What is Holistic Health? The 5 Pieces of The Holistic Health and Wellness and Why It's So Important
Jun 30, 2023
We have all heard of the term “holistic health.” It has become somewhat of a blanket term in the natural health and wellness world, but what does it really mean? I find that several individuals think of “holistic” as meaning “natural” or “alternative” medicine. While these modalities could certainly be useful within a holistic approach to our health, so could some western, conventional medicine. This article will discuss the 5 pieces of holistic health and wellness and how it makes up a complete puzzle.
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So let’s take a look at what “holistic” actually means. The Webster Dictionary defines holistic as relating to or concerned with wholes or with complete systems. This rather than with the analysis of, treatment of, or dissection into parts. Simply put, it is taking closely interconnected parts and looking at it as a whole, like a puzzle. As a nurse, I was taught to look at the whole person when assessing a patient. In a holistic approach, the practice is treating the whole person rather than one symptom or disease.
Holistic Health – The Complete Puzzle
This may be a big part of why folks look at alternative medicine and holistic health as the same entity. We tend to see each system, problem, symptom, etc., become segmented. This results in many specialists that sometimes don’t consult with one another. While this may happen, an individual may very well need to be under the care of a medical professional, such as a cardiologist. They may also need to be on certain medications. Having these as part of someone’s treatment plan does not mean a holistic approach can’t be used. It just means that part of their “whole” requires this particular treatment, but the root cause is considered and dealt with when considering the whole person. The modern medicine approach may be needed, and perhaps, short-lived, as the root cause is hopefully rectified.
When we talk about the root cause, this really is the single most important factor in healing. You may be familiar with the term “functional,” as in functional medicine, and this is really what this means. The root cause of the signs and symptoms is being sought after, and an effective way of putting all of these puzzle pieces together.
A puzzle can’t be complete without having all the pieces. While modern medicine has given us amazing breakthroughs and lifesaving innovations, it typically only focuses on one body section. So what are the 5 building blocks to holistic health and wellness?
Embracing Complete Wellness
These pieces are essential moving parts when embracing complete wellness within the “whole self,” physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and mental. In other words, health, love and relationships, your career or calling, and your connection to that which is greater. Address all of these pieces for true healing to become possible. Healing is a constant state and is not one size fits all. It is also not something that one can accomplish overnight. All 5 of these modalities work in conjunction with one another, balancing the mind, body, and spirit. When one or two of the pieces are “missing” or off-balance, the others cannot fit nicely into place. These 5 holistic health and wellness pieces make up this holistic puzzle, but each piece is its own entity. Let’s take a closer look at the individual parts.
PHYSICAL
When someone thinks about their health, they think about the physical aspect of it. Our physical state is often what presents itself first when something is not right within our bodies. We can measure and follow the physical symptom, such as pain, easier than the other pieces. As a result, the “physical” aspects become what we focus on most.
In many cases, the reason why there is a physical ailment, in some way, circles back to one of the other areas of the puzzle. How you feel physically may have a lot to do with what else is going on in your mind, with your emotions, or in the environment, you live or work in. Florence Nightingale was the pioneer for integrating unity, wellness, and the interrelationships of human beings and their environment. Address these areas to heal completely and physically.
In helping to optimize your physical wellbeing, following a “healthy” lifestyle includes the following. Exercise, good nutrition, avoiding toxins as much as possible, limiting stress, and getting plenty of rest are vital. Additionally, exploring and implementing growth in all other 4 aspects of “holism” is essential for physical well-being.
MENTAL
In the stressful and demanding world we live in, mental health can be challenging to maintain but is vitally important. Mental health is not something anyone wants to talk about freely. And to some, discussing it is taboo. Remove the stigma behind it. It plays a large role in our health and well-being overall. With anxiety and depression on the rise in adults and children, we need to start looking at the root of the cause in every individual instead of merely putting a “band-aid” on the symptoms.
Looking at the person’s ecosystem, the family, peers, living environment, support system, and community is essential in treating and supporting mental health. Prolonged mental health disorders and illnesses can lead to lifelong struggles. These include substance abuse and behavioral disorders. They can ultimately affect all other health and well-being areas. Getting to the root of the issue is imperative in obtaining complete health and wellness.
Our emotional aspect often overlaps the mental piece of the holistic puzzle. The main difference between the two is the brain’s ability to problem solve and function cognitively. Avoiding addressing our mental health will ultimately affect our physical health.
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EMOTIONAL
This piece of holism helps us to cope in our everyday life and thrive in our interpersonal relationships. Emotional wellbeing has its own pieces that are important to acknowledge, self-awareness, self-regulation, social skills, motivation, and empathy. These 5 aspects have been closely looked at by psychologists and were formulated into a concept they called “emotional intelligence.” One psychologist and science journalist for The New York Times, Daniel Goleman, wrote a book on Emotional Intelligence; Why it Can Matter More Than IQ, and describes these 5 aspects in detail. He takes the rational and the emotional, and with great detail, backed by both science and example, explains how they together shape our destiny. Our emotional state can impact many areas of our lives. It can determine our profession, relationships, and even physical health. Having stress-reducing habits (exercise, yoga, meditation) and practicing mindfulness are effective ways to support your emotional well-being.
SOCIAL
Whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, deep human connection is a necessity for our wellbeing. Having a deep connection with family, friends, and community is closely related to our emotional, mental, and even spiritual aspects of health and wellness. However, having close relationships does not always mean they are healthy connections. Relationships with others can sometimes be unhealthy and perhaps even toxic. It can be difficult to end these connections. Sometimes it isn’t possible, especially if the person is family. In this situation, it is important to set boundaries. This may be one of the hardest things to do. However, it is imperative for your own growth and emotional wellbeing.
Involve yourself in your community. It is a great way to support your social connections. Not only will you possibly develop important relationships, but studies show that giving back to your community, and giving in general, increases endorphins (those feel-good chemicals in the brain), which play an important role in feeling pleasure.
SPIRITUAL
Although the two are overlapping in many ways, spiritual wellbeing does not necessarily mean Religion. Many of us start our spiritual journey when there is a significant event in our lives that warrants healing. A spiritual connection helps us feel peace from within and connect to our soul while simultaneously connecting to something greater. When we grow spiritually, our view on how we see the world changes, whatever religion or belief
Spiritual growth brings positive change in one’s life as we seek a deeper meaning. We value relationships more and become more generous. We ultimately feel less stressed and more humble. This may be practiced through religion with prayer or perhaps with meditation to experience inner peace and strength. Even connecting closer to nature can be considered “that of which is greater” and brings us spiritual awareness and inner peace. The spiritual connection has been shown to enhance every other piece in this puzzle. It is often missed within the health paradigm.
Putting the Pieces Together
The ever-evolving balance of mind, body, and spirit is very much dependent on these 5 building puzzle pieces. I know that medication is sometimes necessary. I have seen some great things that they can do. However, I feel it is not always warranted. The connection with the people around us, combined with the intrinsic natural beauty within ourselves and the world around us, can effectively provide us with better insight into what we need in embracing a more holistic approach to health and wellbeing. With all 5 pieces strong and working nicely together, we can have a solid foundation for complete health and wellness.
If you have any questions about the 5 pieces of holistic health and wellness, please reach out and book a call with me! I am a holistic nurse wellness coach who uses transformational habit change to help people embrace a holistic approach to their health and well-being!
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