Why is Wholistic Health Important?

In today's society, we rely heavily on our minds to excel at work, plan for the future and organize our lives. This is important to help us keep up with the busy world around us. However, have you noticed that when your mind is active with all your responsibilites and duties, you start to ignore the other aspects of health?

You might not have time to exercise anymore because you have too much to do. You may find that your emotions are too distracting so you start to bottle them up inside. Perhaps your relationships with friends and family begin to wane and you no longer can find the time to do things that bring you joy and happiness, like cooking, recreational sports, enjoying music or creative arts, or being in nature.

As you may have already experienced, this road leads to burnout and makes you more susceptible to mental and physical choronic heath conditions such as depression, anxiety, inflammation, pain, digestive concerns, and a general feeling of being unwell. This is why it is important to be pro-active to ensure you do your best to live a balanced life.

How can I live a balanced life?

Reflect on what your life is like now. Are you focussing on just one aspect of health?

MIND

  • Learn about new things that inspire you.
  • Start to learn some grounding techniques to slow your mind, such as breathing, meditation or visualization.
  • Create small daily, weekly or monthly goals to keep you focussed.
  • Start with 2-3 priorities to begin working on instead of a long laundry list of things to change at once.

BODY

  • Eat whole foods, join a community gardening initiaitve or local food group.
  • Make sure to get plenty of rest by incorporating good sleep hygiene practices.
  • Move your body every day in whatever way fuels your spirit. Take a walk outside, join a yoga class, or even a bike ride.
  • Pay attention when you notice a feeling in your body to build awareness of the messages it is trying to deliver.

EMOTION

  • Start looking within by witnessing your emotions through journalling, body scanning, talk therapies or sitting in discomfort to allow space for free expression and release.
  • Foster more forgiveness and compassion for yourself and others.
  • Practice gratitude; start your day from a position of abundance with the things you are grateful for in that moment.

SPIRIT

  • Explore different perspectives and philosophies of life and creation.
  • Spend more time in nature and in community with others.
  • Do one thing every day that brings you joy...anything, it doesn't have to be a huge effort.

Trauma, grief, fear, and anger are all very natural human emotions we experience throughout our colourful lifetimes. However, if we are left to sort through our own emotions feeling unsupported, these feelings can become stuck in our bodies. 

When you consent to working with Terra, she will:

  • be patient while you decide if you can trust working with her;
  • welcome you telling your story, the whole story, in your own way;
  • listen with empathy;
  • accept that whatever you have done, whatever you do...it's what seemed right at the time;
  • understand you are an individual...a unique being with your own gifts;
  • not judge you as right or wrong, bad or good. You are who you are and that is all you have to be;
  • not assume her knowledge of you is more accurate than yours. She only knows what you tell her and that is only one part of you;
  • never think she knows what you should do. She doesn't. You may be confused but you are still the expert on yourself and she can help you decide on what is best;
  • not place you in a position of living up to anyone else's standards. You have enough living up to your own;
  • hear your feelings, not just your words...and she will accept all of them;
  • not try to save you. You can do that yourself. You knew enough to ask for help, and she acknowledges and respects that;

Adapted from Anishnabe and Onkwehonwe community contributors Art Solomon and John Stonechild (Anishanbe Elders), Dr. Brian Rice (Mohawk, University of Manitoba), Sakoieta Widrick (Mohawk, Spiritual/Cultural Teacher) and Indigenous Health Services.