As I have looked around and if you look around, you will notice that it is important to many others. Whole Foods has a whole commercial around being health, happy and of course whole.

Today, I want to share with you a few things on the term healthy. We throw it around a lot and sometimes misuse what it means to be healthy. Some people think they have the market on what healthy looks like, what it feels like and even how one should obtain health. If only it were that simple. What works for one may not actually work for another. We have to learn to listen to our bodies. Our bodies actually tell us more than we them credit for.

In the World Health Organizations definition, I appreciated how they state AND NOT MERELY THE ABSENCE OF DISEASE OR INFIRMITY. That’s key. Just because you don’t feel sick doesn’t mean you are healthy. What are you putting in your body? Are you exercising (any additional physical movements than what you do for work or simply living)? Are you resting (taking naps when needed, sleeping more than 4-5 hours a night, sleeping through the night, and more)? [There will be a whole blog on sleep to come!]

The healthy in HHW is about your overall holistic health – mind, body, soul. It is not just working out or eating your vegetables, but it is how you treat yourself, what do YOU say about you. Being healthy is making decisions that are for your well-being even if it challenges how others are used to you being. Does your inner being need help and support through therapeutic services? These are real thoughts to engage with as you move toward being a healthier individual. Working our and eating right are only parts of the whole. Be sure to think about your complete health. As you may know I am an ordained minister. I have been to therapy. I have a gym membership that gets used more times a month than it doesn’t. I ask myself is the relationship (work, romantic, platonic, etc.) healthy for me? Does it cause me to break my own boundaries? Does it cause me to lose sleep? Does it aid in my growth and personal development? These are some questions to consider when trying to make a healthy decision. Answer the questions HONESTLY for yourself. If you don’t like the answers then it may be time to reconsider what healthy means for YOU.

It’s all personal so If you are ready to dive deeper or continue this conversation, send me an email and let’s work together.

Until next time,

Here’s to becoming Healthy, Happy, Whole