balance inside & out
Lately my life has been a little hectic. Unexpected events–beyond my control–have left my head spinning and my body gasping for a breath. I just need a break! (I whine) This isn’t helpful nor is it conducive to landing back on my feet, I know. But it’s hard when I’m trying to go with the flow and keep things from spiraling out of control. Then, suddenly, I’m moping around and blaming the world for my woes. And eating homemade cake batter. It must be my stomach ache that reminds me my head is off…
In keeping balance in my life I am learning to look at all areas of my life that affect my mood and well-being. This is referred to as ‘primary food’ at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (where I’m currently studying to become a holistic health counselor). The idea is that a holistic lifestyle is more than just “eating organic foods and practicing yoga from time to time. It means paying attention to all aspects of your life: relationships, career, health and spirituality to be sure that you are living a life in balance” (Joshua Rosenthal).
So when I’m feeing overwhelmed (as I have been) I take a step back and look at what’s going on in a few key departments. Where do I need to make some adjustments? What areas do I need to focus on right now? And while there is no such thing as a quick-fix, recognizing the problem is one step in the right direction. It takes time, and it takes effort, but keeping your body and mind in balance is just the start of a healthy lifestyle.
Below, Rosenthaul lists out the four areas in which we need to check-in with from time to time to ensure all aspects of our lives are operating in balance with one another (Note that “health” is just one aspect!). Take a minute now to think about all areas of your life:
Relationships: Are you surrounded by people who stimulate you? Do your friends and family make you laugh and are they kind to you? Are there people you can be spending more time with or less time with? Make an effort to spend more time with those who fill your life with joy.
Career: Are you satisfied with your day-to-day job? Do you feel challenged by your boss and your coworkers? Do you feel that you are compensated well for your hard work? Are you happy more than you are stressed-out? Make a list of the things you love about your job and the things that you do not.
Spirituality: Do you have a spiritual practice? This can be anything from meditating to going to church on a regular basis.
Health: Pay attention to the foods you eat. Do you enjoy whole grains, fruits and vegetables every day? How often do you consume junk food? When you crave sweets write down what you are doing. Sometimes when we crave junk food it means that something else in our lives is out of balance.
I know that when I start to feel out of whack and overwhelmed, a quick check-in with these departments can help me get back on track. When I’m eating really well and taking care of my body and yet wondering why I’m so down, maybe it’s because I’m letting a bad day at work affect me too much. I know I can’t feel whole and healthy when one area of my life is affecting me negatively. It is important to nourish all aspects of our lives in order to maintain a balanced and healthy lifestyle.
So while some things are out of my control (because like it or not, it does happen), I can only do my best to remain balanced and in-check with my ‘primary foods.’ At least that much is up to me!
1 comment April 14th, 2009
