In my last blog I talked about my definition of healthy living. I would like to continue with my discussion about healthy living by adding a few other ideas that I think are necessary to live healthy.
The definition that I use is creating a lifestyle where you feel balanced mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. Healthy living is creating and maintaining a healthy body to make it possible to carry out daily activities and have the energy to enjoy special occasions too.
I believe that when people consider healthy living they generally think about nutrition and exercise as the keys to healthy living. These two topics are what I discussed in the last blog. In today’s blog I would like to discuss two others -- listening to your intuition, and creating a maintaining a loving and supportive community.
There have been many names attributed to people’s intuitive nature: God, intuition, inner voice, higher consciousness, universal power, source and many, many more. Please insert whichever term best fits your belief system best.
The way to tap into that intuitive nature usually requires the individual to quiet the mind or to be still and create a space to hear the inner voice speak, guiding you to making healthy living choices. I find the best way to do this is to have some form of meditation.
Meditation can take several forms. Not all meditation is sitting with your legs crossed. Meditation can be active, like taking a yoga class or going for a mindful walk.
Some people say they clear their minds while running or doing the dishes. It can be any activity where you give your mind permission to slow down all your thoughts.
My idea to create healthy living is being part of a supportive and loving community. As human beings, like all mammals, we're placed on this planet to interact with others in community. I believe loving and supporting networks might be the most important element to healthy living.
While I was in medical school, I was captivated by the story and picture of "The Rescuing Hug". I had to find out the story behind it.
"The Rescuing Hug" is a story of the birth of twin girls. Shortly after birth one baby was thriving while the other baby was not expected to live. The attending nurse decided, against the hospital policy, to put the healthy thriving twin in the same incubator with the twin in critical condition.
As the healthy twin put her arm around her sister, the critical baby's vital signs began to improve and normalize. They both survived and left the hospital in good health. The embrace of the sisters may have essentially saved the life of the critical twin.
This poignant tale adeptly illustrates the power of love, support, and touch in the healthy living. Having a loving and supportive community acts in the same way as that hug, it serves as a life-line in difficult times and so it is essential part of healthy living.
My definition of healthy living includes four areas: nutrition, movement, listening to your intuition (spiritual wisdom) and creating and maintaining loving and supportive community. Creating a life with these as a foundation can create or maintain healthy living.
Live Vibrantly,
Dr. Dae
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Dr. Dae is a Naturopathic Physician who practices in the Washington DC metro area treats the whole person using safe and effective combinations of traditional and natural methods to produce optimal health and well-being in the lives of her patients.
Sources:
Orloff, Judith. Dr. Judith Orloff's guide to intuitive healing: five steps to physical, emotional, and sexual wellness. New York: Times Books, 2000. Print.
Townsend, Liz. "Premature Twins Thrive with a "Rescuing Hug" | National Right to Life News | Find Articles." Find Articles | News Articles, Magazine Back Issues & Reference Articles on All Topics. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Jan. 2012. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_6899/is_4_28/ai_n28124728/.
Rescuing Hug . Snopes.com. Web 12, Jan. 2012.
http://www.snopes.com/glurge/hug.asp
Reviewed January 13, 2012
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith