Holistic Habits for Better Living

We have become encumbered in new sciences, technologies, and social trends, having lost touch with our roots and what it means to be human. When we hear the word 'holistic', many of us will think of holistic medicine or holistic healing. I think of holistic as a way of living, being true to myself and embracing nature. It's about being awakened, embracing my existence, and adding as much value to my life as I can.

Our generation today is flooded with depression and anxiety. Our lives are not in our control with our thoughts, feelings, passions, and dreams dismissed and repressed so we can surge ahead striving to keep up with ever-growing societal standards. Our generation is in darkness, hiding our pain through video game marathons and drunken nights.

Mental health and wellness in our everyday living has become astray. Instead, we use reclusion, shallow intimacy, and escapism to leverage our bodies to create enough serotonin, fooling ourselves into believing we are truly content.

I find the most inner peace when I am able to clear my mind and touch back to my roots. I have created a list of things we can do for the benefit of our physical and mental well-being. Throughout my life, I have gathered practices from different religions and spiritual beliefs and I have applied these practices as habits in my daily life.

Honor the Earth; the Earth, the vegetation, the sky, the ocean, all one beautiful living organism supporting all of us. You will find clarity when you honor and embrace her. Taking a moment to appreciate nature and your surroundings will bring you a great peace of mind. Going outside or to beautiful places and having genuine gratitude for the elements around you will lift your spirit.

Remember to breath; try to take a moment in each day to take deep, counted breaths for at least one minute every day. There are many health benefits to practicing your breathing. When I practice my breathing, I take very deep inhalations. I feel like I am breathing with my entire body. I always imagine, as I inhale, I am breathing in good positive energy, and when I exhale, I am releasing everything negative. When I truly believe that I am letting go of all the negativity I have been carrying, I feel so much better. It feels good to let go. Sometimes, I don't even know what I am letting go of, but my diaphragm feels more open, I've cycled fresh air through my lungs, I've oxygenated my bloodstream, and it feels wonderful. It's a 10/10, I highly recommend.

Take care of yourself; Our relationships with ourselves are the most important relationships we have in our lives. Your mental and physical health will flourish when you apply self-care habits to your routine. Taking good care of yourself will make you feel good. Do whatever you can to incorporate acts of self-care into your routine schedule.

Have a clean space; A clean space will always bring positivity. Let's face it, a dirty space is a bad vibe. Take care of that pile of clothes, make your bed, run the vacuum, and light a candle. Not only does a cleaner space elevate your mood (for most people), but it's much more difficult for bad energy to linger in a clean space. My mind is always clearer when my space is clean.

Stretch your body; take a moment out of each day to stretch out. Stretch your arms, your legs, back, shoulders and hips. Stretching is one of those simple things that, when practiced routinely, can bring you much needed relief. While I am stretching, I like to think that I am releasing the stress in my mind as I relieve the tension in my body. When I release the tightness in my muscles that cause me pain, I release negativity.

Sage cleanse; every once in a while, it's not a bad idea burn some sage and allow all the negative energy that may be lurking in your space to be cleansed away. I will do this about once or twice a month. I will do it more often if I am having too many bad days where I am feeling depressed. I will also do a sage cleanse in my home after guests leave just in case if they may have been carrying any bad energy with them.

Use essential oils; to reduce stress. Aroma therapy with essential oils will help you feel more positive and relaxed. There are a variety of different oils for different purposes, some will help you sleep, and some will help you breath. Essential oils are a natural, healthy alternative for air fresheners and the essence of the oils will elevate your mood.

Crystals and stones; play an important role in sending out our positive energy to the universe like a wi-fi booster making a signal stronger. They have a dense energy that can amplify our thoughts and intentions. Putting our belief into a crystal and it's given power whether it's the courage given by Tiger's Eye, the clarity given by Amethyst, or the abundant love given by Rose Quarts, even if it seems superstitious or absurd, putting your belief into the universe will generate results. Plus, they're so pretty!

Meditation; to look within. There are many different forms of meditation practices, and there are many reasons for meditation whether it's for healing, self-discovery, seeking clarity, or just trying to maintain balance within yourself, your thoughts, and your emotions. It's good to lay your intentions down before you and decide what is the purpose for your meditation. Whenever I go into meditation, I generally will have questions for myself. Sometimes, I am seeking visual inspiration. Whatever it is you are seeking, you will find within, practice meditation.

Reading a book; is so good for your mind. I love making a cup of tea, putting on some relaxing music, and sitting down and reading a few chapters of a book. I'm not generally a reader so for me it takes discipline, but when I finish reading a book cover to cover, it feels good. I feel accomplished and excited to move on to the next book. Set time to read each day, even if it is only for a few minutes.

Listen to affirmations; daily if you can. Just like with meditations, affirmations need a purpose for whatever it is you are trying to do. There are all kinds of affirmations available, all for different purposes. An affirmation could just be something you tell yourself every day. Affirmations are most effective when used consistently because it is the repetition of hearing the affirmation over and over that is the mechanism giving you positive results. They are supposed to change the way you think so that you can bring change into your life.

It is important to take the best care of ourselves, prioritize our holistic health, and nurture our wellbeing. When we integrate positive habits into our lives and our daily routines, we can keep ourselves in a positive state of mind where we can love and grow. Holistic habits are not only life changing, they are a way of life.

I truly hope that these habits will be helpful for you and bring you love and positivity.