Guess what? There is no magic pill. Money doesn’t buy you happiness, fame is not as glamorous as it seems, and if all the ladies and men in the world wanted to sleep with you, you STILL wouldn’t be satisfied in your soul. All of these things are great for short term gratification and sensual pleasure, but in order to live a life of authentic contentment, you have to decide how live in a way that is healthy for your body, mind and spirit.
Making the commitment to take care of yourself not only by taking the road of spiritual and emotional integrity, but through healthy living habits is essential to the gift of longevity. There is so much unhealthiness that seems so easy to indulge in that it takes a deepened strength and resolve to commit to living in a way that is not popularized or easily accessible. Living a holistic lifestyle only benefits your body, mind and spirit if you are able to commit to the plan and hold yourself accountable. The words “commit” and “accountable” are heavy and yet the application of them to your life will lead to ease and lightness. It is time to reset, revisit and reinvent simple and achievable ways to begin the practice of holistic living as a pathway to complete transformation.
Body: Staying on the path of creating a healthy body is a tough yet exciting journey. Eating a healthy, balanced, organic and GMO free diet with exercise and plenty of pure water is the only way that you can ensure that you are can ward off illness. Begin with looking at your diet. Don’t just look at what you are eating, but WHY you are eating. Many Americans stress eat which can turn into a vicious cycle of over-eating. Make the promise to yourself that when you feel yourself getting stressed out, instead of grabbing an unhealthy snack, take six long slow breaths.
Movement is the key to emotional wellness. The more you move the happier you will be. Log off Facebook, Twitter, and give youtube a break. Walking, dancing, yoga, tai chi, and qi gong are great ways to gently incorporate a life of movement. Studies have shown that regular exercise for thirty minutes a day works more effectively than anti-depressants for those suffering from mild to moderate depression.
Mind: Making the choice to work on creating a healthy mental garden, and controlling what is planted and what grows in it could be the single-most important and best decision of your life. Letting your mind run wild with judgments, angry thoughts and projections into the future is a recipe for disaster. Most of the mental anguish we face is because we are living in the cycle of probability and negativity. Begin to practice meditation, make a commitment to practice at least 5 minutes a day. As you become stronger in your practice, add more time. The deterrent that many face while meditating is that their mind just will not turn off. The antidote to this common issue is detachment. Observe your mind running wild and calm it with the breath. When you have decided that you are going to stay the course of meditation for your mental well-being, you will notice that without it, you will feel as if you are missing an intrinsic part of yourself. While it may not be easy to stay on the path, the path is there to guide and teach you. All things that are worth anything are difficult.
Spirit: No matter what, believe in something. You can even believe that there is no god but have such a judicious and loving heart that wishes to serve. God has nothing to do with spiritual commitment and religion can oftentimes add to the confusion of commitment because if you mess up, you will be punished. First, make the promise to yourself that you will not judge your spirit for the mistakes of your past, present and future. The spiritual road less traveled is one that you traverse individually. As Sting says in his song All This Time, “men go crazy in congregations; they only get better one by one.” Be unafraid of your doubt. Embrace your individuality, and make a mark for the sake of the mark itself.
Commitment to any path needs a sound plan and self-reflection before embarkation. Just as you have made the commitment to be a spirit in a human experience, it ain’t over till it’s over. Celebrate each and every day with sacred promises.
