What is Lifestyle?
When we talk about lifestyle, we're not just referring to habits or hobbies; it’s about a holistic approach to living. Lifestyle encompasses everything that defines how we navigate life, from our mental and emotional health to the spiritual, physical, and environmental aspects. It’s a comprehensive framework for well-being that addresses the root cause of many chronic illnesses, aiming to bring harmony to each part of our existence.
In truth, these different dimensions—mental, emotional, spiritual, physical, and environmental—are deeply intertwined. You cannot fully separate them. What affects one will inevitably impact the others, creating a delicate balance that is key to maintaining true health.
The Power of Mindset
Healing begins with mindset. You have to decide that change is necessary and stop making excuses. The first step is taking ownership of your health and understanding that you are in control. As Alexander Hamilton wisely said, "You have to stand for something, or you'll fall for anything." The decision to heal and empower yourself is a conscious one, built on the belief that your body is intelligent and knows how to heal itself.
Instead of waiting for permission from external sources or blindly accepting medications and misdiagnoses, it’s time to listen to your body. Open yourself to new ideas and practices that can enhance your well-being.
Mental Health: Setting Boundaries
Healthy boundaries are essential for maintaining mental health. Knowing what you will and will not tolerate is an act of self-care. It’s about aligning your choices with your values, which ultimately supports mental clarity. I am a strong believer in therapy, but there are other powerful tools like journaling (especially early in the morning before your ego awakens), walking in nature, prayer, and meditation. Mental stillness, gratitude, and reflection help create a healthy mental space. But mental health isn’t isolated from the body—it’s connected to your gut microbiome and hormones. (More on that at a later date!)
Emotional Health: The Art of Listening
Our emotional well-being is closely tied to how we communicate and connect with others. True healing requires us to listen deeply and seek to understand others. When we share our stories and learn about others’ experiences, we foster emotional connection, an essential part of the human condition. We are meant to be in community, where compassion and connection heal and uplift us.
Spiritual Health: Honoring the Creator
Spirituality reminds us that we are part of something much larger than ourselves. When we honor the Creator and our place in the collective, we move beyond selfish desires and begin to love others, which releases neurochemicals like endorphins that naturally make us feel happier. We were created for community, and it’s in these connections that we find a greater sense of purpose and belonging.
Physical Health: It’s More Than Exercise
Physical health is often mistakenly reduced to just exercise, but it’s about so much more, including the food you eat and how you understand your body. When you understand the 12 systems of your body and nourish your gut microbiome, you unlock the power to balance your hormones and improve your overall well-being. Once you master this hierarchy—understanding blood sugar balance, the feminine cycle, and the microbiome—you’ll never want to go back to old habits. The results are life-changing: better sleep, mental clarity, energy, and weight management, to name a few.
Environmental Health: It’s All Connected
Just as the human body cannot be separated from the mind, we cannot separate ourselves from our environment. How we treat the earth and the spaces we inhabit plays a direct role in our health. Reducing toxins from our homes, cleaning products, beauty products, and food is essential. The health of our planet’s biome is connected to the health of our gut. Both must be thriving for us to live a healthy life.
A Personal Story: My Journey to Healing
I speak from experience. My journey toward holistic health started when I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome in my early 20s. The medical system told me there was no cure, but that didn't sit right with me. It was only when I discovered natural medicine that I experienced my body’s miraculous ability to heal itself.
I became immersed in learning about the interconnectedness of the human body. I spent years focused on healthy eating and exercise, finding balance in yoga, fresh food, and mindfulness. But life took a turn when I moved to a small town in Ohio. In trying to fit in, I let go of many of my healthy habits, and soon I found myself dealing with a full return of chronic fatigue symptoms, weight gain, gut issues, and more.
It took a decade of learning, failing, and rediscovering what I had once known to bring me back to health. Now, I realize that the journey I’ve been on was essential for me to fully understand holistic health. I’m here to say that it's possible to reclaim your health, no matter how far you've strayed.
The Ripple Effect: Standing Together for Health
Living a healthy lifestyle is challenging, but it’s easier when we come together. When we focus on the five pillars—mental, emotional, spiritual, physical, and environmental health—we create a ripple effect that impacts not just ourselves but the women who come after us. By taking ownership of our health and sharing what we’ve learned, we’re contributing to a movement that addresses the disconnect between true health and the modern healthcare system.
It starts with making the decision to stand up for yourself, to clear out the toxins, and to let your body do what it was designed to do: heal. Together, we can create a healthier future, one step at a time.
