Lifestyle Change: Slow Medicine that Optimizes Holistic Healing

A holistic approach rooted in taking responsibility for upgrading our lifestyles is a catalyst for healing mind, body, and spirit.

I recall speaking with a close friend a few years ago as I was deeply appreciating how much I had embraced the idea of healing through accepting what is and optimizing what I could. She was curious about the difference between curing and healing as she struggled with the idea of "not hoping for a cure," such as for cancer, etc.

My response was, sure, we can hope for a cure and have faith that the treatment will work, but if we remain as we are without upgrading our nutrition, reducing our stress, and recognizing what is most important in life, then we just might miss the opportunity to be transformed by our various conditions. Holistic healing is more than just finding a cure, it's about restoring resonance and harmony within mind, body, and spirit.

I said, "I will never be free from PTSD, Chiari 1 malformation, or chronic pain. These will be with me for my lifetime. I will fall into triggers. I will deal with a body that shuts down, but I don't have to let these diagnoses control me and I can take action to minimize the frequency with which they impact my life."

I was in the process of taking action through gaining knowledge and awareness that my nervous system is wired differently and has unique needs for rest and recovery. I was transforming my nutrition to feed my body the micronutrients that were taming the inner fire of inflammation. I was actively addressing my PTSD through recognizing triggers, setting boundaries, and feeling all of the emotions so they could work through me instead of remaining stuck in my already messy nervous system.

This is the long journey of learning how to adapt to what the body needs, learning what environments (both external and internal) feed health and wholeness, and choosing to live life in a way that supports healing from the inside out. Everything has gradually improved as I have adopted new eating habits that reduce the inflammatory response, learned to move just enough to keep my body in shape without tipping it over the edge, and understood the absolute need for setting boundaries around my energy and sensitivities.

Taking time to become curious when our vehicles send out warning signals can help us become our own inner detectives. What am I doing that is sending me into this state of exhaustion? How is the external world impacting my sensitive nervous system? What does my body need in this moment? The more we become curious within, the greater opportunity we have to tap into our inner wisdom that guides us to the right food, the need to rest, and what emotional or psychological sludge might be stuck in our bodies.

This requires an act of vulnerability, tapping into our humanity and recognizing that we play a bigger role in our own suffering than we often would like to admit. At the same time, the moment we shift from being victims of our circumstances to becoming curious about how we got here and what we can do to change, everything begins to shift internally. Awareness awakens and the process of healing can take root, even if the outcome may be different than we imagine.

We can optimize our vehicles through taking time to experiment with various lifestyle adaptations. The more we approach lifestyle change with a mood of learning and experimentation, the greater opportunity we have to allow our body and psychological states to speak to us, offering wisdom from within.

Let me give you a recent example. I was in India recently and my body and sensory system were put through the ringer, even with just trying to get there. At one point, after 5 days of nearly non-stop action, my inner system offered a warning, a whisper from within, "see all this stimulation? All this activity surrounding you? The pace in trying to keep up? It's not aligned with what you need."

By the time the whisper came, it was too late. My sensory system had overloaded to the point where my immune system reacted and I ended up in the ER with severe dehydration and needing help. My personal plans got disrupted. My scheduled downtime was hijacked by forces beyond my control and I failed to adapt adequately. Now, that being said, I don't think I was adequately prepared for the severity of sensory stimulation that came through being in a new country and their city life filled with humans, monkeys, dogs, cows, and vehicles all crowding together vying for space on the roads and alleyways.

So, what lesson did I learn? I learned that my body and sensory system needs open space, nature, and a slower pace of life. I learned that I need to be more aware of what I'm getting myself into through asking more questions about locations that may be new to me. I learned that when plans get thrown into chaos I need to inject some downtime to accommodate. This may shift things for others, but I need to do what I must so I don't end up down for the count.

These are hard truths that take time to actually settle into our capacity to follow through. I also recognized my discomfort in speaking up and requesting that others slow down their pace on my behalf. That is on me. I needed to take responsibility for stating my needs. This is another lesson learned. And all these lessons came because I have tapped into my body's cues and the whispers coming from within.

So, how did this shape future decisions? Well, when I returned home I received an invite to go to New York in the fall--Manhattan to be specific. The very cues my body gave me while in India hit with full force just upon hearing a giant city with skyscrapers, noise, and crowds. I also had an invite to rural Florida at the same time. Listening to my body and recognizing the need for keeping myself healthy is helping me choose Florida.

When we approach life and the various choices we make with curiosity as to how those choices are impacting us, we can begin to upgrade our choices and move with greater alignment within our bodies, minds, and spirits. This is where true healing happens because we tap into resourcefulness, curiosity, and ultimately gratitude for the lessons and the blessings along the way.

Are you ready to see what small lifestyle changes can support your holistic health journey?

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