CULTIVATING AN UNCOMMON LEVEL OF WELLNESS
How the spokes of a wheel need to support each other.
When a wheel has a broken or bent spoke it doesn’t roll along nice and smooth, instead it causes an uncomfortably bumpy ride. The broken or bent spoke weakens the other spokes by putting them under undue stress, which means the straight and strong ones are at risk to bend or break as well. Every spoke needs to be strong in order to carry whatever load the wheel is responsible for.
In our own lives when we step up and take care of those important areas that really matter, like our well-being, then everything seems to work much better and our ride through life is much smoother and enjoyable. When one area of life is not working the way it should then it negatively affects the rest and our experience of life is not so smooth. Like the spokes on a wheel when one area is weak or broken it affects how we show up in the rest of our life. Which, like the wheel analogy, means we are in for a bumpy ride.
Using the conscious power of choice to show up for ones self.
When we hold this wheel metaphor up to do our lifestyle we can see how each element of our health and wellness supports the other and creates the vitality and momentum necessary to live at a significantly higher level. There is nothing more important than your health. Without it you are at risk of losing everything else you want in life. No matter what your age, if you are not enhancing how strong you are in every aspect of your well-being then the quality of your life is declining. Which is not a pleasant experience. But many easily fall into resignation and accept or become blind to this deteriorating condition. They settle for the probability rather than the possibility. Which is the unconscious vs the conscious power of choice. Either we show up for ourselves in a way that increases our quality of life or we don’t. Our choice is determined by how capable we are of self-leadership.
It is important to always be present to our current state because no one escapes the effects of stress and anxiety that accompanies being a human being. It bends, breaks and rots the spoke of our metaphorical wheel. If we don’t design a vital and robust way of life we pay the price in the form of an ineffective existence that lacks meaning and purpose. Not just emotionally or mentally, but physically and spiritually.
Considering this, why wouldn’t our response to anxiety and stress be a comprehensive and holistic lifestyle philosophy instead of the numbing band aid of medication. One that builds strength and vitality in every aspect of health.
Do your own quick two minute market research and see how many people you know or know of that use a totally holistic approach to their self care. I mean a true holistic approach where their intention is to take each aspect of their health and wellness to another level. It is very uncommon. The word holistic is thrown around in practitioner titles that typically address a couple aspects of your wellbeing but you are about to experience a different, more robust definition regarding the term holistic. You will find it very hard to identify such a person or even someone who is striving to use such a fully engaging approach.
So many exceptional people excel in one or two areas of their wellness while they fail to step up in the others areas of life. I have seen many spiritual gurus whose bodies are not physically healthy. Do you think Buddha or the Pope ran many marathons? An individual completely absorbed in a specific line of spiritual practice can still fail to attend to their body, which makes me question their practical level of mindfulness or spiritual connection. We experience life by how we work and play in the world we live in. Not some other distant or theoretical world. Our spirituality needs to walk and talk in order to be expressed by how we engage life.
What about the example of someone who has the physical capability to be the best in the world at what they do? Let’s say mountain climbing. Yet they don’t have the ability to manage their relationships or their money. You know those who look fit but are an emotional wreck inside and may not have the level of mental health we are about to explore here. An extremely fit person doesn’t necessarily mean they are healthy.
Have you seen the person you would rate high on emotional intelligence but they aren’t connected spiritually or taking care of their bodies. They may even be seeing a holistic practitioner. Which is why we have a different definition of emotional intelligence than most of the popular models used in business management or self help.
Looks are deceiving and what we may see on the outside is likely not an accurate reflection of what is going on inside with some of these individuals. This is not meant to be a judgemental analysis because we are all in a similar situation. Don’t we all want to experience a different class of self care? Our inquiry here is to form a new realm of awareness and support.
The problem is that when we only focus on one or two areas of our wellness we miss out on the full interplay and harmony of a comprehensive wellness philosophy. We miss the opportunity to live an uncommon life.
Developing better wellness is a synergistic relationship.
To see what the true potential is for your quality of life lets take a look at how each element supports the other three.
We know being active calms the mind and puts us in a much better place after we finish a run, yoga class or hike. The more vigorous the better we feel. Once in this state we know how it brings us more clarity and peaceful, uplifting emotions. Which then brings us that spiritual connection because our mind is clear and sharp. It is like the spokes of a wheel. When they are all tight, straight and strong the wheel spins perfectly.
The Interplay Of Mental Health.
When we practice mindfulness we become more aware which increases the quality of how we spend our time. Such as putting boundaries around our fitness time instead of getting lost in the day or letting something else take priority. We are aware of when our thoughts wander which lets us increase our focus and keep what is important to us front and center. This mindfulness and awareness starts the reciprocal circle again, described above. This is also the state that provides the space for our spiritual connection.
To be more specific it is important to understand that the typical baseline for mental health involves cognitive clarity, resilience, focus, and the ability to process information effectively. But an uncommon level of mental health is the ability to consistently get uncomfortable. To continually stretch and grow. To have the ability to put oneself at a high level of vibrational energy on a regular basis. To always think in terms of possibility rather than probability. To be able to eliminate self centered thinking and behaviour in order to live a more meaningful life. To live without cynicism and judgmental thinking. To be able to continually live in integrity with one's principles or standards and a strong moral code. This is what takes one's mental health to a higher level.
How does this interplay with our emotional wellbeing? When we think right we feel right. A clear and focused mind enables better emotional regulation. When we can rationalize or understand emotions, we process them more effectively, reducing stress and anxiety. Which is a much more effective solution than medication. Mental wellbeing also enables us to be present to how our emotions are affecting our behaviour. Allowing us to live at a higher level of awareness. Which also feels really good.
When it comes to physical health our mental wellbeing encourages behaviours like commitment and consistency in our fitness, exercise and activities. It enables us to increase the intensity of these experiences by pushing past our comfort zone. We all know a weak mind will quit before the body is ready to. A strong mind takes us past that point of wanting to quit no matter how uncomfortable. It holds us to a higher expectation. Mindfulness leads to healthy eating and good sleep hygiene. All of which are very important in supporting physical health. In turn this healthy lifestyle and activity enhances brain function by reducing stress hormones and increasing endorphins. Which keeps the cycle going.
Mental clarity, mindfulness, and focus also improves your spiritual practices, such as meditation or reflection. Spirituality in return, offers perspective and meaning, reducing cognitive overload and enhancing mental equanimity.
Our Spiritual Condition.
When we continually cultivate our spiritual condition it provides a sense of purpose, connection, and alignment with the inner self and a higher power. A sound mind helps delve deeper into spiritual understanding. This enlightenment then enhances our mental health by offering us a sense of peace, meaning, and direction, which alleviates mental stress and fosters resilience.
Spiritual practices promote emotional healing and resilience, offering tools like gratitude, selflessness, humility, mindfulness, forgiveness, and most importantly love.. Emotional clarity then enhances the ability to connect deeply with spiritual values.
I consider physical self care a sacred act. Our body is a gift and as such connects us to all of creation. A well, fit and healthy body inside and out is the measure of how we are practicing self love and care. Remember if you want to love others you must first love yourself. When we practice an activity such as yoga, hiking, running, swimming or our chosen passion, we are integrating physical wellbeing with spiritual growth. If you practice mindful eating you know that it is a spiritual experience. If you practice your physical activities in nature you know how it nurtures the soul.
The Interplay Of Physical Health.
No matter what our age when we consider the state of our body, we need to include the aspects of strength, agility, endurance, energy, vitality, the absence of disease and environmental toxicity. It is important that our intention is focused on how to continually improve ourselves in each and everyone one of these areas. With enough awareness you will find that just when you thought you are healthy you can find evidence that another level exists. Justifications and excuses are debilitating and as long as you have the awareness to avoid them you won’t need to worry about being complacent. No one has ever complained that they have too much energy.
When we force ourselves to grow by being uncomfortable in our physical activity we improve our mental health by releasing endorphins, enhancing brain health, and reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety. Mental health, in turn, motivates self-care routines that sustain physical health. As the cycle continues it keeps us committed to a lifestyle where we continually feel better and better.
When we have a healthy body it supports emotional well-being by regulating stress hormones and boosting mood. For instance, chronic pain can lead to emotional distress, while physical wellness alleviates it. You know that pushing yourself in your chosen activity enhances how you feel. That is why you do it. As a high performer if we aren’t fine tuning our health then we experience the kind of emotions that drag us down more frequently.
Physical health enhances spiritual practices by providing the energy and vitality needed for meditation, prayer, or mindfulness. Spiritual grounding often motivates healthy habits, such as avoiding harmful substances or practicing moderation. As we engage that internal battle that typically happens when our mind wants to quit but we know that our body can still take us further, it becomes a spiritual experience because we are digging deep within ourselves and challenging ourselves to get uncomfortable in a way that stirs the soul. It is an experience that makes us passionate about our chosen sport or activities. Especially when those activities are outdoors. When we answer the calling to be in the best physical condition we can be it creates a spiritual alignment or experience that can’t be put into words.
Emotional Health
Emotional health involves being present to and able to recognize our feelings. It is the ability to respond, manage, and express emotions effectively.
How does it enhance our mental health? Stable emotions foster clearer thinking and better decision-making. Positive mental states create emotional stability, reducing the cycle of obsessive behaviour or overwhelm.
Balanced emotions have a lot of positive benefits for our physical wellbeing. They reduce stress, lower cortisol levels and boost immune function. The ability to manage emotions can heighten how we engage in our physical activities and also determine our level of commitment to a vigorous lifestyle. Our chosen physical activities in turn, regulate emotions and improve mood. Especially yoga or any activities that involve the spiritual elements of outdoors or nature.
Emotional turmoil can obscure spiritual connection. When you're struggling with intense negative emotions like anxiety, depression, or unresolved issues, it can create a sense of inner noise and disconnection. This can make it difficult to feel the aspects often associated with spiritual well-being such as a sense of peace, purpose, or connection to something larger than yourself.
Growth in one area of wellness enhances all.
If we learn mindfulness we improve our focus and emotional resilience, leading to better physical health through reduced stress and a willingness to engage in healthy habits. If we learn self-compassion it fosters a positive mindset, motivating physical self-care and deepening spiritual practices.
To strengthen every spoke on the wheel of life is an excellent practice or philosophy for self-leadership that will show up in every other area of our lives. From our relationships and our careers to the ripple effect our legacy leaves for present and future generations.
But knowledge doesn’t always determine a change in behaviour or lifestyle. We need to apply this and take it on as an identity or way of being and way of being in the other tools in the self leadership model in order to stay fully engaged in our wellness journey.