What is Health and Wholeness?

Maintaining health is a hope I often hear from clients when practicing as a Nurse Coach.  When I ask the question, “What does health mean to you?”, I hear replies like, “feel energetic”, “have a clearer mind with more focus”, “be free from disease”, “do the things I want to”, “be strong for my family”, “be a good weight for my frame”, “eat the right foods”, and the variety of comments go on and on, because really each of us has a different version of what health means to us, and really, even in illness, we can find health.

One brilliant woman I partner with as a Nurse Coach said, “my health is power”.  This sticks with me, for it reminds me of a quote from Florence Nightingale, “Health is not only to be well, but to use well every power we have.”  My client went on to describe this in her own words, she said, “…being healthy is powerful, for my whole being aligns with purpose; my body, my spirit and my soul.”  She has learned that using her own wholeness of body-mind-spirit, brings her health and power.

Well said, and here are some tips to bring attention to your wholeness, for we are more than just physical bodies- we are minds, spirits, emotions, connections, our environments and more.

Limit Chemicals in Your Food

Manufacturers make foods to be hyperpalatable- which means, the foods taste REAAAALLLY good.  Truth be told, they use chemicals to enhance flavors, colors textures and shelf life. But none of that junk will enhance YOU!

Read the small print of the ingredient label out loud, if there is a word you have trouble pronouncing- it’s probably a chemical.  Don’t eat it. 

Pause Before You Speak

The holiday season is notorious for parties and gatherings with co-workers, friends and family. Socialization is imperative to health and research tells us that healthy relationships help us live longer. 

Centenarians or centurions, live beyond 100 years of age and one of the things they have in common is healthy and connected relationships.  Check out the Blue Zones for some lessons from Centurions.  

Lessons 7, 8 and 9 all relate to socialization:  7. Family first, 8.  Belong, and 9. Right tribe.

Pausing before speaking, allows you to sort your thoughts so all communications remain respectful and truly honor them and you.

Eat Fat

Eating fat, will NOT MAKE YOU FAT! 

Eating fat is essential for survival. In fact, eating fats with Omega 3 will keep your body in tip top shape- and not make it fat- not at all! In fact, you should have about a thumb full of fat with each meal. 👍 It’ll help you find satisfaction and keep your body functioning well.

Try some avocado, nuts, seeds, olive oil, avocado oil, flax seed oil, salmon, sardines, grass fed butter or ghee. Variety is key! So try something new- just for fun.

The only fat you should NEVER, EVER eat is trans-fat- it is chemicalized, fake, harmful, inflammatory junk. If it is even listed on the ingredient label- put it back on the shelf.

What are You Drinking?

Our bodies are made up of 75% water, and drinking alcohol dehydrates it. Plus, dehydration is linked to obesity.  Drinking enough water to sustain the body’s functions to maintain energy is imperative!

A good rule is to take your body weight in pounds and divide it by two to get the minimum number of ounces per day.  130 pounds / 2 = 65 ounces of water/day, or 8.1 cups/day. If you exercise, or sweat a lot, that number will go up.

Plus water is an inexpensive way to stay filled with health.

Breathe

We are not talking breathing just to stay alive.  We are talking big, deep breaths to fuel your body with oxygen and vitality. 

Meditation has been shown to increase the brain’s gray matter, improve connection to feelings of joy, innovation and love, and enhance cognition and brain plasticity.  

You don’t need to sit perfectly still, cross legged and 'ohm' to find calm.  Just recognizing that your mind and emotions are speeding up, and then pausing with a deep breath, brings you more focus and presence with the people you are with.

Breathe in, breathe out.  Check out our YouTube video Meditation 101 to learn some simple meditation tips.

Cook with Love

Ever wonder why Grandma's pies taste so good?  It's because she cooks with love!

Infuse feelings of joy, kindness, and gratitude into your recipes and your preparations will taste better than if you cook with frustration, annoyance and rushing.

Breathe in and imagine adding love, joy, patience into the food right alongside the salt and pepper.  Here's a link to a blog we wrote titled, Food for Thought to explore this concept more.

Keep Going!

Keep going, you are doing so well!  Adjusting your lifestyle just a little bit will help you feel better.  And when you feel better, you live better.

Leave us a comment to share what you do to maintain health and wholeness in your life.

And, if you need some help, we would be honored to partner with you to help you explore any of these concepts to help you maintain Health and Wholeness throughout your life!  Click Let's Talk to send us a private message! 

Nicole Vienneau (said like piano with a 'V') RN, MSN, NC-BC is a registered nurse, board certified nurse coach, personal trainer & yoga & group fitness instructor who specializes in helping you use your power & wisdom to enhance your health& prevent disease. When she's not coaching clients, she loves playing in the mountains, sitting with her cats or traveling with her awesome husband.