✶ What Does “Being Healthy” Truly Mean? ✶

How we treat our ourselves both physically and emotionally has a profound effect on how we feel in our day-to-day lives. It’s about finding a healthy balance in mind, in body and in spirit that will determine the quality of our human experience. One cannot exist without the other; unfortunately, the “body” seems to be the dominant and, in most cases, the only focus when people think about what living a healthy lifestyle is. The “mind and spirit” are all too often forgotten in that equation.

It’s great that people are becoming more aware of the importance of having a healthy body; however, there seems to be a general disconnect between looking healthy and actually being healthy. The focus seems to be predominantly on having the appearance of a healthy body.

Being buff, slender or fit are all media induced illusions of what the marketing specialists hired by big corporations want you to believe being healthy is all about. And they do this not because they care about your well being, but rather in order to sell countless amounts of fitness merchandise, diet products, protein powders and energy drinks, filled with preservatives and sugar, most of which are anything but healthy.

There are way too many people who still buy into this illusion, going to the gym and ingesting these products for all the wrong reasons, with little to no knowledge about the potential damage they might be doing to their bodies, not to mention their psyches.

So what does being healthy truly mean?

Don’t get me wrong, working out and getting fit is definitely a fabulous place to start, as long as we make sure we are doing our exercises – whatever method we choose – correctly so as to not badly injure ourselves. For this, hiring a personal trainer to get started can be of great benefit. We learn about setting fitness goals, proper techniques, how the body works and what particular exercises will be most effective to help us reach our goals. A good personal trainer will tailor workouts to each person’s current fitness level to minimize the risk of short-term or long-term injury.

If going to the gym isn’t your thing, then there are a variety of different physical activities to get your blood pumping through those veins. Walking, hiking, cycling, swimming … to name a few. Whatever your particular fancy, there are activities for you. The most important thing is to do some form of exercise daily to help develop and maintain a healthy body.

The other and most crucial component to promoting a healthy body is what we put in it. Something as seemingly simple as eating well phenomenally affects not only our overall physical health, but also our energy level, our ability to focus and be productive, our hormones and even our moods. Consequently, the very quality of our lives and well-being are greatly governed by the foods we eat.

More and more these days we hear about severe food allergies and sensitivities. People suffering from Celiac Disease and gluten intolerance are almost commonplace, making food choices even more difficult because wheat and other forms of gluten are found in just about everything. Those affected by these sensitivities must always carefully read product labels to make sure of all ingredients. Most Celiacs, however, must rely on specifically made “gluten free” products. Fortunately, these products are more readily available in larger cities due to the increase demand for them.

This epidemic, if you will, of food-related diseases is largely the result of the food industry’s penchant to over-process. Educating ourselves about the nature of our food, where it comes from, how it was produced/grown, and proper nutrition, as well as being mindful of what we put into our bodies, are fundamental as preventative measures in significantly reducing the risks associated with many of the diseases that increasingly afflict our population.

Although making healthy food choices takes a conscious and valiant effort and can at times be challenging and overwhelming (especially if our existing habits are particularly unhealthy), it is definitely well worth it. Consulting a nutritionist and/or naturopath can be of great value when wanting to learn more about the foods we eat and to help revamp our current lifestyle.

Consider the benefits of eating well: improved health, more energy, proper digestion, clearer skin, better moods, more focus and clarity of thought … and the list goes on. Even just knowing that what we are putting into our bodies is “good” for us can make a world of difference in how we actually feel about ourselves. Self-care is a crucial factor in our overall sense of well being and in the creation of a happier, more fulfilling existence in mind, body and spirit.

However, out of those people who are willing to step up and take action in obtaining a healthier lifestyle, most are more apt to do the nutrition and fitness aspect because it is seemingly more tangible, yet they more often than not neglect to do the inner work that will help them cultivate a sense of inner peace and create and sustain authentic happiness throughout their daily lives. With the body generally being the focus, mind and spirit are too often forgotten. We can look fabulous and eat all the nutritious food we want, but if our internal dialog is tormenting us, then nothing will ever be good enough.

What will it take for us to start loving ourselves enough to realize that we are worth the investment of time, energy and money in order to truly be healthy in a complete and holistic way? Sadly, a lot of people would rather invest in the instant gratification of a daily $5 latte than invest in their actual emotional well being.

We choose to numb and distract ourselves from our internal reality rather than go inward and take inventory of our thoughts. How we think about ourselves determines how we behave and respond to the world around us and will consequently influence the quality of the life we lead. If we are “glass half empty” kind of people then undoubtedly the circumstances and people we attract into our lives will reflect that negative attitude. If we are “glass half full” kind of people then life becomes an absolutely wonderful place full of amazing people and opportunities.

Quite simply, a positive outlook attracts positive circumstance. And even in those moments when ‘not so great things’ happen, because they inevitably do, if we are happy within ourselves on a profound level then it makes those moments way easier to deal with.

Shifting our inner dialogue is crucial to our overall well being. It is truly the only way to attain any measure of sustained inner peace and happiness. It’s amazing how all other things seem to start magically falling into place when we begin to make the conscious effort to shift the energy that brews within our spirits. So how do we begin this journey to a healthier mind and spirit?

Well, there are many avenues to choose from. There are a plethora of self-help and personal development books on the market. One book I highly recommend to my coaching clients is The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. It’s a simple read that transformed my life quite profoundly. It truly helped shift how I saw myself, the world, and myself in the world.

Of course, self-help books aren’t everyone’s bag. Some people prefer a more hands-on, proactive approach to personal development. They might consider hiring a personal life coach to guide them along their journey towards a healthier, happier and more fulfilling life. Working with a coach can have enormous benefits in helping create and maintain the momentum for making positive and lasting changes in our lives. (If you are unfamiliar with the whole concept of life coaching you can read my article called “From Impulse to Opportunity: Navigating Life Changes" for a more comprehensive overview). However, there are times, depending on our life experiences, when we may feel that our internal struggle is way too much to handle due to past traumas and need a more specialized approach. At times like these, we may want to seek the help of a therapist or counsellor.

Whatever our circumstance, there are countless resources to tap into that will facilitate our personal growth, and overall health and well being – in mind, in body and in spirit. It is important to remember that one cannot exist without the other; they are all connected. It’s all about finding a holistic balance, and that is the true meaning of “being healthy”.

(article written by Kylen O. Lefave ~ originally posted on the site http://lifeasahuman.com/ on September 2, 2010)