Healthy Living – The Components of Well Being

Good health — everyone wants it, everyone strives for it. Who does not want to be fully aligned with the flow of well being?

As a Holistic Practitioner I have done much investigation, reading and soul searching about what comprises good health.  Some people seem to just radiate with it and shine with the glow of positive health. Others are challenged with a myriad of issues and seem stuck in the flow of discord and dis-ease.

When I speak about that topic of overall well-being, I often use the analogy of that old-fashioned pie chart graph, with different slivers/segments relating to different aspects of good health.

So what makes up this chart?  What practices and aspects affect the way we feel here in the physical plane?  I always ask this of my Level I Reiki students to get their take on this and to invite some real thinking, exploring and discussion on this topic.

Many people’s first thought is genetics. They subscribe to the theory that a person’s genes determine his/her health. Though science does espouse this, I believe it is not completely the case. Yet, we can place a piece of the pie under the heading of Genetics, perhaps a very small piece though.

For today there is the science of epigenetics — which encourages us to think about all the other factors that influence our genes. Epigenetics involves genetic control by factors other than an individual’s DNA sequence. Epigenetic changes can switch genes on or off. This recognizes that though sickness genes may be present, there are many external factors which determine whether or not that particular gene gets turned on or off. So, for instance, if you may have a “genetic predisposition” for cancer, it does not mean you are doomed to get it. There are other factors that come into play….  such as all aspects that we are touching upon here!

Which brings us to other pieces of the pie…

Diet and nutrition of course are a segment of this metaphorical pie. I’m sure most would agree that these play a significant role in ones well being.  But how much — 20%, 50%, 90% ????  Nobody knows for sure, except that modern medicine tends to overlook the importance of how we fuel our bodies. (Most doctors seem to be more into the handing out of pills to treat anything and everything.)

Yet today there is so much research pointing in the direction of “you are what you eat.”  A steady diet of junk food, fried food, etc. is certainly not healthy and I am positive most people would agree with that thought. However, ask people and health professionals about what constitutes a healthy diet and you will hear a multitude of different ideas. And what is healthy for one person may not be as good for the next.

So it is up to you to do some research and find the absolute best nutritional program for yourself and that includes foods, beverages and healthy supplements. Ah, definitely food for thought…. (And that also means being knowledgeable about organic foods, non-GMO foods, superfoods , etc. but we could write an entire book about that!)

Now, what about another aspect of our model of good health — that of exercise? Regular exercise and keeping in shape through physical movement are absolutely something most doctors would actually agree on — and most individuals as well.

So why are so many people sedentary and unmotivated to bring movement into their lives? Yes, many people have jobs of sitting in front of a computer screen all day long. And for those people it is even more essential to make time for movement and exercise.  For others, perhaps it is just time management and prioritizing and becoming motivated.

In fact, we should all be motivated to make time for physical activity on a regular basis. As people are living longer, I am firmly convinced that exercise is the key to staying mobile and functional, because it helps your body, your brain and your emotions!

Another piece of the pie chart would be SLEEP. A sound and good night’s sleep is essential for well being. Yet sleep disturbances are so common. Why are we as a society are we so plagued by insomnia? But alas, there could be another book written solely on this — and there are volumes out there! The bottom line is to make sure that you engage in a peaceful, rejuvenating night’s sleep as much as possible.

So back to our pie chart. How about the environment — the area surrounding us, both in close proximity and a little more expanded?  Toxic household chemicals and chemicals used on our grass, our home exteriors, for weed control, pest control? There are bacteria and possibly chemicals in our water supply as well.  These things most likely have a direct bearing on our health…

And this is one slice of the pie for which we may have minimal control.  If we find out that we are actually living nearby to a newly discovered toxic waste dump, maybe we can move, though that can be difficult too. And what about other, more subtle environmental issues, such as being in the flight path of a nearby airport (and I am not just referring to noise pollution) — or chemicals being sprayed to kill bugs and mosquitos in our areas?  And what about air pollution in general?

Then there is the aspect of chemicals in the home. Some of the soaps, sprays, cleaning solutions we use are filled with potent. and not-so-healthy, chemicals.) Some of the makeup, skin care products, etc also have the potential to harm us. It is important to use as many natural, organic, milder products — and so it is essential to read, pay attention to labels, do some research on what is healthier… and to shift over to these better and less damaging versions of those necessary types of products we use on a daily or regular basis.

For ALL chemicals in proximity to us have the potential to affect us.

And what about “toxic” people in our immediate environment. Those difficult, negative personalities that may surround us are not healthy for us either…

Which brings us to a related aspect, one other supremely significant factor — our thoughts and emotions, which we now know have a direct bearing on our well being!  Being in the flow of uplifting, positive thinking can have real impact on your physical body.

Feeling good and joyful in our heads and hearts leads us to feel good in our bodies.  And the opposite is true as well. The more one is in the mode of anger, sadness, worry — how will that person’s body react? Especially if ones emotions and thoughts are in a stressed out, frustrated angry place for a prolonged period of time.

There are so many scientific studies which show how stress can directly affect the body in a negative way and bring on all kinds of symptoms of illness.  That is why I often write about all different aspects of well-being in terms of attitude and positivity — because I believe that it is ultra-significant in maintaining ones overall health.

And what about holistic, spiritual, calming practices such as Reiki and meditation?  I know that they also make up a piece of our healthy pie. All practices that help keep us serene and tuned in to our “core essence” have the potential to keep us aligned with that radiant flow of well being.

Additionally, it comes down to which aspects of our pie chart we can control and which we can’t.  So it is essential to take charge of what we can. Personally, I believe that most of our pie chart is under our direction creation, management and supervision!

So have I covered most everything?  Is there anything you would like to add to this pie chart?  And what do you feel is the most important aspect that contributes to well-being?  How has this affected your own life?

I would love to hear your thoughts. So please post a comment or email me directly.

Affirmations:

• I create my reality utilizing positive practices to keep me aligned with the flow of well being.
• I envision myself as completely healthy and working at my full and vibrant potential!
• I take all steps to keep my mind, body and spirit  joyful, peaceful and in harmony with my highest and best vision of myself.