#WELLNESSWEDNESDAY
In a world where access to health and wellness is often presented as a luxury, it can be challenging to find and connect with spaces of rejuvenation and healing. Though the distress of such obstacles are real, it still remains that everyone deserves a right to heal! I invite you to consider these 5 ways to focus on healing by taking back your power in your health. While the healthcare system will fight to keep your money by keeping you sick and generally unwell, let me remind you that the power to reclaim personal autonomy of your health, life, and overall well being is yours. May these words provide a sacred reminder that true healing starts from within and can be cultivated by choosing to play an active role in facilitating personal healing, growth, and wholeness.
- Nourish the Body. The body is a powerful force of nature that has an incredible ability to heal and restore itself. This natural phenomena is facilitated through receiving proper nourishment, adequate hydration, ample movement, and plenty of rest. These foundational principles of health are more than mere guidelines to follow, rather a way of life that centers vitality and physical well-being. Consider what foods rejuvenate your body? How can you add more movement into your day? Remember that you are in control! You have the power of choice and can have fun trying and exploring new ways to sustain the body.
- Rest the Mind. Mental stimulation abounds as numerous distractions attempt to stake claims on your attention. Although these distractions grow exponentially by the day, choose to incorporate intentional stillness into your mind. Practice various forms of meditation, take thinking and content breaks, or even carve out 5 minutes a day to simply sit and just be. Give yourself permission to release stress and calm mental tension by redirecting mental energy to a space of rest. You, and your mind, deserve it.
- Cultivate the Spirit. Although it is a vital component of healing, spiritual health is often overlooked and neglected. Many have only known Spirit to exist within the context of religion, and while this is one way of cultivating Spirit, it is not the only way. It is ok to cultivate a personal path to connection with the Divine in ways that best serve and are in alignment with personal values. What lights you up and brings you joy? Whose presence refills your energy? If nothing comes to mind in such reflection, try going outside to connect with Earth as a way to remind your individual Spirit of an existence within something far larger than self.
- Express Creativity. As the demands of life fight for attention, creativity is often the first to be abandoned and cast aside. In these moments, it’s important to remember that self expression and personal creation of any kind are tremendously helpful in fostering health and wholeness. Inside everyone is a unique gift, talent, or passion that when fully expressed, creates space to thrive and encourages that life be lived fully and authentically. It is truly a disservice to the world to keep such awesomeness hidden inside. What unique gifts have you been suppressing? What does it look like when you invite these special and creative parts out into the world?
- Invite Play. Playfulness is easily lost in the hustle and bustle of adult life. Oppressive systems have convinced us that fun and play are things of the past, mere childhood fantasies that now only exist as nostalgia. This simply is not true. Humans are curious by nature, and this curiosity is best explored in spaces of freedom and fun. Since play is actualized differently for everyone, make a list of activities that bring you light and fill you with a sense of childlike excitement and joy, and then get out and do them! Give yourself permission to have a little fun.
Although these 5 reminders may seem simple to understand, the work comes in sustaining them as practices in your daily life. It is passive work to read these words and agree with the sentiment, however, the challenge is in being an active participant by doing the work. How will you do the work of cultivating health and wellness in your life today?
ABOUT LA’TASHA KIONGOZI
EXHALE Social welcomes our newest contributor La’Tasha Kiongozi curator of our Wellness Wednesday series. La’Tasha Kiongozi is a poet, educator, healer, and sacred artist committed to mindfully savoring the joys of life. They advocate for self expression and honor creativity as medicine. Through their writing and healing remedies, they hope to inform, encourage, and inspire all they cross paths with to flow in holistic wellness and abundance. When they are not brewing herbal medicines or showcasing their work at conferences and workshops, La’Tasha can be found playfully exploring the world, gazing up at the stars, or immersed in a good book. Connect with La’Tasha and explore their work and offerings.
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