[The freedom to choose a holistic, balanced life… or not.]

Human beings are blessed with the ability to practice anything and get better at it. We have absolute freedom to develop ourselves in any way we choose, and are only limited by the ways we believe we are limited. The other side to this is that abilities or aspects of ourselves that we put no energy into tend to be reduced. Energy goes wherever we want it to and in as many different ways as we want, but things that receive no energy will eventually go away. We can make this universal tendency work for us or let it limit us.

Look at infants. Babies can barely move when they are newborn. They just lie there, wiggle a little and look bewildered by the world around them. Then they want to move around to more fully experience the things they see, hear, feel, smell and touch. Energy flows and they learn to crawl. That’s a little better but still slow and the view isn’t what it could be. So they learn to walk. Pretty shaky ground at first, lots of practice needed, to be sure, but eventually they are walking all over the place. Ask any parent, and I am sure they will tell you all about a child’s ability to get anywhere. Then they learn to run, swim, ride bicycles, and drive motor vehicles (even more fun for the parents). All this comes from the initial focus of intent on developing movement. We choose to move, energy starts flowing, and the next thing you know, we are able to do all sorts of things. The human race has even learned how to fly faster than the speed of sound and travel into outer space. This all came about as a result of focusing intent and applying imagination. Using what we’ve got.

This same process of development can occur in as many ways as we can imagine. Most of us are familiar with the muscle-bound guy who has the wits of a doorstop. Or the brilliant scientist who can barely talk to people, let alone have a well-developed emotional relationship. These are examples of people who have developed one aspect of themselves and left the other aspects unused. From a holistic point of view, there are four main aspects in all people – the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. By ensuring that energy is put into all four, we promote balance within ourselves. The natural consequence is better health, sound mind, healthy relationships, and a feeling of safety, happiness, and contentment.

To develop ourselves physically, I like a combination of nutrition, walking, and stretching. The foods we eat are the substances the body is going to use to build cells. If the substances are nutrient-dense, unprocessed, and without chemical additives and preservatives, the body will be able to build strong, healthy cells. The natural side effect of having healthy cell structure is improved health. Walking is a way to experience life and promote good cardiovascular health at the same time. It is very easy to do, requires no special equipment, and can be managed in a variety of settings. Walking strengthens the heart muscle, helps deliver oxygen to all the cells of the body, and helps us maintain proper weight. It also develops the muscles in the legs nicely. Walking also serves to stimulate lymphatic flow to strengthen the immune system. Stretching allows our tendons and ligaments to remain flexible so that we don’t limit our range of movement. It also fosters muscle development and helps relieve aches and pains.

Mental development is accomplished through learning about things that we are interested in. We all have tremendous learning potential; we just need to put energy into it. One of the most effective ways to develop the mind is through the practice of reading. Non-fiction helps us broaden our knowledge about the world in which we live. Fiction has the positive attribute of sparking the imagination. Using the imagination is the next most powerful tool to mental development. Two excellent methods are writing and drawing. Both are easy, inexpensive, and have unlimited potential. Draw anything, write anything. Just keep your intention on doing good things and you can’t go wrong.

To work on the emotional self is to get comfortable with expressing emotions. First, validate your emotions. Identify whatever the emotion is and say, “I feel loving” or “I feel scared,” or whatever. Allow yourself to feel that emotion. Think about the sensations that accompany the emotion. Communicate the way you feel to either yourself or the people around you. If the emotion is your reaction to something another person said or did, communicate it to them without negative intent. Don’t attack them with it; just state the fact that you feel this way. If the emotion is hurtful in any way, forgive both yourself and everyone else involved. One of the most wonderful ways to heal is through forgiveness. Keep in mind that the way you feel at any time is your choice. Things happen, and we choose to react in whatever manner we want. Realizing this is very empowering and develops the emotional self in such a way that we can understand ourselves much better.

Meditation and prayer are keys to learning how to develop the spiritual self. Meditation comes in many forms and methods. If you find one that you really like, practice it for as long as it makes you feel good. A very simple, effective form that I use is to sit in a comfortable place, preferably without many outside distractions (ringing phones, barking dogs, sword-swinging ninjas). Close your eyes and observe your breath. Passively allow yourself to feel your breath as it moves in and out of your body. If you find yourself thinking about other things, return your attention to your breath.

Another method is to sit comfortably and watch the flame of a candle. Again, if you find yourself thinking other thoughts, return your attention to the candle flame. Continue observing your breath or the flame for as long as you wish.

Prayer is simply taking a few minutes a day to hope for the well-being of other people and things. You can choose to pray to a god or gods, to the planet, the universe or anything else that feels right. You can also simply hope for the best without praying to anything. The main focus is just to hope for wellness for anyone or anything. Here’s a very cool tip: To bring about well-being in your life, pray for the well-being of others. Another cool tip: Praying for the well-being of people and things you love is easy; praying for the well-being of those you don’t love is profound.

Life is easy. We have unlimited choices at any time. We just need to deal with the consequences, for better or for worse, of all the choices we make. The gift of life comes equipped with unlimited potential, and we can either choose to use it, to develop ourselves in a holistic, balanced way, or we can choose to limit ourselves and lose sight of that potential.

Patrick Ray is a holistic health counselor, vibrational therapist, and certified nutritional consultant. He offers consultations online, by phone, or in clients’ homes. (727) 559-8603.