Where Did The Time Go?

Welcome to “Your Cup of Positivity.”
Grab your favorite beverage (no judgment), sit back, and enjoy.

It’s the middle of February. Where did the time go?

How are you feeling about those New Year’s resolutions you made on January first?

Approximately 80% of people have given up on their resolutions by the time February rolls around. If you fall into that category, its’ okay. In fact, let me assure you no matter where you are in your journey, it’s not too late to improve your health.

One of those resolutions most likely centered around your health. More specifically losing weight and getting fit. That was my main resolution when I made them. Every January first, I would dutifully write in my journal this year, I’m going to lose XX number of pounds. It was usually some ridiculous insurmountable amount.

When we think of area where we need to improve, the first one we focus on is our physical health, but there are a couple additional pieces that make up the total health puzzle.

Often referred to as the health or wellness triangle, there are three areas of your health you should spend time on enhancing, physical, mental, social/spiritual health.

• Physical health – speaks to everything related to your body’s ability to function and operate – diet, nutrition, exercise, and sleep. 
• Mental health – speaks to your thoughts, feelings, emotions such as anger or joy, stress, and anxiety. It also encompasses your ability to cope with issues you face in your day-to-day life. Self-acceptance, positivity, and resilience (are you able to rebound from a setback) all contribute to your mental well-being. 
• Social/Spiritual health – speaks to your ability to build and foster relationships with family, friends, schoolmates, coworkers, etc. It also considers how you react and respond to the people you encounter in your daily life. The way you communicate, care for others, and seek or offer comfort and support plays into social health as well.

Spiritual health is included here because a large segment of the population believes in something greater than themselves. Strengthening your spiritual health will help create greater balance in all areas of the wellness triangle.

All three sides are linked. Each area of the triangle requires attention to ensure your all sides of your health triangle remain equal. If physical health is out of whack, mental and social health are equally affected.

When you were growing up, your parents focused on getting food on the table and running you outside to play (physical activity). My cousin and I ran around outside all day during the summer and our grandmother provided hot nutritious meals for us while our parents worked. No one really gave any thought to our mental or social/spiritual well-being. Well, we were forced to spend all day in church on Sundays, but I suspect that had more to do with the way they were raised than any real thought to our spiritual well-being.

All three sides of the health & wellness triangle are important to your overall health. Try not to spend more time on one side to the detriment of the other two.

In the next issue of Your Cup of Positivity, we’ll dive into how to keep your health triangle in balance.