Hey Well + Whole family! So I did a podcast episode on this topic too so if you’re interested in hearing this taught then take a listen to episode 43.

Let me frame this conversation with the notice that 5 is not a magical number. There are many steps/decisions/actions that we can take to live a whole life but I settled on 5 that matter most to me and consequently cover all of are areas of wellness (mind, body, soul, spirit, social, intellectual…)

I also wanted to broach this topic in “5” because so many people are trying to figure out how to have a better life. It’s not always as difficult as some seasons of life will make it seem; sometimes we need a nudge, a reminder or…a revelation.

Since I’ve been in this field of health and wellness (13 yrs so far) I have come to believe that our health is our life’s currency. I don’t care how much money, success, influence or ambition you have; if your health is compromised then it will affect you from the inside out. Sure you can mask it with things, behaviors and personality complexes but it will never negate the truth; your health is your true currency. So the question we must ask ourselves is, “how much currency do I want/need?” I want to live a good quality life and yes prayerfully a life of great quantity too. If we’re going to get to the quantity the quality is a pre-requisite. If you are currently battling an illness HANG IN THERE and don’t give up on the declaration that your life must serve you a better quality of it. Ready to do the work? Let’s consider these 5 decisions.

1. Adopting a Few Daily Habits That Are Non-Negotiables– You must decide what they are for you; they don’t have to be large undertakings but they MUST be decisions that matter to your whole-being:
   • Prayer
   • Laughter
   • Drinking Water
   • Being Mobile (whatever that looks like for you)
   • Connecting with Others
   • Reading something to keep the brain stimulated
   • Refusing to entertain gossip/foolery
2. Checking in with your Body and Keeping Tabs/Notes- I encourage you to have conversation with your body because your body is definitely speaking to YOU. How so? In various ways:
   • Your bowels (regular/irregular/always constipated…)
   • Headaches (their frequency and where the pain is located in the head)
   • Clarity (sharpness or dullness of mind/thinking/total recall)
   • Sleep (insomnia, sleep routines, shifts of life that affect sleep…)
   • Joints (pain? stiffness? disease? How’s the range of motion)
   • Mood (are you able to track what changes your mood?)
   • Blood flow (cardiovascular health, menstrual health…)
   • Men’s health issues (are you staying on top of what needs a convo with Dr? Supplementation?)
   • Women’s health issues (are you paying attention to pain? Pain is a message not a norm)
3. Lifestyle Eating- My definition of lifestyle eating is, good eating and drinking that gives the body energy and fuel). Food is supposed to be converted into energy (that’s what a calorie is; a unit of energy). I believe in whole food eating; good quality proteins, vegetables (all the colors and pigments that are high in nutrients), citrus fruits, complex carbs. I say have a starch carb every now and again IF your body can digest it properly. Water is the first important beverage because it heals so much in the gut, brain, kidney, liver and colon. Reduce your sugars and processed foods. There is nothing inherently wronged with canned goods (I know you hear a lot of teachings). Know your body and make your adjustments accordingly. (The podcast goes into even more detail). Lastly, be WILLING to give your body space to adjust what you eat for the season you’re in. (This is why I don’t like eating labels). You never know what your body will need from you in various seasons of life.
4. Social Life- Regardless of preference and personality we were made for connection; human connection. You will have to decide what that looks like but it IS needed. Social connection doesn’t require a crowd of people but you need connection with someone. Digitization has many fooled in thinking that the screen is enough. It is not. We need conversational growth, conflict resolution, social growth…) Loneliness is a strong impactful foe; we were NOT created to be alone. The person that isolates is a person that has established aloneness as a coping mechanism. If this is you I lovingly challenge you to try making a small step in letting someone in. It may even begin with a pet. We thrive on needed brain chemicals known as oxytocin (power of touch), serotonin, dopamine and endorphins.
5. Spiritual Mental and Emotional Being- THIS ONE IS PARAMOUNT. Everything about you hinges on this. HOW you do, WHAT you do, Your belief, convictions etc… You are not whole unless the INSIDE of you is centered, anchored, settled and whole. How is trauma affecting your mind/ your body/ your trust? How is bitterness keeping you from thriving/laughing/living? Remember, forgiveness is not for the person who offended/harmed you; forgiveness is for YOU to live a free life that you dream of. What toxicity is holding you back? I ask that you pray this prayer, “God, reveal to me what is making me toxic from the inside”. If you ask, then you will hear. It may be in that moment, after a few days, in your sleep via dream, or through someone else. Be open. Let your heart be SET/FIXED on being healed and made whole. You may just reverse a dis-ease.

Be Well. Be Whole.