What does it mean to be healthy? What factors are considered? For me, optimal health is divided into three main categories: Spiritual, Physiological and Cerebral, and in that order.
I have determined that my own health begins with my spiritual life. For me, that is defined as my Christian faith. I was raised by Christian parents, and in my early adulthood, I explored and then confirmed my belief in God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son and the Holy Spirt given to me through faith.
My faith is my foundation. From it all my values spring forth. Just like the body needs to be fed, a healthy spiritual life requires nourishment. In my world, this occurs through reading the Bible, spending time in prayer and actively participating and serving in a community of others who support each other in faith. If you are interested in learning more about my faith journey, please reach out.
Next, health requires caring for the physical body. In my experience, this boils down to diet, exercise and sleep. Over the past several years, I’ve spent time working on each of these areas:
- DIET: There is a plethora of research on how and what to eat. Everyone has their own opinions and preferences in this space based on their needs and experiences. I’ve taken on a simple, repeatable diet that is lower carb, higher protein and gluten free, since I have Celiac Disease. Also, a day doesn’t go by that I don’t indulge in some form of chocolate, which I consider a daily vitamin.
- EXERCISE: I work out five days a week including walking, some cardio routines and weight-lifting. Recently, I polled my Facebook friends asking those who include exercise in their daily regimen, whether they preferred working out at home or going to a gym. I was surprised to learn that the far majority like going to a gym! Reasons for this include the opportunity for social interaction, motivation that the investment in a gym provides, and access to equipment and trainers. I learned I’m an outlier as I definitely prefer to work out first thing in the morning, in the comfort of my home. This has required me to develop a small collection of equipment, such as hand weights, bands, kettle bells, a weighted vest and a YouTube subscription.
- SLEEP: As I got older, I found adequate sleep becoming elusive. Over the past few years, I’ve made sleep a priority and have developed much better routines in this space. More on that in a later blog.
The third and final category of health I focus on includes “cerebral” or what occurs within one’s brain. This could be referred to as mental, emotional and intellectual factors of health. I discovered the importance of cerebral health in my later years. The ways to support cerebral health are endless. This can include deep breathing, meditation and prayer, engaging in relaxing activities like massage, reading, writing, walking in the woods, lying on a beach, in some cases, working with a psychologist or licensed counselor, and much more. I’m still exploring this important category of health for myself and truly enjoying it.
These areas of health are where I spend a lot of my free time researching, learning and practicing. What are some categories of health that you consider priorities for yourself?