I don’t know about you, but for me, life can sometimes feel completely overwhelming, right? One day you are smooth-sailing, and BAM, the next day brings bad news like you couldn’t have imagined!
With all of life’s stress and roller-coaster emotions, it’s important that we remember the building blocks for well-being. If you need some gentle reminders, like I do, that your health matters, inside and out, this collaborative post is for you!
Your Health Matters: The Wholeness-Health Approach
It’s very easy to forget about our innermost needs through hectic life schedules. We push through difficulty and life issues while ignoring our own needs until we are completely run down. Sound familiar at all? It’s no wonder then why we’re exhausted, anxious, and left feeling disconnected from life.
It has often been said that the source of true happiness is caring for ourselves, inside and out. For me personally, I find the most happiness when I am helping others. It is true though that we can’t give from an empty cup. Your health matters too!
Happiness is a fickle emotion – it ebbs and flows with our current life experiences. Yet there are some ways we can choose happiness by letting go of what we can’t control and picking up our power in areas where we’ve let others have the say.
The difference between joy and happiness is substantial. We often assume that the fleeting feeling of happiness, giddy laughter, and contentment in the comforts of life is akin to the joy we experience in Jesus. But joy supernaturally sustains our souls in seasons of heartache, injustice, and sorrow. Enduring the valleys of life is nearly impossible without the life-giving fuel of joy in Christ. There is a big difference between joy and happiness. Happiness is a reaction to something great. Joy is the product of someone great.
Joy vs. Happiness
Building Blocks for Physical Health
Did you know that roughly 70% of our immune system is in our gut? Strong links have even been discovered between poor gut health and mental health disorders the likes of depression and anxiety. Why? It is believed that 95% of our serotonin is produced in the gut.
Serotonin is the key hormone for producing that feeling of “happiness,” calmness, and well-being. So you see, when our guts are out of balance due to poor lifestyle choices, our whole health suffers. It’s why I’m a big believer in wholeness health – mind, body, and spirit. We were designed to be a whole person – one area of weakness affects all the others.
Now that we know just how important these critical “building blocks for health” are, how about we take a look at each one?
Get that blood pumping!
As a general rule for best health, aim for 30 minutes a day of moderate physical activity each day, says Mayo Clinic M.D., Edward R. Laskowski.
30 minutes a day! That’s all it will take to radically change your life. No matter what stage of life we’re in, we can all manage that one, don’t you think?
Whether you are a morning person, mid-day exerciser, or night-owl, do what works best for you! Just get that blood pumping in the way that brings you the most fun, fulfillment, and benefit. You don’t have to do it the way anyone else does it. Having fun with physical activity means you are much more likely to be consistent.
If you are able to, find a nice spot in nature to exercise. Research has found that taking your workout outdoors in a serene environment has mental health-boosting qualities and makes the exercise seem much less like exercise!
Get Plenty of Quality Sleep
I know, I know! For many of us, that’s much easier said than done. If that’s you, you’ll not want to miss an upcoming blog post where I’ll be discussing some of the main roadblocks to great sleep and some possible remedies for that. Stay tuned!
Most of us know, there are numerous scientific benefits associated with good quality sleep. Getting enough sleep equates to better health, more happiness, and improved decision-making skills.
We all know that zombie-like feeling of either poor quality sleep or a lack of it. We are more prone to anger, hormonal imbalance, depression, anxiety, obesity, and it puts us at an increased risk for making poor lifestyle choices as a “pick me up.”
Eat Right Because Your Health Matters
Did you know that the food you eat could sometimes be the source of your stress? It can also affect your body internally by providing an environment for parasites, inflammation, and poor gut permeability that inhibit your health in many ways.
Choosing foods that are high in antioxidants, along with cutting out refined, sugar-laden, processed, and junky foods make a HUGE impact from a small change. Especially during stressful times, protecting your health matters all the more.
When we put good wholesome food in our bodies, we get great results out of our health and well-being. #healthy #health #wellness
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If you regularly feel sick and can’t seem to point a finger to the problem, you might be interested in this course on kristenblakewellness.com. It’ll help you choose the right foods to detox your body and set in on a healthy path.
Your Health Matters Inside and Out
Taking care of yourself ‘inside’ is all about your emotions and mentality. It also means celebrating your small wins amid the many challenges we face. The past few months have not been easy for anyone. While some have taken the time to reflect on their lives, others have become frustrated and mentally tired.
However, all hope is never lost. There are things you can do to take care of your mental health for a more balanced, fulfilling life. Here are just a few of those gentle reminders we all need!
Connect Socially With Those You Love
Talking to trusted, supportive people is one of the best forms of release for a stressed mind. We were not created to be entirely on our own. Regardless of how stressful your day is, pick up the phone and connect with a loved one. Talk about the good things of life to keep you grounded. If you have a friend who is a person of faith, pray together. There’s power in agreement!
If you don’t have people in your life that you trust, reach out online. There are so many amazing communities of folks that are ready to listen and love on you, with like minds. You’re not alone!
Listen to an Inspirational Podcast
One of the best practices to stimulate the brain is to take a walk and listen to a podcast. Try not to listen to anything business-related. Choose motivational messages to raise your spirits and suppress stress. You might be surprised how many creative solutions come to mind when you least expect them!
Keep a Journal
Documenting your feelings can help your mind relax and process what you otherwise couldn’t. There are no ‘rules’ for journaling. Allow yourself to be raw, real, honest, and transparent. When we write our thoughts down in this way, we begin to see patterns that we missed. We can also look back months or years down the line and see how far we’ve come.
Consider a prayer journal. I love these because it allows us to recall the faithfulness of God when life gets tough. We can look back and read how He answered us before, gaining confidence that He will surely do it again!
Your Health Matters Conclusion
It’s essential that we sit with ourselves and identify the obstacles to our health and happiness. Don’t be afraid to investigate the wrong, limiting beliefs you harbor in your mind about yourself, and invest in listening to messages that help you correct those toxic ways of thinking and living.
When we prioritize our health – physically, mentally, and spiritually – we become a whole person. We learn so much about ourselves and gain the understanding we need to move past our past, marching forward to better, brighter days.
I’m turning it over to you! What are the main challenges you face in your health and well-being? I’d love to have an open conversation in the comments below so that everyone knows they’re not alone!
As always, if you enjoyed this post, please share it with your social media family. I appreciate you so much! Know that you are loved!
Sincerely,
Yet another wonderful post Holly . It is so true that we need to take care of ourselves and absolutely right we can’t pour from an empty cup . It is amazing to know that 70% of our immunity is in the gut , so important to take care of our health and exercise . Yes totally agree along with physical ,mental health is important as well like you mention about connecting with like minded folks along with sleep and nutrition. I definitely need to work on some of these myself especially with holidays coming up and have a moderation on eating exercising etc. Great reminders!
Your kind words mean so much to me, Nisha. You always know how to touch my heart. Thank you!
Isn’t 70% an incredible number? No wonder our diets have such a profound effect on how we feel, right? Especially with serotonin being so critical to our overall sense of well-being.
Oh, I hear you, my friend — we can always find ways to improve. Heaven knows I can in my own life. It’s important that we remember to treat ourselves kindly too. Even though we can always find ways to improve ourselves, it doesn’t mean that we aren’t doing “enough.” As you said, finding that moderation is the key to our ‘sweet spot!’ 🙂 I do pray that your upcoming holidays will be the most special, loving, joyous occasions you’ve ever had with your loved ones! These crazy times have caused us to appreciate the ones we care for so much more, haven’t they?
As always, I am sending my love to you. Grateful to hear from you and for your friendship. 🙏🏼
What a wonderful post Holly! I’m so sorry to hear October and early November were so overwhelming for your family. You give some fabulous tips for taking care of ourselves. As you said, health isn’t just about the outer body. Sharing this on FB, Twitter, and Pinterest. Sending lots of love and hugs your way sweet friend.
Aw, Terri! I am so grateful to hear from you. Thank you for another amazingly kind, heartfelt comment. So sorry that I’ve been behind on reading and commenting. Praying these days upcoming will be dramatically different than October and early November so I can begin to interact with you and others I appreciate so much. It has truly been an overwhelming time of bad news, trauma, and loss. How are you? I pray that you and your family are well.
Words can’t express how thankful I am to you for sharing this post. Your support has brightened many a day for me, thank you, Terri! You’re such a special friend and I’m grateful to and for you. Many hugs and heartfelt love headed your way too!
Very informative post. Isn’t it amazing how simple these things are? Yet we still struggle sometimes to give our bodies what we need.
Hi Markus and Micah! How are you doing? As always, I smile when I hear from you. It truly is amazing how simple the right choices can be! You’re right though, sometimes, it feels anything but simple! We human beings have a funny way of overcomplicating almost anything, don’t we? 😉 Sending my love to you in hopes that you are both happy, safe, well, and blessed!
Thanks for sharing this tips, ma’am. I affirm them as we need a whole being to function right and go all out in being productive the God way.
Sorry to know about the past months too. Sending you a big hug. And I pray that you will find rest in Him, always. 🤗❤
Do stay safe and be good in Him.
Amen, sister! I agree wholeheartedly with you — the way God designed us is so inner-connected. It’s one of the ways He so tenderly shows us His love, isn’t it?
Your hugs and love are so deeply appreciated, my friend. It has genuinely been a dark time, but praise God, HE is always enough to sustain us through it all! How are you and your loved ones?
I enjoyed this post, Holly! I had never heard that, the link between gut health and seratonin. I do take a high-quality probiotic and avoid most sugary, processed foods, but just didn’t know that. I am thinking about the sugar/processed foods part for my daughter, as she has lost over ten pounds in the last few months because of some health difficulties. I had been dismissive in my mind of trying to limit her intake of junk foods (not that we stock up on these, but you know they are always everywhere it seems!), thinking she could use the extra calories. But this makes me think this is not the best approach. Any thoughts on how to help her regain some of her weight in a more healthy way?
Aw, Jennifer!! I smiled when I saw your name. It is so very good to hear from you! Isn’t it incredible how much of our natural anti-depressant is formulated in our guts? I wonder if it was God’s way of encouraging us to have healthy, clean diets so that our minds stayed healthy too? 🙂
I am so sorry to hear that your precious daughter has been struggling with her health lately! I would definitely advise against using the more processed/junky foods for weight gain, only because these are ’empty’ calories that don’t help heal the existing issue. In fact, for situations like Candida overgrowth, it could cause the issue to get far worse.
Do you mind if I ask what her symptoms are so that I could better advise you? For now, if you are able to get them, I’d recommend higher calorie foods that are also very healing: avocado, coconut oil, nuts (or nut milks), peanut butter, eggs, and lean cuts of meat. Each of these has powerful nutrients but without the added harm of artificial stuff.
Sending my love to you and your family. I sure have missed you, sweet sister. ♥ I’ll look forward to hearing more from you!
Thank you so much for these thoughts!
She was diagnosed with cysts in her ovaries. This has been causing extrmely painful periods, and the pain makes her nauseous. So on those days, she has often thrown up anything she tries to eat or drink. Also her overall appetite has been less.
I sure do appreciate your insights! Sending you much love too, and a hug!
Oh, Jennifer! My heart goes out to your daughter because this is a very familiar pain to me. Before I was even 16, they had diagnosed me with a form of cervical cancer. There were also significant issues with my ovaries, including PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome). Does she have this as well or just the presence of cysts on her ovaries?
First and foremost, I plead the precious blood of Jesus over your daughter and ask Abba for TOTAL healing of her body from head to toe in Jesus’ name. These cysts and any other condition is no match for our Lord. Amen! I pray that the Lord would comfort her, reassure her of His overwhelming tangible presence in her life, and take her pain.
A couple of natural things are good for nausea. Ginger is one and peppermint is another. My favorite way to get these are through essential oils but I’m not sure if you have access to those there? Bless her heart. I know exactly what she’s feeling and it is pure misery. It’s hard to have an appetite when your abdomen feels like it’s already full and it’s sore (to say the least). Applying a heating pad or heated beads on her tummy will help soothe some of the discomforts too.
Concerning diet, look into a hormone-balancing diet. Some foods trigger or worsen the growth of ovarian cysts because they create a hormonal imbalance. Some big offenders for me were sugar, dairy (especially cow’s milk), gluten, heavily saturated fats, and processed foods.
Spices like turmeric are phenomenal because it is anti-inflammatory. Anti-inflammatory foods help the body balance itself naturally. Also, add in as much fiber as she can tolerate because this carries out excess hormones from the gut and creates balance as well. Supplementing with pure milk thistle extract is something I highly highly recommend because it helps get rid of excess estrogen (estrogen dominance) which contributes to cysts. Green tea (unsweetened) has been very helpful for me as well and I think it would be for your daughter too. The foods I mentioned in my previous reply will definitely be helpful to her because good fats are needed for hormonal harmony as well.
I’m going to be praying on this, dear sister. Hopefully my reply wasn’t too long! If I think of anything else that might help ovarian cysts specifically, I’ll let you know. If you need me, please don’t hesitate to reach out! I’m here for you any time.
Endless love and many many warm hugs to you both. ♥
Wow, thank you so much for such a thoughtful and thorough reply, that means so much to me, dear sister! Most definitely not too long. The more information, the better. I’m copying and pasting your reply into a Word document to keep for reference. Receiving that prayer over her gratefully too! She has not been diagnosed with PCOS. We are scheduled to have another scan done of her ovaries in the next week to follow up on the one several months ago when they found the cysts, so grateful for ongoing prayers!
I have a collection of essential oils that I have imported to Peru from the U.S. I do have peppermint, and I’ll try to look look into getting some ginger. What do you do with the oils in this case? And any suggestions on how to incorporate turmeric?
I’ve sent you a message, dear friend. 😊
Very timely post Holly with everything that’s going on right now. I really do agree with you on what you said, “We were designed to be a whole person–one area of weakness affects all others.” I always look at health as the top of your head down to your toes, in and out. Personally it has taken me my whole life to get to where I am in living a joyful life. I just have no expectations on anyone or anything. I love yoga, and I try to flow with always being so grateful for my life. I wasn’t always this way and spent a lot of time stressed out and completely miserable. I was always getting sick too. You have to learn to be committed to improving your whole body. You have to be in charge because you know deep inside what is best for you. Don’t listen to others only to your beautiful Spirit. I think it’s simply: Believe in yourself and let yourself grow. Spread kindness wherever you can, and always be grateful. Simple ways of joy and good health.
Michele, your words of encouragement mean so much to me. Thank you! Your comments are refreshing and I appreciate that you take such care to read and reply with great thoughtfulness. I hope you know that I value your thoughts!
Yes — amen — top of your head down to your toes, in and out. That’s the perfect way to put it. I get where you’re coming from about taking an entire lifetime to live a truly joyful life. I was listening to a sermon Sunday night that touched me. It talked about how we often ask the wrong questions in life. If our question involves, “why do they, will they…(etc),” we are focusing on something we can’t control. The only thing in life we can control are our own actions, thoughts, and deeds. It’s powerful when you think about it, isn’t it?
As you say, gratitude causes the well within us to overflow. It can instantly change our perspective on our lot in life, even when we aren’t exactly where we’d like to be. You’re right – stress and that ‘poverty mentality’ can and does make us sick, in our bodies and minds. Misery is the perfect description. It permeates everything else in our lives too, doesn’t it?
“Believe in yourself and let yourself grow. Spread kindness wherever you can, and always be grateful. Simple ways of joy and good health.” — Absolutely love those words! We can never underestimate the power of gratitude, kindness, growth, faith, and joy.
Sending my love to you. Thank you for such beautiful words of encouragement. You always add such value to the conversation! 🦋
If 70% of our immune system is in our gut then I’m in trouble! I always wonder when things reference the ‘gut’, like bacteria and absorption of nutrients, whether it’s mostly the small bowel or if the large bowel plays a big role too. Given my lack of the latter, I’m hoping my little bowel can pick up the slack! 😂
I’m ashamed to say most of these are pretty poor for me at the moment. Sleep is bad because of the breathing issue and morning migraines and the inflammation causing problems, so I’ve come to hate going to bed. I’m not walking as much because of the virus, but I have got my parents out to a small bit of a field on our road on odd occasions because they need exercise too, especially my dad with high blood pressure. Never underestimate the power of just a little more movement. I need to try to get us into a more regular routine with doing it, it just terrifies me having them leave the house.
I’ve actually been drafting up a post on anti-inflammatory & anti-oxidant foods and it’s really interesting to see the colourful range of things that have so much goodness. That Kristen Blake course sounds interesting too. Sometimes we need a little support and motivation for our diets and looking after our health. You always do a fantastic job of inspiring us to look after ourselves! I hope you can read all of this back and apply it to yourself when you need it, Holly ♥ xx
🤣 Once again, the sense of humor I love from you is on full display in this comment! In all sincerity, thank you Caz, for always leaving me the most amazing replies.
You know, you pose a great question about the gut! I’ve always kind of been under the impression that most of our immune system activity goes on inside the small bowel, while the large intestine finishes up ‘the job’ and carries away waste? I’d love to do more research on that!
I am so sorry for all of the health difficulties you’ve been facing. Not being able to sleep properly all on its own creates problems in every other aspect of our health. (hug) Are there any changes you could make to your bedding to make it more comfortable and appealing for you? Maybe try more cushioned sheets, mattress cover, extra pillows, etc? You’ve probably tried nearly everything but it breaks my heart to not be able to help you!
You are 100% right about movement. Even small amounts help, especially when we’ve been cooped up! I do hope you and your folks can get out regularly for those walks. It’s such a healing balm for the soul – getting out from behind the four walls and just ‘disconnecting’ from the demands of life for a bit. 🤗
Oooh, I look forward to your post about anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant foods! You always have such awesome tips and, as always, your writing is second to none. I keep telling you this and it’s always true! 😀
Sending you my love, dear friend. Thank you for being you!
What a great post! I always love the information you share because it’s so honest and helpful.
On the nicer days we’ve been having lately I’ve been going to the park and walking 2 miles. When I get home I have more energy and get so much done!
I need to take your advice and start eating better. My meals are pretty healthy, but sometimes those snack cakes are just too tempting! 🙂
Aww, thank you so much, Michelle! You’re so sweet to say such a thing!
Yes! Isn’t it incredible how much more energy we have after we’ve exercised? It seems so counterintuitive but it really is true. It’s not always easy to etch the time out for exercise, but the benefits always make it worth the effort.
I’m betting you’re doing just fine! Every now and again we’ve got to indulge just a little, don’t you think? 😉 Life would be entirely too boring without any enjoyment. Which snack cakes are your favorite?
As always, I appreciate you, your comments, support, and friendship. Thanks, Michelle!
My husband says that you can’t enjoy eating healthy if you can’t treat yourself. 🙂 My favorite snack cakes are those little cinnamon rolls – I think they’re called Spinwheels. I could eat them all! Although I could eat any cinnamon roll no matter where it comes from. 😀
I must agree with your husband on this one. 🙂 So much of what we hear is entirely too restrictive. Ooooh yum, cinnamon is awesome! I agree with you. Those snacks are yummy. Good choice! 😀
Hi Holly! I finally loaded WordPress for this account onto the phone. What a joy for being able to see your blog posts from here and have them come into my feed on Reader now.
I am terrible with sleep lately. My mind is going a million miles an hour trying to figure out many things and think of plans. I also have been working too much and not resting enough. I truly need to take better care of myself. Thank you for this reminder. I needed it. In fact, this morning Darren Hardy shared a note about how many people will sacrifice for everyone around them yet won’t take moments for themselves. We need to put our oxygen masks on first! It’s so sad we do this to ourselves.
Thanks for always posting such great information and thoughts.
Aw, Shell! You are so incredibly kind to me. To think that my posts would make a difference means more than I can say, especially coming from you. Thank you so much! 🤗
I am so sorry to hear that your sleep has been poor lately. Have you found it affecting how you feel too? I find that the spiral of overactive mind + lack of sleep (or poor quality sleep) = a much more overactive, less focused, and overwhelmed brain. Some people perform okay with a lack of sleep. I am not one of those people! 🤣
Have you tried writing down all of the thoughts you have before you hope to go to sleep? Maybe getting out that journal – writing down the plans, hopes, dreams, possible connections, and desired outcomes would help you “put it to rest” so YOU can get some rest? Some folks call it a “brain dump.” Maybe it would help you too?
I love what Darren Hardy said and agree wholeheartedly. We can become so others focused that we forget to take care of ourselves. It reminds me of the story in the Bible of Mary & Martha. I think of that one often when I get too focused on work. Jesus told Martha that she was worried about so much and it wasn’t doing her any good. Mary simply sat at the feet of Jesus, let Him minister to her and her needs, reminding her of what mattered in life. I feel like Jesus beckons us to do the same thing today. We can become so focused that we lose our focus. Does that make sense? 🙂
I definitely want you to take care of you because you matter. You do SO much for others. Never forget that you need to be poured into as well. As always, I am sending my love, heartfelt prayers, and hugs your way. I’m always here if you need me!
Sis, you KNOW my journal is like an artists’ sketchbook but with words! Haha I definitely am journaling and have been working with Bethany (who is my coach) on how I can work with my mind and body to get into a better routine while leveraging my natural energy cycles.
I definitely am not any longer someone who can work on little sleep. Too old now! I have to rework my schedule and ensure I’m taking care of me so I can take care of others. Otherwise, this burnout will get worse!
😉 I do love your journaling style and how you reflect on it months and years later. To me, that’s one of the most important things we can do because it changes our perspective entirely. I have no doubt too that you and Bethany will come up with the most brilliant plan of action. I love what you said about your natural energy cycles. In my humble opinion, that’s one of the biggest keys to success often overlooked. No two people are alike in this way!
You are far from old, but believe you me, I hear you, sis! Hormones are sensitive to a deficit in sleep too, which as you know, throws off everything else. I do pray you remember how important you are and that you honor yourself by taking care of your well-being, from every aspect. That compassion fatigue, burnt out feeling, can feel overwhelming. You matter, Shell! Your heart is too kind to not extend that same kindness to yourself. 💕
Thank you Holly! Starting this weekend with Operation Restore Shell! <3 I love you lady. Iron sharpens iron and I’m so blessed to have you in my corner!
I feel the very same about you. You’re exactly right – iron sharpens iron. We need one another! I love you too, Shell! Praying for you!
❤️
Great tips about mental and overall health. Highly appreciable!
Hi, Gladys! Thank you for your feedback. I’m glad you enjoyed! Hope your weekend is blessed!
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