In today's society, there is a general perception that as we get older, our health starts to decline, our body doesn't work as it used to, and we are on a downward spiral. Diseases, aches and pains, cognitive decline, and more have become the norm, and we almost expect to be diagnosed with one thing or another, therefore pulling this fate into our reality. Overall, the health of the world's population is declining, yet this is expected and accepted by most. The scary part is that many are having major health issues occurring at a much younger age than ever before, and to understand what is going on, we need to get curious about our health and start asking why.
Everyone has the right to live an entire life with flourishing health and vitality, but do we understand how to get there? The choices we make daily, in all aspects of our lives, in some way, shape, or form, impact our health and wellness.
The interconnectedness of the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of our self means that when we are out of balance in one or more areas, we can put the whole body off-centre, creating disease or illness in our physical body. Therefore, we need to become conscious and mindful of what we put into our bodies so we begin to thrive and end our struggles through life.
An example of this that many people can relate to is when we feel stressed, anxious, or fearful, and we trigger the sympathetic nervous system or fight-flight-freeze response in our bodies. This response, which produces adrenaline and cortisol so we can 'escape the danger,' also decreases essential bodily functions like digestion and cognitive thinking while increasing the inflammatory response in our bodies and can affect our sleep. When we have constant stress in our lives, it can do a lot of damage to our bodies. Not getting enough sleep can alter our mood and behaviours, affecting our relationships and ability to be productive at work. When we are not thinking clearly and cannot process information or remember things, this can affect many areas of our lives. When we are not digesting our foods properly, we can end up with gastrointestinal issues like IBS, which can then affect our mental and emotional well-being, as well as the physical body. Thus creating more stress and cycling of the original issue, keeping us going round and round the hampster wheel in poor health.
So how do we accomplish 'old age', feeling vibrant, thriving, and ready for adventure? How do we use preventative measures to keep our mind, body, and spirit well-tuned? We can't just leave it to chance and hope for the best. Our body is a temporary gift that guides our souls on a journey. We must love and nurture it, take ownership and responsibility for our actions, and be mindful of how we treat it. When we holistically approach our health, we nourish it with all it needs to thrive. To be the best versions of ourselves well into the later part of our lives, we need to learn to listen to the messages our body is communicating to us, and begin healing the root cause of our problems, not just addressing the symptoms.
When our body communicates with us, it can be subtle at first, like a whisper from your intuition, a gut feeling that something doesn't seem right. We often ignore these whispers, shrugging them off as nothing and offering ourselves a band-aid solution that masks our body's signalling that something is wrong. This looks like pain relief for headaches, topical creams for a rash, or coffee during the day to keep us from feeling exhausted. But what if we stopped to ask ourselves WHY? or WHAT? Why am I feeling like this, and what is the root cause of the problem? It may seem easy to ignore our bodies and hope the problem will disappear. However, this isn't going to improve any issue. The longer we pretend not to notice, the worse the issue gets, and eventually, our body starts screaming in our faces until we listen. I have lived this firsthand.
The diagnosis from a gastroscopy was Mild Crohn's Disease. I had an autoimmune issue that had eaten a hole in my intestinal lining. The prescription given by the specialist was to be on a medication for life. This was a huge red flag for my health; it didn't sit right in my gut. So I got curious and asked him if any diet changes would help my situation, knowing what I'd learnt and experienced with my Naturopath. He looked at me and said, "This hasn't got anything to do with the food you eat, and changing your diet will make no difference; you can eat whatever you want." At this point, I intuitively knew that this was not true, and I never went back to that specialist again, choosing the holistic path for my healing journey.
Fast forward again, I spent the subsequent decade-plus learning, growing, and listening to my body and became conscious of my food choices. After reintroducing gluten and dairy into my life after the 3-month restriction, I realised how terrible these foods made me feel. I had eaten them my whole life, not knowing how they affected me. Removing them from my diet at least 95% of the time, I began to notice the childhood asthma I'd always had, the seasonal allergies, and the constant congested sinus I suffered from all seemed to go away. I started linking foods to how I felt and noticed how my body responded. This was all new to me, and it made me curious. My body was like my own science experiment. I got to know myself so well; this is where the true magic happens!
Regaining your health and happiness takes commitment. It is about creating a healthy lifestyle that you love and feels right for you, being conscious, listening to your body, and taking positive action that benefits your overall well-being. Regaining your health is a journey, not a destination. It's not a quick fix or jumping from one diet to another and beating yourself up if you fail to stick to it. It is about making sustainable changes that work for you now, knowing you can shift them as you grow and transform.
Sometimes, you may choose to be unconscious about your choices or won't care, especially if some emotional issues are showing up in your reality. This is completely okay and normal to experience. I certainly did, and sometimes I still do when 'life' happens. With the tools I have learnt over the years, which I would love to share with you, I can stand tall, grounded, and centred instead of feeling guilty, blaming and shaming myself or falling in a heap. The key is to empower ourselves to get back up when we fall and honour ourselves in the present moment.
There is no failing, only learning and growth. When we choose to be conscious participants in our health, reframe our beliefs, and treat ourselves with love and compassion, we set ourselves up to thrive, step into our power and take back control of our health.
I invite you to join me on a journey towards your ultimate vision of health and happiness. To reignite that spark within. Your health is everything; you deserve to live every day feeling your best and thriving. So spark your curiosity, contemplate the following, and get in touch to see how we can work together to create a healthy, happy, and balanced lifestyle that works for you.
What does your ideal vision of health look like?
What would it mean to wake up feeling great and full of energy every day?
What are three things you could change to improve your current lifestyle?
What are three goals you would like to set for yourself?
How will you get there?
To find out what Soul Food Healing has to offer, please check out the website at soulfoodhealing.com.au and fill in a contact form or email me at soulfoodhealing@outlook.com
What does it mean when we are told to love ourselves and take time out for self-care? Considering we are all bio-individuals, meaning we are all uniquely different and have different needs, there is no definitive answer to this question. So what do self-care and love look like? In a world full of busy people who are constantly doing, rushing, and go-go-go, there is little room left in our days to consider what this could mean for us. However, I feel it is the most important aspect of our holistic health and wellness that we need to change. The simple mindset shifts toward self-love and care can create a cascading ripple effect in our lives, transforming the way we 'do' and 'be' in the world, bringing us more joy, balance and happiness.
Just imagine if everyone considered their basic needs and met them first before they did anything else that day. How would we treat others when operating from a full cup that's overflowing? It's an interesting way to consider things, and many of you reading this may have the same mindset as I did. When I began my journey in this area, I believed that people who put themselves first were selfish, stuck up and rude, which triggered me because I was such a giver and always put others first. I thought people who put themselves first didn't care about others, which didn't sit well with me. I was very mistaken to believe this; it was a pivotal lesson to learn.
How did I change my thinking? What is the first step? As a mum, this has been my biggest challenge, which in turn has given me the most significant transformation. When I became a mum, all I wanted was the best for my children, and I gave them 'my' everything, naturally putting all of their needs first. Over time, with all the giving and little receiving happening, I began to feel exhausted and burnt out. I went from loving being a mum to resenting it and all the chores that went with it. It wasn't just my kids but family and friends, too; I was generous with my help and couldn't say no.
It wasn't until I started to feel resentment when I said yes but wanted to say no, especially when I was already exhausted, that I began to realise there was a problem. I would have good intentions to say no, and in my mind, I would, but when asked face-to-face, I couldn't say it. At the other end of the spectrum, when I wanted to say yes to doing something for me, I would feel guilty about it and say no. This was deep conditioning, and it is a hard habit to break. But in the end, I could see how this was unhealthy for me, and I knew I had to make some changes. What I didn't realise for a long time was the resentment I was feeling wasn't toward others, it was directed at myself, and this was the first step in making a change.
We are so used to filling up every second of the day with busyness to distract us from our minds, hearts, and issues. What if we said enough is enough and began to honour ourselves for who we are, where we are, and what we want to achieve? Giving to yourself in a way that nourishes your body, mind, and soul is a beautiful practice that is anything from being selfish. It is essential. When you give yourself a well-deserved break, take a long walk, choose nourishing food to fuel your body, or go to bed early when you're exhausted, you are choosing yourself!
Taking time from our busy schedules to make room to do things that genuinely make us happy or feel good is essential for our health. This takes a conscious effort. At first, it can be challenging to stop doing and start being, but it's the most important step.
Choosing 'you' sometimes means saying no to a friend or family member, not making the massive list of chores, staying home instead of going out and saying YES to things that spark joy into your heart. It's about tuning into yourself and honouring your needs in the present moment.
When we consciously plan to make time early in the day for ourselves, whether it be some form of exercise, meditation, watching the sunrise, creative expression, journaling, or simply having a quiet cup of tea, whatever floats your boat, we set ourselves up to thrive. We fill our heart space, feel gratitude and begin our day with a different appreciation for life. Personally, this has been life-changing! I feel great, and I am a better mum for it. The busy rush of a school morning doesn't seem so stressful when I am feeling balanced and happy. Win-win for all. Putting yourself first doesn't mean you ignore everyone else in your life. It's about filling your cup, with the love, value, care, and respect you can't get from the outside world. You are responsible for your health and happiness, no one else. It's the best choice you can make, so choose YOU!
So ask yourself these questions......
Are you a people pleaser or a yes person? Is this serving you, and are you happy?
How full is your cup today? Do you have enough overflow to give?
Are you receiving as much as you are giving out?
Do you need a break, a day off, or a well-deserved holiday?
Does your daily life bring you joy and happiness? And if not, how can you make changes to correct this?
When we take the time to consider the answers to these questions, it's the first step toward taking action and a new start, a way of being and operating in the world. Yes, it might be challenging, but it is totally worth it, and YOU deserve it! So take some time to feel into what choosing YOU might look like, and start planning for yourself today.
If this story resonates with you and you would like to dive deeper, please reach out, and I will help you find a way forward so you can transform your life.
I read a quote the other day that said something like this.
"When you have your health, you have 1000 ambitions, but when you don't, you only have 1.'
It got me thinking about how we often go through life getting busier and more distracted with work, jobs, family commitments, and other people's business.
We have many ideas of what we want to achieve in this life and how we will get there; the lists grow and get bigger constantly. We often live our lives in the future, seeing ourselves where we want to be, we forget the most important part.
The NOW? The incredible and precious present moment now that we are living second by second. It's where you notice the small things and the beauty in everything around you, where you find gratitude for all you already have.
So do you have health, happiness and balance now? Did you check in with your body to see how it is feeling? Is the stress you're projecting onto it in the present moment from all the future doing and achieving you want, making you unwell?
What if we started to ask ourselves each day
Does this make me feel happy?
Am I balanced?
Is what I'm doing having a positive impact on my health?
If the answer to any or all of these questions is a NO, why are you doing it? Is it worth it? If you don't have excellent health now and you don't address it, what chance will you have in the future that you want to get to?
WHY does all of this matter?
Because EVERYTHING we do, everything we think, and all of our interactions and actions daily play a part in our overall health and wellness. It's like an interconnected web. Our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual aspects come together to make us whole. When we only focus on one area and neglect the others, we will find our balance is off.
We can exercise and eat well to make us healthier; however, if you are highly stressed from work or money issues, or you're very unhappy with your life, are in a toxic relationship, or are lonely, you can still have poor health.
When we begin to see ourselves as a whole person, addressing all areas equally, we can find true health and happiness. Preventive measures to secure your future health and happiness now, will give you the gift of a lifetime of fun.
At Soul Food Healing, we will work together to create the ideal vision of Health, Happiness and Balance that's right for you now. Giving you the understanding, the tools and confidence to be the best version of yourself today, learning how to nourish your Mind, Body and Soul for life.