Balanced Living: Exploring the Path to Holistic Health and Well-being

Trees teach us the art of balanced living. Their roots keep them grounded and anchored, while their branches reach for the sky, embracing growth and expansion. Just like trees, finding equilibrium between staying rooted in our values and reaching for our aspirations allows us to thrive and flourish in harmony.

Nature, with all its diversity and complexity, bears a striking resemblance to life. Just like life, nature can be unpredictable, with its ever-changing weather patterns and natural disasters. Similarly, nature is resilient, always finding a way to adapt and thrive, despite any challenges it may face.

The cycle of life and death is also evident in nature, with new life sprouting from the soil and old growth falling away to make room for the new. Furthermore, nature reminds us of the importance of interconnectedness and community. Each plant and animal plays a crucial role in the ecosystem, relying on one another for survival, much like we rely on those around us in our own lives and, of course, on nature itself.

Nature is not just beautiful and awe-inspiring, reminding us of our own vulnerability and strength, it is also a powerful reminder of what we have come to lack - balance and harmony.

What does Holistic Health mean?

The term ‘Holistic Health’ is mentioned a lot in the field of well-being, but what does it really mean?

In short, holistic health is a an approach to achieving optimal well-being and recognises that the health and wellness of a person is not purely physical, but also psychological, emotional, social, and spiritual. Holistic health views the individual as a whole being, rather than just the sum of their parts.

Beyond this when we refer to ‘holistic living’ we are also referring to living a life which is balanced - all the ‘parts’ ebb and flow in rhythm allowing the individual to thrive.

When we take a holistic approach to our health we can finally realise our true potential and grow into who we want to be.

There is no finish line..

Here is the catch, there is no finish line. Living a balanced life takes continuous effort, assessment and adjustment. However, the benefits are profound and can have a positive effect on everything, and everyone, around you - like throwing a stone into a pool the ripples flow outwards.

Taking a holistic approach to health isn’t one-size fits all, but rather it needs to be personalised to each individual so that it considers their unique needs and goals. Holistic living also encourages each person to be proactive in their own health and well-being by taking responsibility for decisions that impact health, seeking out the best options, and actively pursuing a lifestyle which aligns with their values and desires.

When I think back on my life I don’t recall a time when I felt fully ‘balanced’. Of course there have been moments, times when life has felt effortless, weightless even, but these moments have been just that - ‘moments’. Surely it is possible to have more than just moments?

Over the last few years I have been learning, experimenting and working on achieving more balance. It feels odd to put so much effort into finding something that should come more naturally, after all we are a part of nature, evolved to live in balance with our environment. Why is it so hard?

Let’s take the analogy a bit further. If we plant a tree into an environment that it is not suited to, and if we fail to water it and provide it with adequate nutrition, if it doesn’t get the sunlight it needs, or gets too much, then it will struggle to grow and thrive. It may adapt to an extent, but all its effort goes into surviving, simply existing. If the environment and conditions don’t improve the stress becomes overwhelming and it will die.

We are at odds with our inherent nature.

We are not so different. We have created an environment and a culture which is at odds with our nature.

Our intelligence and capacity for learning has brought us incredible advances and advantages in the areas of technology, medicine, communication, art and food production.

However, at the same time, we have become over-stimulated, over-worked, over-pressured, over-consumed, constantly exposed to messages of threat and conflict and bombarded with messages about what your life should and shouldn’t look like. We are over fed but malnutritioned, we have gyms but spend ours days being sedentary and we have become driven by stress and dependent on short term dopamine hits from artificial sources. We are physically and mentally overwhelmed and under-nourished. We are at breaking point.

Planting seeds in concrete.

We are taking seeds of life and planting them in environments that will eventually kill them whilst feeding them the lie that life has never been so good or so easy.

However, there is light and the possibility that we can live in balance and harmony, that we can grow, flourish and thrive once more. We just need to reset and rebalance. We need to nourish our roots and rather than let society dictate our environment, we need to prep the ground and actively create an environment that allows us to live alongside the chaos whilst maintaining calm.

You do not need a hut and spear.

You do not need to trade what you have for a hut and spear to start enjoying more harmony, but if you want to feel more aligned, conscious and balanced then you do need to start becoming more mindful and wake up to the way you are living your life and put in the time and effort to make a few changes.

Over the next few months I will be exploring different aspects of holistic living and using everything that I have learnt and experienced in my journey to better living to support you, if you care to join me, on your own personal journeys.

Each week I will focus on one aspect of health and will aim to provide practical tips to help you to achieve more balance, harmony and happiness. As always I will look into our psychology and how it can both support us and hold us back so that you have the knowledge and understanding to take control over your own health and wellbeing to realise the life you truly desire.

Don’t settle.

Don’t settle for living in an environment that is slowly consuming you and those that your love, take control and start creating an environment that allows you to grow into your full potential and enjoy living, not simply existing.

Your Wellbeing. Your Life. Your Future. Your Choice.

"Life is short so make it happen. Live your life to the fullest, keep pushing forwards and take little actions every day towards your dreams. Time is precious and every moment counts"