In the years since I started this site, I have come to realize that holistic living is not just a way of life that benefits those who practice it, but it also impacts the health of the planet as a whole. Living holistically doesn't just mean taking daily steps to lead a more healthy, balanced life - it also means respecting the natural world around you, and learning to recognize your place in it, as well as its impact on you.
When you truly begin to live in a holistic manner, you recognize the connections between yourself and others, as well as the natural world. By doing so, you find a deeper sense of peace and purpose in the world, and you also learn to recognize your body's natural needs and take care of yourself in a gentler and more loving way.
Here are 7 awesome benefits of living a holistic lifestyle:
When you truly begin to live in a holistic manner, you recognize the connections between yourself and others, as well as the natural world. By doing so, you find a deeper sense of peace and purpose in the world, and you also learn to recognize your body's natural needs and take care of yourself in a gentler and more loving way.
Here are 7 awesome benefits of living a holistic lifestyle:
1.) Improves Your Physical Health & Fitness
Of course, when many people refer to holistic living, they are really talking about holistic health. Holistic health involves learning to recognize your body's unique needs and take care of them using natural methods that work with your bodily systems rather than treating your body as the enemy or something defective that needs to be "fixed."
Living a holistically healthy lifestyle includes plenty of physical activity - and especially spending time outside in nature. There is no one right way to be active - simply participating in an activity that you enjoy and that makes you feel good is what it's all about!
Physical activity benefits your health in a number of ways, from burning calories, to strengthening muscles, stretching and lubricating joints and tissues, preventing or reducing pain, lowering stress, and even releasing endorphins which improve your mood. Exercise could be considered the best medicine there is for the human body! Do it daily for best results.
2.) Minimizes Dietary Stresses & Digestive Issues
Eating mindfully is key to holistic health and healthy living. Learning to recognize your body's unique needs when it comes to nutrition is a long process, but well worth the effort! By becoming familiar with the foods that cause you problems, you will be able to make healthier choices that also lead to better health, and make you feel a lot better, too.
Drinking plenty of water is important for detoxification and cleansing of your bodily systems. But you will also want to limit or eliminate processed foods from your diet. These foods are loaded with sugars, preservatives, and artificial colors, sweeteners, and flavors - all of which can negatively impact your health in various ways. They also often contain unhealthy processed fats, and high levels of sodium.
Instead, choose to eat whole, natural foods filled with natural vitamins, minerals, and other healthy nutrients. (For more guidance, follow my 2 simple rules for healthy eating.)
3.) Helps You Access Your Inner Wisdom
Holistic living is about more than just the body, however. It also means learning to know the inner workings of your own mind, recognizing your triggers, and learning constructive and effective ways to deal with any deep-rooted issues. This self-awareness is geared towards self-love and self-acceptance, and will help you learn to take care of yourself in a more intuitive and caring way.
4.) Increases Positivity & Mental Clarity
Once you have learned to recognize when your mind is dwelling on negative thoughts or heading in a destructive direction, you can begin to turn your thoughts to a more positive state. Getting rid of negative self-talk goes an incredibly long way towards a happier, healthier mindset! If you find yourself criticizing yourself and others often, you may need some work in the area of positivity.
However, this won't happen overnight, and you will need to spend some time each day reflecting and meditating, witnessing your thoughts, and practicing self-acceptance. This doesn't have to take a ton of time. Starting with just 5 minutes per day can help to bring calm, focus, and clarity to your life, and build a more positive mindset which is not as easily affected by external stressors and daily challenges.
5.) Helps You Build Healthier Relationships
When you cultivate a healthier mindset, as discussed above, your relationships will most likely improve as well. A clear, focused, and peaceful mind will make it easier for you to deal with relationship challenges and communicate more calmly and clearly with those around you.
Developing healthy boundaries, practicing honesty and integrity, and accepting yourself as you are will all help to attract other holistically-minded people who will treat you with the same kindness and respect. It may also help you to recognize when others are not acting in your best interest, or are not treating you with the respect you deserve, so that you can take steps to either improve these relationships, or separate yourself from them if appropriate.
Feeling connected, secure, and sure of your place in the world is a wonderful foundation from which to care for yourself and those you love.
6.) Supports Your Local Economy
One benefit of holistic living that you may not have thought of is its impact on your local community. When you start to pay attention to where your food comes from, and how it is raised and prepared, you will likely find that some of your food sources are unsustainable and possibly even unethical. Becoming conscious of what you are eating, and where it came from, will help you to make healthier and more sustainable choices for both the planet and your local community.
Most practitioners of holistic living try to spend most of their food dollars locally, and some even practice seasonal eating to ensure that your food source is in harmony with the natural seasons where you live.
Plus, it can be fun! Learning about where your food comes from, how it is grown, and the people who grow it not only helps support the local economy, but it also strengthens community and may even help you build lasting friendships based on trust with your food providers - something that far too few of us in today's world have!
7.) Helps You Cultivate Gratitude & Balance
Living holistically means living more consciously - on all levels. Becoming more aware of the people, places, and things in your life that you are grateful for will help you find a sense of peace, calm, empathy, and strength within yourself that you never knew you had!
As you can see, holistic living is all about balance - balance not just within your body, but also in the world around you. It encompasses not only physical health, but also mental and emotional health, healthy relationships, and the health of the planet as a whole. By choosing to live in a more connected, balanced, and holistic way, we truly can change the world!
Holistically yours,
Rose.
Of course, when many people refer to holistic living, they are really talking about holistic health. Holistic health involves learning to recognize your body's unique needs and take care of them using natural methods that work with your bodily systems rather than treating your body as the enemy or something defective that needs to be "fixed."
Living a holistically healthy lifestyle includes plenty of physical activity - and especially spending time outside in nature. There is no one right way to be active - simply participating in an activity that you enjoy and that makes you feel good is what it's all about!
Physical activity benefits your health in a number of ways, from burning calories, to strengthening muscles, stretching and lubricating joints and tissues, preventing or reducing pain, lowering stress, and even releasing endorphins which improve your mood. Exercise could be considered the best medicine there is for the human body! Do it daily for best results.
2.) Minimizes Dietary Stresses & Digestive Issues
Eating mindfully is key to holistic health and healthy living. Learning to recognize your body's unique needs when it comes to nutrition is a long process, but well worth the effort! By becoming familiar with the foods that cause you problems, you will be able to make healthier choices that also lead to better health, and make you feel a lot better, too.
Drinking plenty of water is important for detoxification and cleansing of your bodily systems. But you will also want to limit or eliminate processed foods from your diet. These foods are loaded with sugars, preservatives, and artificial colors, sweeteners, and flavors - all of which can negatively impact your health in various ways. They also often contain unhealthy processed fats, and high levels of sodium.
Instead, choose to eat whole, natural foods filled with natural vitamins, minerals, and other healthy nutrients. (For more guidance, follow my 2 simple rules for healthy eating.)
3.) Helps You Access Your Inner Wisdom
Holistic living is about more than just the body, however. It also means learning to know the inner workings of your own mind, recognizing your triggers, and learning constructive and effective ways to deal with any deep-rooted issues. This self-awareness is geared towards self-love and self-acceptance, and will help you learn to take care of yourself in a more intuitive and caring way.
4.) Increases Positivity & Mental Clarity
Once you have learned to recognize when your mind is dwelling on negative thoughts or heading in a destructive direction, you can begin to turn your thoughts to a more positive state. Getting rid of negative self-talk goes an incredibly long way towards a happier, healthier mindset! If you find yourself criticizing yourself and others often, you may need some work in the area of positivity.
However, this won't happen overnight, and you will need to spend some time each day reflecting and meditating, witnessing your thoughts, and practicing self-acceptance. This doesn't have to take a ton of time. Starting with just 5 minutes per day can help to bring calm, focus, and clarity to your life, and build a more positive mindset which is not as easily affected by external stressors and daily challenges.
5.) Helps You Build Healthier Relationships
When you cultivate a healthier mindset, as discussed above, your relationships will most likely improve as well. A clear, focused, and peaceful mind will make it easier for you to deal with relationship challenges and communicate more calmly and clearly with those around you.
Developing healthy boundaries, practicing honesty and integrity, and accepting yourself as you are will all help to attract other holistically-minded people who will treat you with the same kindness and respect. It may also help you to recognize when others are not acting in your best interest, or are not treating you with the respect you deserve, so that you can take steps to either improve these relationships, or separate yourself from them if appropriate.
Feeling connected, secure, and sure of your place in the world is a wonderful foundation from which to care for yourself and those you love.
6.) Supports Your Local Economy
One benefit of holistic living that you may not have thought of is its impact on your local community. When you start to pay attention to where your food comes from, and how it is raised and prepared, you will likely find that some of your food sources are unsustainable and possibly even unethical. Becoming conscious of what you are eating, and where it came from, will help you to make healthier and more sustainable choices for both the planet and your local community.
Most practitioners of holistic living try to spend most of their food dollars locally, and some even practice seasonal eating to ensure that your food source is in harmony with the natural seasons where you live.
Plus, it can be fun! Learning about where your food comes from, how it is grown, and the people who grow it not only helps support the local economy, but it also strengthens community and may even help you build lasting friendships based on trust with your food providers - something that far too few of us in today's world have!
7.) Helps You Cultivate Gratitude & Balance
Living holistically means living more consciously - on all levels. Becoming more aware of the people, places, and things in your life that you are grateful for will help you find a sense of peace, calm, empathy, and strength within yourself that you never knew you had!
As you can see, holistic living is all about balance - balance not just within your body, but also in the world around you. It encompasses not only physical health, but also mental and emotional health, healthy relationships, and the health of the planet as a whole. By choosing to live in a more connected, balanced, and holistic way, we truly can change the world!
Holistically yours,
Rose.
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