Holistic wellness is exactly that – holistic! So, when you experience skin problems, gut issues, mental health struggles, joint pain, etc., holistic wellness teaches that you can’t just slap a band-aid on that specific ailment and call it a day.
To be holistic is to acknowledge the fact that all the parts of your body and self are in relationship with each other. When one part is off-kilter, the others will be impacted by (or even responsible for) that imbalance. Treating only one symptom instead of the root causes does your interconnected body a great disservice, often leading to short-term solutions instead of long-term healing. This is especially true when it comes to skincare.
This mindset doesn’t come naturally for everyone, and indeed, it can be difficult to stay “on track” holistically when so many short-term solutions are offered to us – cosmetically, medically, nutritionally, etc. What we like to do, especially in times when we struggle with imbalances of any kind, is take inspiration from writers, researchers, and medical professionals who remind us what holistic wellness is all about. Whether you’re trying to fix problem skin, healing an irritated gut, managing migraines, or confronting mental health struggles, there are always words of loving guidance available for you to take inspiration and comfort in. Keep reading for some of our favorite quotes about holistic wellness.
“Remember that work and life coexist. Wellness at work follows you home and vice-versa. The same goes for when you’re not well, fuelled, or fulfilled. Work and life aren’t opposing forces to balance; they go hand-in-hand and are intertwined as different elements of the same person: you.” – Melissa Steginus
This quote embodies the heart of holistic thinking when it comes to your body. Many people enjoy a “work persona” and a “home persona,” trying to manage the physical and mental problems of both areas separately. The problem with this, of course, is that those areas of life are not really separate – they are both parts of you! If your job is causing you significant stress, this will impact your life at home and ability to relax. If your relationships are floundering, this will carry over into your productivity and ability to focus at work. When you consider the ailments you are faced with, think about all the areas of your life and lifestyle in order to locate solutions. Nothing will be solved in a vacuum.
“Health is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind and spirit. When one is free from physical disabilities and mental distractions, the gates of the soul open.”– B.K.S. Iyengar
This quote epitomizes the ideal state of mind that holistic wellness encourages. In a perfect world, having a holistic relationship with your mind and body would allow your health to be a non-issue, something that is supportive of your worldly goals and pursuits, not a roadblock to success or adventure. Obviously, Iyengar does not intend to say that people with disabilities can’t achieve peace and an “open soul” – what he means is that, to the best of our abilities, we should remember that we care for our bodies and minds in order to elevate our experience of being human to greater heights. No matter your level of physical ability, you can care for yourself in a way that supports the health of your soul as well.
“To ensure good health: eat lightly, breathe deeply, live moderately, cultivate cheerfulness, and maintain an interest in life.” – William Londen
This advice is short, but sweet. It perfectly encapsulates a few of our favorite tenets of holistic wellness – “eat lightly” (be aware of your nutrition and nourish your body with good foods), “breathe deeply” (meditate, be in contact with nature and look for peacefulness), “live moderately” (look for quality treatments instead of endless products), “cultivate cheerfulness” (be kind to yourself and think positively), and “maintain an interest in life” (support your mind as well as your body in healing). This quote is probably #1 in our hearts.
“The human body has been designed to resist an infinite number of changes and attacks brought about by its environment. The secret of good health lies in successful adjustment to changing stresses on the body.” – Harry Johnson
One of the most interesting developments in modern marketing, especially regarding skincare, is the idea that new miracle products are being discovered (almost daily) that can give your skin the healthy glow it has always needed, but never achieved. Every TikToker has a list of “holy grail” products that changed their skin, sometimes fifteen or twenty products in colorful packaging, with lists of ingredients a mile long. In truth, while these products may work for some people, there is nothing “miraculous” about them. Human skin is able to heal itself perfectly fine, and as Harry Johnson reminds us, your skin is able to do so when it is given the opportunity to heal without environmental stresses that prevent that healing. When you have Candida overgrowth, or hormonal imbalances, or apply comedogenic products, your skin may flare up or break out. At this time, it can be tempting to invest in products that claim to clear it or cover the evidence. However, if you can remove those stresses (cleanse your Candida, change your diet, research other birth control methods, stop using comedogenic makeup, etc), then your skin/gut/joints will be free to heal on their own.
“Divide each difficulty into as many parts as is feasible and necessary to resolve it, and watch the whole transform.” – Rene Descartes
And finally, Descarte! It might seem a little funny for a skincare blog to quote Descartes, but this quote is one of the most important parts of our personal philosophy about skin treatment. It’s a tremendously difficult task to try and heal your skin overnight. If you throw a dozen new products and at-home treatments into your routine, caring for your skin can start to feel more like a chore than self-care, leading you to drop those new habits before they can actually benefit your skin’s wellness. If you want to see improvements in your acne, fine lines, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, or anything else, try little steps. Add one new product at a time, change one element of your diet, add exercise to one day in your week – whatever the change may be, it will be much more likely to benefit you (and stay in your routine) if you stay consistent, one small step at a time.
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