In modern times, when everything is changing so rapidly, and sometimes for worse, can holistic health become everyone’s priority?
India’s Warren Buffett aka Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, ‘Big Bull’ of Dalal Street with an enviously breath taking 45,000 crores in net worth, died at the age of 62 years due to cardiac arrest. According to the Breach Candy Hospital’s statement, where Jhunjhunwala was taken on the morning of his demise, the billionaire was “suffering from chronic kidney disease and was on dialysis.” Jhunjhunwala had diabetes problem for a long time and was wheelchair-bound for over a year but his health took a turn for the worse in the last years of his life, said people in the know.
As per Anand Mahindra, this was the most profitable investment advice that Jhunjhunwala as a passionate investor had ever given. The quote is a part of an interview with Economic Times. What Mahindra is referring to is when Rakesh Jhunjhunwala said, “My worst investment has been my health. I would encourage everybody to invest the most in that.”
A man worth billions of rupees advised on health investment.
In an age where medical breakthroughs are made almost every day, people at large should be healthier than our ancestors. But this is not the scenario with the hectic lifestyle and unhealthy habits. The crazy busyness of work and life can make it hard to prioritize self-care, and the more you think about what you “should” be doing correctly, the more daunting overall wellness can seem. Health is not only your body working in a balanced state but overall well-being of body, mind and soul. Finding the harmony among the body, soul, and mind, is the very core of holistic living. Holistic Health is actually an approach to life. Rather than focusing on illness or specific parts of the body, this ancient approach to health considers the whole person and how he or she interacts with his or her environment. It emphasizes the connection of mind, body and spirit.
The three strong pillars on which holistic health stands are physical, emotional & mental health and spiritual well-being. Rest others – social, occupational, financial and environment wellbeing follows the three. Physically healthy beaming body full of energy, flexibility, strength and fitness is everyone’s aspiration. An emotionally strong and resilient person is able to communicate with others, think critically, and make sound decisions. There was drastic increase in suicides in 2020 that indicates the adverse impact of the pandemic on mental health (Indian Express; April 2, 2022) The situation is worsened by the discrimination associated with mental illnesses that negatively affects help-seeking behaviour, and the lack of information about whom to contact for help.
Spiritual connection to something higher and more meaningful depends upon the personal choices. The spiritual pillar will look different for everyone because it’s such a personal piece of overall wellness. It’s not about a specific religion or belief system, spiritual health is about personalizing your journey. Some people might practice mindfulness as a way of checking in with their intentions, guiding their actions, and maintaining a values-based approach to life. How you choose to strengthen your spiritual health is up to you.
Social well being gives a sense of belonging to the community at large. Your social health affects physical and mental health, behaviour, and even lowers risk of cardiovascular diseases. Majority spend a significant chunk of their lives at work, so it stands to reason that work life conditions and its impact on lives matters significantly. People worry about financial goals and results in stressful financial wellbeing. They worry about their ability to handle emergencies and have lower self-esteem that impacts holistic well-being. Environmental wellness is concerned with your immediate personal surroundings and the larger community where you live and work. The more you care for and respect your natural environments, the better it can sustain your daily life. Overall, Intellectual wellness is strengthened by continually engaging the mind. Doing so it can help you build new skills and knowledge that inspire and challenge you, and help you grow. Reading and journaling can boost cognitive abilities and sharpen mind.
So, what can be done to achieve the dream of good health?
Taking care of physical health, getting required sleep, exercising regularly and eating nutritious balanced diet is the mantra. It is often said, ‘Make food your medicine.’ Physical hunger is when the body sends signals such as growling stomach, irritability, and fatigue, which tells you to replenish nutrients for energy consumption. Try identifying hunger signals.
Natural and home remedies work. We know how turmeric laden milk fights off systemic inflammation. Zinc and berries help combat common cold and flu like conditions. Aromatherapy like camphor burning can induce sleep and calm mind. Avoiding screens just before sleep works too.
Sometimes, instead of takeout meal, you can choose home cooked food. Instead of binge watching, you can sweat it out with household chores. Instead of piling up resentments, you can talk to a trusted friend or family. All people have innate healing powers. Treatment involves fixing the cause of the condition, not just alleviating the symptoms.
Keep your health happy!