In our pursuit of optimal health, wellness, and fitness, it’s important understand health is much more than just absence of illness. True health encompasses a holistic approach that considers not only the Body, but also the Mind and Spirit. These three elements and their interconnections cover our health on all levels and going deeper in each provides enhanced wellness. I view us as Spiritual beings in a physical Body, and the Mind connects the other to together.
Here’s how I define SPIRIT in Balancing the Triad – Body, Mind, & Spirit.
Personal Spirituality – your connection to yourself, knowing who you are, what your values and morals are, what you stand for, and what you stand against. This includes learning about and accepting your dark shadow self (there is a light side too), this is the part of us that has guilt, shame, fears, and weakness, and most of us want to ignore it, but it’s still part of us. Connecting to your Personal Spiritualty usually comes from spending alone time with your thoughts and if you have a hard time doing that, then that’s a major sign there’s some work to do.
Communal Spirituality – is the connection to the people around you. Having a strong support system around you is a mark of a healthy life and it’s important to have those people around you when you may have to deal with major health issues. This also includes community (in person and virtual) which might be joining an exercise group, volunteering, joining a religious community, being generally being receptive and open to new relationships. Those relationships could be romantic, friend, or professional.
Environmental Spirituality – is your connections to your general environment, which could be your home, workplace, social environment, or a personal religious/spiritual locations. It’s also your connections to Nature spending time outside or at least bringing the outside in. It’s getting out of the concrete boxes and garnering the many benefits of being outside. This is also about your connection to something beyond yourself, whether that is the Universe, Nature, or God, whatever you chose, having that belief is important to your overall well-being.
To achieve optimal health, it’s vital to work on your Body, Mind, & Spirit, as well as their interconnections. A holistic approach to well-being acknowledges that health is a complex interplay of physical, mental, and spiritual factors. When these elements are worked in harmony, we experience a greater sense of vitality, happiness, and fulfillment. By nurturing these different elements through holistic practices, we can embark on a journey toward a healthier and more meaningful life.