As you go through life and experience its many ups and downs, it’s how you choose to react to them that can determine the quality and level of balance between body, mind, and soul. This balance is the foundation to good health.

The body is made up of trillions of cells that come together to create a structure to carry intricate systems of muscle, nerve, skeletal, organ, blood, bacteria, etc. There is a synergy and balance that must be maintained. They are connected. Each system needs the other to be running at an optimal level. When one or more of the systems become imbalanced, the body will send out signals in the form of various symptoms, sickness, or dis-ease. Most people strive to have a body that provides them with the energy and physical ability to do the things they enjoy and carry them effortlessly through life.

But, how to achieve it? A balanced body needs good nutrition and a healthy diet to fuel the systems. It needs regular exercise and movement to maintain strength, endurance, and energy balance. And a balanced body also needs a positive mindset to support good health and to help you achieve success in all areas of your life.

Mindset is also coupled with emotions and conscious and unconscious thoughts. They are not separate entities housed within the same body. Think about how just the thought of food can trigger a cascade of physical responses in the body where the mouth starts to water, hormones are released, and the stomach starts to growl. Or how your stomach feels before doing something you haven’t done before. No matter how many deep breaths you take, it still feels like it’s tied up in knots. Think about how the heart races whenever you get excited or nervous. Or how feeling sad, overwhelmed, or stressed can suck the energy from you. A constant influx of heightened emotions can lead to unhealthy stress. It is important to reduce the heightened feelings of stress otherwise the negative effects will have you feeling tired, anxious, irritable, and not quite yourself. Over time, this can lead to more serious health conditions like heart disease, high blood pressure, etc.

Weaved within the mind-body connection is spirit. Spirit is much more than just about faith or religion. It’s about being connected to something greater than yourself. In wellness, we often focus on the body and mind but spiritual health is often put aside and thought of as “woo-woo”.

You see, we are all brought up differently and the environment in which you are brought up in helping to define a set of guiding beliefs, values, morals, and principles that influence the decisions you make and guide the actions you take, which in turn provides you with a sense of purpose and meaning. Spiritual wellness is something that is in constant development and where you are at with it depends on your own unique situation, experiences, and what is happening around you.

There are simple things you do that fuels the spirit within you. Think about the feeling you get when you volunteer or participate in your community or social groups. You give of yourself to others and expect nothing in return. You are contributing to something that benefits others. You feel good. There is a sense of belonging. You feel a sense of meaning and purpose in your actions.

There are so many other ways to boost your spirit and can be as simple as being positive and optimistic and focus on what is good. Dig out a box of crayons and color in a book or doodle on a piece of paper. Go for a walk outside. Journal your thoughts. Take a moment to simply sit still, close your eyes, and just listen as you breathe deeply. Appreciate the moment in time and tune in to your senses.

There are many things you can do to create balance and maintain a positive mind-body connection. The first step is to take time to focus on you. Exercise the body and mind (puzzles, try new things), choose to stress less. Replace worry with positive thinking. Express gratitude daily and see the joy and happiness in each and every day. You’ll be surprised by the experience and how it will make you feel –inside and out.