Five Facets of Health - Week 39
Busy week this week, so let’s jump straight to the 5 Facets of Health. Back with a longer post next week. Be good to each other.
Five Facets of Health: Week 39
If you're new to the 5 Facets of Health, learn more here. Avoid trying to implement everything at once! These suggestions are meant to spark ideas. To build healthy habits, focus on one or two aspects over the next week.
Physical Health
Pushing yourself physically can be as much a mental battle as a physical one. Our brains are programmed to avoid discomfort and pain, both of which often accompany physical challenges that help us get stronger and more fit. When you notice inner voice telling you to back off or stop, pause for a moment and sit with the thought. Are you actually feeling pain that could cause a lasting injury? Or are you just uncomfortable? If it’s just discomfort, that quiet that inner voice and take an attitude of curiosity. Be curious about what your body can do and how hard you can push. You might just surprise yourself.
"Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will."
— Mahatma Gandhi
Action: Identify one physical activity you've been avoiding due to discomfort, like running an extra mile or adding weight to your lifting routine. Commit to attempting it this week, paying attention to your body's signals to differentiate between harmful pain and growth-inducing discomfort.
Mental Health
The months of January through March can drag on due to the lingering winter and lack of celebratory holidays to distract us from the cold. Make sure you’re making time to move your body, get outside, and get enough sunlight. All of these things will improve your mental health and get you through to warmer, sunnier days.
"Keep your face always toward the sunshine—and shadows will fall behind you."
— Walt Whitman
Action: Schedule a daily 15-minute walk outside, regardless of the weather, to incorporate natural light into your routine and enhance your mental health.
Emotional/Social Health
Find some time to serve someone around you. Not only will it strengthen your relationship with that person, but it will help you feel happier and focus less on any problems you may be preoccupied with.
"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."
— Mahatma Gandhi
Action: Choose one person in your life to help this week, whether through a small act of kindness, volunteering your time, or simply lending an ear. Notice the impact this has on your emotional state and your connection with that person.
Spiritual Health
Having a daily spiritual practice like prayer of meditation is so important to create mental clarity and confidence in your life. When you feel like you’re a part of something bigger and you seek help from the Divine, your life will improve!
"We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience."
— Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
Action: Dedicate a specific time each morning or evening for a spiritual practice of your choice, such as meditation, prayer, or journaling about gratitude, and observe the effects on your daily life.
Financial Health
Make time on a regular basis to work on something you’re truly passionate about. I’ve had several experiences where I pursued opportunities just because I thought they would benefit me financially. Often times, those opportunities didn’t work out and I was frustrated because I was working on something I didn’t love. But when you pursue your passions, you’re more likely to stick with it when things get hard. Persistence and endurance are critical components to achieving the financial success you seek in an opportunity.
"Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you."
— Oprah Winfrey
Action: Reflect on what truly excites you and dedicate at least one hour this week to a project or hobby related to that passion. Consider how this pursuit could be integrated into your financial goals or career path.