In the last article called “The Depths of the Well…ness” this series was first introduced. To review, wellness boils down to the idea that there is a lot going on with us human beings. In order to be considered healthy in a way that most people would agree, we would need to look at all of the different areas of human life. This means that we get closer to being healthy when we have a balanced lifestyle. The list of dimensions may vary from author to author, but we will use this set for this series on wellness: physical, intellectual, social, spiritual, emotional, occupational (vocational), and environmental.
When reflecting on being “well” most of us probably first think of our physical health. If we don’t have a passing cold at the moment or any chronic disease, we might conclude that we are healthy. But let’s expand our perspective and view the big picture. And while we do this, let’s try and keep it as simple as possible.
The basics of good physical health involve nutrition, sleep, and exercise. I call these the “big three.” These three have some connection to each other. They are also quite related to some of the other dimensions of wellness. Let’s take a look.
Nutrition is closely tied to our physical health. If we are eating lots of processed foods and “fast” junk food, we are likely not going to feel very well and may be in danger of gaining weight over time. Top athletes pay very close attention to nutrition because they know that food is fuel for their bodies. It’s pretty clear from scientific studies that eating fruits and vegetables are pretty important for good physical health. If we begin to study nutrition we start to see the difference between healthy fats (the avocado is one of my favorites) and unhealthy fats (ice cream is one of my favorites). One step in preparation for making changes to what we eat is to learn about foods and nutrition. It takes a little of our time but will be worth it. It can even be fun to join with a spouse or a friend in this learning process, or to form a small support group.
Nutrition is important for physical health, but also for our emotional health and intellectual health. Schools push the idea of a healthy breakfast and lunch because they know that kids perform better intellectually and behaviorally when they have been fed. Nothing can make us irritable like being hungry. If we are really serious about improving your nutrition, we can consult or work with a nutritionist or registered dietician.
Food and meals also have emotional, spiritual and social aspects. In the Eucharist, we celebrate a communal “meal.” Catholics believe that simple bread and wine become the real Body and Blood of Christ, essential spiritual nourishment for our earthly survival and salvation. Many parties and celebrations are centered on food. Eating as part of what it means to be human, and we enjoy sharing this activity with others. Food can be abused for emotional comfort, but a support group or therapist can help if this occurs.
Before we move away from nutrition, I want to single out water since most of us don’t drink enough of this important fluid. We might want to make every attempt to eliminate soda from our diet. Even soda with zero calories is not healthy. We should not assume that we can get your water supply from flavored mixtures like lemonade or from tea. Just drink plenty of plain old water from the tap. In the United States, we are blessed to have a pretty clean water supply. We can skip the bottled water and save money.
Sleep is critical for wellness. Our immune system and sleep are closely related. We may recall a time when we were sick and just wanted to sleep all day. We heal and are physically and mentally restored when we sleep. This also happens sometimes with Depression. Sleep is especially important for kids, because this is when growth hormones are released. On the other hand, our emotions can interfere with sleep, which may leave us physically and mentally exhausted.
We have certainly heard a lot about exercise in recent years. And we see the info ads recommending that we do this special intense program or that one. One of the most interesting articles I read evaluated and compared all of the various types of exercise, but concluded in the end that the best exercise was the one that we are willing to do on a regular basis. This means that we ultimately need to find some exercise that we actually enjoy doing. Imagine that. Think not in terms of doing the minimum, but rather doing something every day to stay active. Walking is great exercise. Some people walk the mall alone or in a small group. Some people take a break from work and walk the parking garage ramps. One day I’d like to start a small group that would walk and pray together. Whatever we decide to do for exercise, we need to make it our thing. If we are not sure if we are physically up to starting exercise, then we should consult our physician first. If we are already exercising, then we just need keep it going!
Obesity has links to poor eating habits, lack of exercise, and even problems with sleep. Isn’t it interesting that our culture has a major problem with obesity right now, and all three of the “big three” issues of nutrition, sleep, and exercise are involved? Let’s move on from the “big three” and see what else might be in the physical arena.
We might see if we can cut back on or eliminate drugs including alcohol and nicotine (both legal drugs). I’m not talking about prescribed medicines that we might need. We are a pill-popping culture, and much of what we take is not necessary. We get a little headache and immediately pop a pain killer. We feel like we absolutely must have a beer with our Tex-Mex food. Alcohol is a drug, and can be addictive just like many other drugs…so be careful with it. Tobacco is a deadly habit because nicotine makes it highly addictive. Alcohol is often abused in order to numb some emotional pain or stress (here we see the interaction between the physical and emotional again). It might be a challenge to decide to really change a drug or alcohol or smoking problem, but millions of people have done it and are doing it every day. We can too! And the good news is that we don’t have to do it alone.
Sex and our sexuality are part of physical wellness but also have emotional, social, and spiritual components. Sexuality is one aspect of what it means to be human. If we reflect upon the idea that God created us in his image (Genesis 1:26-27) and the idea that Christ took on a human body while on earth then we might come to believe that our bodies reveal something about God and our journey to heaven. Blessed Pope John Paul II described how the Bible begins with the marriage of Adam and Eve, and ends with our marriage to God and the Church. St. Paul describes Jesus as the head and the Church as the body, intimately connected as one. There is no reason then for us to think of our bodies as bad or the enemy. The sexual relationship of a husband and wife prepare us for the intimate love relationship that we will have one day with God. Even those who are single or consecrated celibates can honor God with their bodies by living a life of purity. Our enemy the devil twists sex and sexuality to distort this beautiful message so that we will detour off the path to heaven. We see this today for example in the increase of pornography and marital infidelity. Like food and alcohol, sex can be abused for emotional reasons and can get confused with intimacy. There are support groups and therapy to help with these issues. As author Christopher West describes, we must properly reclaim the body for spiritual purposes from the two extremes of hedonism and puritanism.
Yes, we all know that health care is currently in a sad state in our country, but it is part of physical wellness. If we have an ongoing illness or disease, then we can work with our doctor or nurse for our long-term recovery. Our chronic illness may not have a cure, but it may have a treatment for symptom relief. Our recovery means that we are actively engaged in the treatment. There are many people who have a chronic illness but for various reasons don’t stick to the recommended treatment. We could have an honest talk with ourselves or our physician or psychotherapist about why this might be, and see if we can put a plan into place to get into recovery. Sometimes a support group of people with the same disease can be beneficial. Learning about our illness or disease can also help. Our neglect of health care usually not only impacts us, but those around us.
Even illnesses that are short-term can be difficult to cope with. Sometimes there is a great amount of pain involved. These temporary illnesses can interfere with our enjoyment of life. We shouldn’t be afraid to lean on others for support, and to make changes in our life so that we are taking care of ourselves and allowing for the healing process to take place. I recall when I got a really nasty case of the flu a few years ago, which turned into pneumonia. I think I was sick for about almost two months and at times felt pretty miserable. I had to stop exercising and my sleep was totally messed up, so I had to rest frequently. I wasn’t sure on some days if all the medications were making me feel better or actually making me feel worse. I had to set aside my pride and allow others to take care of me at times. I kept telling myself that I was going to eventually get better…and thankfully I did.
Problems with our physical health can lead to true suffering. Whether it is a disability, a long-term illness or even a short term sickness, or challenge like obesity or a physical addiction…we can really feel discouraged and sometimes fall into deep despair. It is common for us to ask: “Why me?” Physical suffering can become a spiritual opportunity if we are open to the invitation. It can offer a chance for new and deeper connection with others, if we are interested, because seeing suffering evokes compassion in others. It can be very reassuring that our God knows intimately our human physical suffering, because he experienced it (see Isaiah 53). Physical suffering was a necessary part of our salvation. St. Paul tried to describe how he could rejoice in his sufferings (Colossians 1:24). It is a part of our human condition, and finding meaning in suffering is an example of how we are elevated higher than the animal world, an indication of how we are special creatures of God (see Blessed Pope John Paul II’s apostolic letter Salvifici Doloris). He says in this amazing letter, “It is suffering, more than anything else, which clears the way for grace which transforms human souls.”
Certainly there is a lot more to be said about the physical aspect of wellness. In this brief summary, I’ve tried to help us begin to reflect on our physical health, and how it interacts with the other dimensions of wellness: the emotional, intellectual, social, spiritual, and so on. Many of us focus on physical health at the beginning of a new year, so let’s not just make it a temporary resolution, but part of a changed lifestyle…a lifestyle of total wellness and wholeness.
The next article in this series will focus on the emotional aspect of wellness.