In this article, we’re going to take a look at how to become more happy this year, in a holistic way, as many people focus on improving their happiness in one particular area such as their fitness or their relationships but happiness is akin to the body’s state of homeostasis in that there needs to be balance throughout all systems in order to be “happy”.
It’s not that you are “happy” in your relationship but miserable in your job – happiness is a state of being that, agreed, can fluctuate based on environmental factors but is akin to homeostasis in that there are certain things that will add and detract to your overall state – meaning happiness is more of a balance, rather than an acute state.
Therefore we shouldn’t confuse joy or elation with happiness; it’s possible to feel something sad in the moment but be generally happy in ourselves. The challenge comes when we do not feel that way.
Interestingly, many people search for happiness in external forms… clutching at activities or other people to bring happiness their way, yet whilst these people and activities can bring instant shots of happiness, for instance, by going on vacation, true happiness is more a state of being – within yourself, and no matter where you go or what you do, if your state of happiness isn’t internal, it will always feel like a void that cannot be filled.
Therefore, what we’re really striving for in our quest for holistic happiness is a state of being rather than a state of “doing”. We can all engage in activities that distract us, and make us happy in the moment, but sustained happiness tends to come from a feeling of self-worth and self-care that must be created from within.
Therefore, in this article, we’re going to take a look at how to have a more holistic sense of happiness in the context of taking care of your mind, body and spirit.
MIND
There are endless topics that could be discussed when it comes to the mind, yet perhaps the most pertinent is that of coping with stress. When it comes to stress, it’s important to remember that your body is one connected unit – meaning stress can have a very detrimental effect on your physical state as well as your mental state.
When we look at the word disease, it represents the body being in a state of “dis-ease” meaning disharmony. It means your body is not in a state of balance; it’s quite literally in a state of unease.
Your body can cope with this unease for a long period of time, as our bodies are very resilient, yet there is a point where the elastic band get so stretched that it snaps.
Your body develops external manifestations of this inner state of stress – with the most common symptoms being simple, such as headaches, muscle pain, jaw ache, palpitations, and difficulty sleeping.
We often ignore these minor ailments, yet they should be viewed as warning signs.
If we think of this in the analogy of a headache, it’s important to resolve the root cause rather than mask the pain or treat the symptoms. Many people reach for paracetamol to take away the pain of a headache – but paracetamol simply blocks the pain. The pain still exists at an energetic level.
When you take a more holistic approach and aim to resolve the root cause, you start to bring your body back into a state of balance – meaning, the symptoms start to dissipate.
In summary, it’s important not to overlook the negative effect that stress can have on your body… but to accept that ‘stress’ exists… and rather than attempt to avoid it – it is more effective to consider how to manage stress instead.
BODY
There are many aspects to consider when it comes to taking care of your body, anything from ensuring you get enough sleep, to drinking enough water, to having the right contraceptive injection, but what it all comes down to is a sense of taking care of yourself.
People that take care of themselves don’t tend to binge drink, or stay up into the early hours, or engage in risky sexual practices – they treat their body as a temple. There are many different ways to do this, as in, some people swear by drinking aloe vera or a green juice, whilst others are convinced yoga holds the key to their health.
The point is, all of these things are just different vehicles to achieve the same result – health – you need to focus on whatever works for you, but the trick is to do it consistently.
All too many people have a very short burst mentality when it comes to taking care of their bodies, in that they will yo-yo diet or join a gym but then stop going after a few weeks. The key point is consistency.
SPIRIT
The needs of the spirit often get overlooked, but you can have a fantastic mind and body, yet feel completely miserable. The spirit is something that must be nourished, and the best way to nourish your spirit is through the act of self-care and engaging in activities that bring you joy.
Many people go through an entire week without experiencing something they would consider to be “joy”. Often, this is because they have associated a state of joy with having to do something really intense – such as skydive, or get on a flight to a tropical beach, yet the most happy people are those that can appreciate the simple things in life — the simplicity of going outside and taking a deep breath of fresh air, for instance.
Therefore, when it comes to nourishing the spirit, you need to find ways to experience joy on a daily basis meaning it doesn’t have to be derived from massive achievements or activities – find pleasure in the simple things and it will lift your spirit much higher.
After all, if you can feel joy simply from having a warm shower or feeling the fluffy towel against your skin, wouldn’t that make for a much happier life?
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