The ability to provide ourself with balanced, loving care and attention is a part of the innate intelligence shared by all, but few are completely in touch with. Modern living has not generally cultivated self-care; modern living has minimized and reduced the powerful option of caring for your mind, your body and spirit.
Holistic self-care (of mind, body and spirit) has been marginalized in our post-modern society because it is not as financially profitable or as easy to follow as conventional healthcare which tends to focus on managing symptoms or issues. Conventional healthcare practitioners may want to address the actual causes of the symptoms but often times they lack the tools (holistic health knowledge), the patient may be seeking a 'quick fix' or completely uninterested in taking an active role in their own health.
For the motivated individual even remotely interested in addressing the actual causes of their health symptoms and issues the powerful option of holistic self-care exists. The symptoms and issues themselves are actually signs that one's self-care needs adjusted.
Holistic self-care is built with a holistic-minded philosophy which applies strategies for one to use in choosing how to fulfill and obtain their basic functions. The basic functions (breathing, thinking, choosing, moving, eating, drinking,eliminating, sleeping, grooming and socializing) work together in fulfilling the electrical energy potential of the body, balancing the mind and ultimately determine the health and well-being of the person.
It is even becoming conventionally accepted that what one eats, how regularly one exercises and how one handles stress determines their health and whether individuals develop and overcome chronic diseases. Paying close attention to how one fulfills and performs their basic functions is emerging as more than a trend, it is becoming a part of the lifestyle of millions; but these millions of motivated individuals need some guidance with an underlying philosophy.
When the basic functions are neglected, overlooked or partially fulfilled with questionable quality in sources, the body, the mind or both will develop symptoms. Minor symptoms like a cold, a flu or skin issues are just signs to urgently improve the manners and sources used to fulfill and perform the basic functions. Holistic self-care applies a holistic-minded philosophy to one's life that leads to one consistently choosing high quality manners and sources in performing the basic functions; making it a powerful tool in preventing minor symptoms in the first place.
Chronic diseases and health issues along with a multitude of mental disorders (anxiety, depression) are actually major symptoms and generally develop due to more long term incompatibility between one's form of holistic self-care (or lack thereof) and the needs of their mind, body and spirit. The major symptoms themselves are expressions of dysfunction and disharmony within and between the mind, body and spirit of the individual.
The disharmony within the whole 'being' can be addressed by improving the manners and sources used to fulfill the basic functions, which have the ability to nourish and connect the mind, body and spirit. Holistic self-care can be a powerful tool for the motivated individual to improve the function and harmony within their mind, body and spirit. Instituting holistic self-care is the process of empowering one's self to address the actual causes of their symptoms or prevent future symptoms.
Holistic self-care is not a treatment to any specific disease or health issues; it is a lifestyle of giving one's whole self or 'being' (mind, body and spirit) balanced, loving care and attention. Modern society has confused balanced, loving care and attention with pleasing one's personality and ego. The top 4 selling products in the United States represent this: sugar, caffeine, alcohol and tobacco are powerful psychoactive stimulants regularly used to please one's personality and satisfy the ego.
We are all familiar with the manners in which people use these products (including sugar and caffeine) to 'handle' and cope with stress. However, the confusion occurs when someone seeks to provide themselves with some sort of 'fuel', 'energy' or reward with these products. There is no balanced, loving care provided by sugar, caffeine, alcohol or tobacco. These psychoactive products have become commonplace in modern living and are just one flawed way that people attempt to provide themselves with care and attention.
Imbalance is also a prominent issue of modern society. Everything one can do is classified as one of the basic functions; holistic self-care is a balanced approach at improving all of the manners and sources used to perform and fulfill the basic functions. The typical modern citizen pays close attention to a few of the basic functions (like thinking, grooming and socializing) and completely overlooks a few (eating, drinking) all the while lacking a mindful approach to any of the basic functions. Holistic self-care is an individualized process and plan to improve, and give balance how one uses the sources and manners to perform and fulfill the basic functions.
The forthcoming text I have authored, "True Health: Guide for Holistic Self-Care" guides the reader through the process of consistently providing one's whole 'being' with balanced, loving care and attention. Holistic self-care is not a one-size-fits-all approach to healthy living; it is a very individualized approach. The individualization occurs within basic parameters that have been shown to support the states of mind, body and spirit that promote 'optimal function' and harmony within and between the aspects of the 'being'.
Implementing holistic self-care begins with the first stage of empowerment: initiation. During the initiation stage the individual recognizes the necessity of taking an active role in their own healthcare. At this point the individual is in the process of gathering information and considering the practicality of holistic self-care. This person may feel the task of holistic self-care is daunting and questions whether or not health is completely within their control. That is natural, in modern society it is not common for individuals to hold themselves accountable for their health. Accountability for one's own health may or may not occur at this stage, but skepticism with positivity is necessary for progression to the next stage of empowerment: observation.
The observation stage of empowerment varies in length, and sadly many people never move beyond this stage. The hallmark of the observation stage is making the connections between the basic functions and 'holistic health status'. "True Health: Guide for Holistic Self-Care" provides the reader with the ability to quickly estimate their own 'holistic health status' to determine their individual starting point. Upon determining the 'holistic health status' many people become more aware of their entire being (mind, body and spirit) and the role the basic functions play in overall feeling on a daily basis.
Once this motivated individual firmly realizes that the choices he or she makes in fulfilling and performing the basic functions determines their 'holistic health status', they are ready to progress to the following stage of empowerment: prioritization. Willingness to invest time and effort into one's mind, body and spirit grows during this stage of implementing holistic self-care. The individual will feel some peace of mind and satisfaction in regularly preventing and relieving stress, performing holistic exercises, using more natural supplies for grooming and drinking a suitable amount of water while increasing the amount of whole foods in their nutrition.
The accountability occurring during this stage is exciting and challenging. One has now made the exciting connections between cause (basic functions) and effect ('holistic health status'), but the challenge of consistency remains. One important factor to be aware of and avoid during this stage is the justification for inconsistency in holistic self-care. When the individual does things like not performing the daily 'energy' building and balancing techniques or eating meals of processed low-quality foods and drinks they need to be honest with themselves. Refrain from 'irrational justification' which uses some form of reasoning to explain why they are not following their holistic self-care plan.
This person just needs to make a note of what their state of mind was that lead to the inconsistency. At a later time, and this stage will likely be lengthy, the individual will no longer have the desire to consistently go outside of their individualized holistic self-care plan; at this crucial point one is now ready to progress to the application stage of empowerment.
This stage of empowerment is highlighted by the ebb and flow of confidence within the mindset of the individual. The commitment to providing one's self with balanced, loving care and attention is growing to deeper levels, this person is gaining comfort in their holistic self-care plan. One is now employing more natural and holistic forms of healthcare, eating green foods, using a variety of holistic exercises and techniques; but with this enlightenment even setbacks and challenges may occur.
The unpredictability in life should be appreciated; these challenges, whether they are unexpected or within one's control make life interesting. Treasure these opportunities because they are invaluable opportunities to show resolve, build character and help one's self and others! The confidence built here is lasting and can lead directly into the ultimate stage of empowerment: inspiration.
The final stage of empowerment follows the significant maintenance of the application stage until one has complete confidence in themselves and the power of holistic self-care as a whole. At this stage of empowerment the individual has made considerable, clearly noticeable improvements in 'holistic health status', mindset and appearance. Family, friends and associates observe the positive changes, ask questions and have the ability to be inspired by a powerful example of holistic self-care.
The practicality and rationality of holistic self-care will be obvious to others; the individual here must make it a point not to try and force the principles or scientific realities onto people, this can create negativity and alienation. Instead, the individual must be humble and helpful at all times and especially when called upon by others. Simply being comfortable with and committed to the principles and practicality of holistic self-care is enough to inspire others to take control themselves and begin their own stages of empowerment.
I have written "True Health: Guide for Holistic Self-Care" during my own progress through the stages of empowerment. I have assembled this short text using first hand knowledge of the trials, tribulations and most importantly the character and resolve demanded and built during my own personal progression through the stages of empowerment. My personal rewards include peace of mind, spiritual contentment and mind/bodily health are only bested by the experiences of helping guide others through their own stages of empowerment.
"True Health: Guide for Holistic Self-Care" is being prepared for release in the upcoming future. Thank you for reading. I hope this article, this book as a whole can inspire people to empower themselves and once again pass on the inspiration.
If you have any questions or comments about this article or about how to provide balanced, loving care and attention to your whole 'being' please e-mail me at truehealthservices@gmail.com .
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