Why Healing (and Happiness) Must Be Holistic
Ever tried following health or fitness tips from influencers?
There are so many videos out there pointing to common issues, like anterior pelvic tilt, and quick fixes like stretching or strengthening your hip flexors.
You’ll find endless examples like this, but they all have one major flaw:
The human body-mind-spirit complex is, well… deeply complex.
Generalizing advice might sound helpful, but it rarely gets to the real heart of the matter. If you truly want to heal or feel happy (or just live in well-being) the process must be holistic.
You must look at yourself as a whole: physically, mentally, emotionally, and even spiritually.
No single stretch, affirmation, or hack can replace a deeper understanding of what’s really going on inside you.
The hidden cause of pain
Let me share a personal story to show you what I mean:
I’m a tall guy, and I spent more than ten years working in an office job.
As you might guess, that wrecked my posture and left me with chronic back pain, even years after I quit.
When I tried to self-diagnose, I thought I had it all figured out.
Based on all those influencer videos, I believed the cause of my back pain was in my legs.
My hamstrings and calves were tight and painful, so naturally, it made sense:
Tight legs → misaligned pelvis → arched back → back pain.
So I did what any “motivated” person would do. I stretched. And stretched. And released tension in my pelvis.
Did it fix my pain?
Heck no!
Very little changed.
Frustrated, I finally went to a physical therapist.
They took a closer look and gave me a completely different diagnosis:
It wasn’t my legs causing the back pain. It was my tight back muscles pulling my pelvis out of alignment, which then caused tightness in my legs.
The real cause was hidden, deeper than I realized.
Once I started focusing on stretching and strengthening my back, a funny thing happened:
Not only did my back pain get better, the tightness in my legs started disappearing too.
So here’s what I learned (and what I hope you’ll take away too).
3 Truths About Healing
If there’s one thing my experience taught me, it’s this:
healing and happiness aren’t about quick fixes or following someone else’s plan to the letter.
You must understand yourself deeply (body, mind, and spirit ) and find what works for you.
Here are 3 truths about healing to get you started:
1. Healing (and happiness) must be holistic
Just like your body is connected to your mind and spirit (and vice versa), your happiness is not just about one area of life.
It’s all connected:
Your body affects your mood.
Your mind affects your physical health.
Your emotions shape your energy.
Your spiritual connection can either uplift you or leave you feeling empty.
Trying to fix just one “part” often doesn’t work.
Lasting happiness and healing happen when you care for all parts of you.
2. Your core issues may lie somewhere unexpected
We often focus on the surface symptoms. You might think your sadness is because of your job, or your stress is because of traffic, or your back pain is because of your legs.
But many times, the real causes are deeper, hidden under layers you can’t see right away.
To truly heal, you need to explore all angles, and sometimes, be open to being wrong about what you think is the problem.
3. You are unique — so you must experiment
There’s no universal recipe that works for everyone.
Period.
Harsh as that may seem, it is an undeniable truth.
You are one of a kind, with your own body, your own mind, your own life story.
What works for someone else might not work for you at all.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t learn from others or take their advice.
It just means that for healing and building true happiness, you have to be a bit of an explorer:
Try different approaches.
Pay attention to what feels right.
Adjust as you go.
Be patient and kind with yourself along the way.
Conclusion: Healing and Happiness are holistic
The journey to healing and happiness isn’t about chasing quick fixes or copying someone else’s method.
Instead, you must explore and honor your whole self, and discover what’s really going on beneath the surface.
You must find your own unique path forward (with help from others not excluded, of course) one step, one insight, and one act of self-care at a time.
You’ve got everything you need inside you: The mechanisms for healing, the answers, the “gut feelings” to guide you to the right expert.
It just takes some digging, some experimenting, and a lot of self-love.
Disclaimer
The entire contents of this blog are based upon the opinions of the author. It is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The information in this blog is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult your health care professional before trying any of the products or methods based on this content. I cannot guarantee that you will be free of stress, anxiety or depression, or that you will be happy. I simply want to share with you what I have discovered during my twenty years of seeking happiness and what has worked for me may not work for you.
