We all have our own perceptions of health, whether it’s a good body, clear skin or being happy. What we don’t see is that being healthy is not just one thing. Your well-being is multi-faceted, it has several dimensions.
I’ve realised lately that being healthy is complicated.
What we see on social media blinds us. No, it’s not going to the gym regularly or doing yoga. I understand now that to be ‘healthy’ you need to focus on three factors; mind, body and soul.
Thinking about it one would agree, but there’s so much more to it than three words.
Let’s go through this step by step.
Mind: what does it mean?
Remember that your mind is what you perceive. It’s not merely one part to fix and then you’re done, your mind is complex.
Lately I have come to the point where I won’t bother myself with people that don’t care about me. We see so much toxicity on social media, we also hang out with people that have negative energy and this will take a toll on you.
Before I move to London I am going to make time to unfollow people I dislike and remove the toxicity from my life. But I know some will say that they feel bad or they don’t want to be rude, because same, but they’re causing more harm than good and that’s not worth it.
It’s also important to practice gratitude and less judgement on others. We live in a society that has taught us to judge everyone and it needs to stop. It’s difficult to stop doing something that has been ingrained in us since we were young but it’s a process and it will take time. Our opinion of someone isn’t actually any of our business. While yes, thoughts will creep into our minds, as long as we don’t actually say it to someone else then that’s an improvement. Remember that we can’t take back what we say, so rather not say anything at all.
I know this is a lengthy process and nothing is going to be fixed within a day, but it’s the drive that counts. Holding yourself accountable and understanding and learning your behaviour to fix it is a really big step. I know I have to work on this and I’m sure you do too.
Body: what does it mean?
I know when we think of our body, we think exercise, going to gym. And yes, that is part of it, but your body is so much more than working out.
Your body is a vessel, it has carried you for many years and has healed you and taken you to beautiful places. We often forget how precious our bodies are.
Looking after your body is vital.
Now I’ve been wanting to get some abs and it isn’t going too well tbh. I’ll be doing core exercise but I don’t see much of a change and that is where food comes into play. Never forget that getting fit is mainly diet and a small amount for exercise. Your body needs fuel.
I’m not going to say cut out all the shit you eat and only eat spinach for three months because I’ll be a hypocrite! I just had a chocolate croissant this morning and it was delicious. One thing I can say though, is everything in moderation. It’s important to eat well and fuel your body with good whole foods. But if you really feel like chicken nuggets, have some!
I’ve started to eat a lot better lately, I’ve been eating more vegetables than I’ve ever had and I’m proud of myself! I think eating foods that are good for you make you feel good. I had a burger a while ago as a cheat meal and I really didn’t feel to great afterwards. It didn’t feel like it was good for me, and it wasn’t!
Small adjustments slowly slowly is great! Introducing more vegetables and snacking more on fruit instead of sweets is an improvement. This isn’t about losing weight, this is about giving your body the nutrients it needs.
Exercise is a massive factor too! I’ve really enjoyed working out lately, I’ve been doing kick-boxing and I haven’t felt so strong in a while.
I don’t want to be skinny and thin, I want to be strong and fit. These are two different things. Don’t exercise with the wrong motivation, it will do more harm than good. Exercise with the reminder that you are making your body stronger so you can go further than you’ve ever been before and that you feel strong and capable everyday!
If I don’t exercise for a few days, I start craving a workout, I don’t like feeling drained and a workout gets you nice and pumped.
I understand gym isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but then do an active sport, or have a workout buddy. Doing boxing has been amazing as I feel like I’m doing more than what I’ll normally do at home. Starting football, netball, volleyball or boxing will be a great way to start getting into shape and you can incorporate gym for more targetted workouts.
I prefer feeling strong than feeling skinny. I see myself flexing my arms in my bathroom mirror more now and I’m loving it! You need to admire and appreciate where you are now and continue to do so on your journey.
Soul: what does it mean?
When you think about your soul, do you think about magic? I do sometimes. ‘Soul’ is such a spiritual word and I feel like the word would fit perfectly in Harry Potter or Karate Kid lol.
Your soul is who you are, your centre, your aura and energy. You must look after your soul.
Looking after your mental health is part of mind and soul, in my opinion. My anxiety will interfere with my day to day life and it’s frustrating. I know I need to find more methods to cope with it.
Incorporating meditation into your daily routine would be a start. I’m on the lookout for a good daily meditation so I can start including it in my morning routine. You can’t master meditating in a day, it’s a process and it takes time to find a method that suits you and helps you where you need help most.
I am quite a spiritual person, I’m a Pisces so obvs I am (lol). I know some people don’t believe horoscopes but I think it’s a big part of your soul. Becoming more spiritual will allow better connection with your soul.
Doing tarot card readings is one of my favourite ways to start my day or week. It bring me clarity and I feel more confident and calm. I think doing your cards will help you understand yourself and who you are.
I would also start reading up on energies and auras. Sometimes you don’t like a person for no specific reason and for me, it’s because I didn’t like their energy! And that’s okay.
This is where surrounding yourself with people with good energy is key. Being around friends where, when you leave, you have the biggest smile on your face! It’s so important because those who you surround yourself with impact who you are. If you hang out with rude and obnoxious people, you will become like them. Move on to people who make your heart sing.
Taking time for yourself is one of the best things you can do for yourself. Self care. There’s nothing wrong with spending time on your own, you may discover things you never knew about yourself.
Self care isn’t just facemasks and spa days, it’s much more than that. I do think pampering yourself is important and it does help a lot but it is far more complex. By reading and exploring and experiencing new things you are doing self care. By going out by yourself to the beach or for coffee and just jamming to your favourite songs, you are doing self care.
This is where all three come together. By looking after your mind, body and soul, you will achieve what you most desire, you will become the person you are meant to be. As long as you want to discover who you are, you will.
Thank you beauties, see you next week.
