The Role Our Mindset Plays in Our Health by Jenny Renlund
Holistic well-being refers to an approach that considers the whole person — body, mind, and emotions, in the pursuit of optimal health and wellness. When we want optimal health and performance, it's essential to understand how one affects the other and how we can take care of each area in the way that suits us best. Bio-individuality refers to our unique and individualized needs; therefore, we must respond differently to factors like diet, exercise, lifestyle, and environmental influences. What works well for you might not work for somebody else.
How to move our bodies, rest and get proper nutrition has been discussed for years. While these are essential aspects of our well-being, we must also learn how our mindset and thoughts affect our health and well-being. Our daily thoughts and how we perceive the world can profoundly impact our physical health, emotional well-being, and mental state. Did you know that humans have 60 000 - 80 000 thoughts daily? And of these thoughts, around 80% are negative, and 95% are the same repetitive thoughts we had the day before. How we think about ourselves and the world can drastically impact our well-being. Imagine if your thoughts are the same, negative thoughts, day in and day out. Even if we would change our nutrition and workout plan - how would the change happen if our inner world is the same? By changing our thoughts, we can change our stress response, grow resilience, be well, and perform our best.
As mentioned, a holistic approach considers the person as whole. This is how one can affect the other:
A stressed mindset can lead to -> stomach problems and poor sleep.
Daily negative thoughts can lead to -> physical stiffness in the body.
Feelings of being overwhelmed can lead to -> not feeling in control, doing less instead of getting things done.
These are some examples, and it works the other way around too:
Stomach problems or poor sleep can lead to -> a stressed mindset.
Physical stiffness in the body -> tendency to have a more negative outlook on day-to-day life due to constant pain.
Having too much on your plate -> feelings of being overwhelmed.
So, where do you start? We need to get clear on the root cause; what is holding you back from optimal health? Then, create awareness. Awareness equals growth; you can only change something you are aware of. Slowly, we can rewire our thinking patterns so that our minds will instinctively seek positive thoughts and implement new behaviors and habits, creating a more resilient mindset.
A resilient mindset allows us to bounce back from setbacks and challenges more effectively. Embracing a growth mindset and seeing failures as opportunities for learning and growth can enhance our resilience in adversity. Generally, a positive and optimistic mindset is associated with higher overall well-being and life satisfaction. It contributes to a more positive outlook on life and greater overall happiness.
It's important to note that our mindset is not fixed; it can be shaped and developed through self-awareness, intentional practice, and mindset training. Neuroplasticity is the brain's remarkable ability to change and adapt throughout our lives. It refers to the brain's capacity to reorganize its neural connections, form new pathways, and adjust its structure in response to experiences, learning, and environmental influences.
Cultivating a positive, growth-oriented mindset and learning to challenge and reframe negative thoughts can have a transformative effect on our well-being, leading to a happier and healthier life. Things doesn’t have to stay the same because ”that’s the way they have always been.” If you want to make a change, you can, and a positive outlook on life can help you with that.
Thank you for taking the time to read my article. Does this topic resonate with you? My 12-week-long The Mindful Living coaching program helps you achieve awareness around stress management, holistic well-being, and mindset to become calmer to feel and perform your best. I would love to connect over a free discovery call to discuss your possible thoughts or questions, to help you get started on your journey towards better health and performance. Don't hesitate to reach out.
_ _ _
Thank you so much for reading the article by our member! If you are interested in personal development, you would love our FREE workbook called “The Future You” we recently published (worth EUR 21). More than 1000 women have already downloaded it!
