Working my way to healthy

When I think of the topic of health and wellness, it fills me with dread. Dread of resolutions I know that I won’t make because I know that I will fail them. Dread of what I know I should be doing but don’t start because I’m a perfectionist. If you know someone like that you know we don’t start anything we can’t be perfect at. However, this year, the topic of health and wellness has taken on a whole new meaning for me. 

I’ve been fairly transparent that 2022 was a challenging year. If you’re just catching up, 2022 was a tough year…in business, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. If I was going to be tested, it was going to and did happen in 2022.

As I spent a week in the hospital for exhaustion and other health issues caused by stress, it became ever increasingly clear to me that my health wasn’t just a physical issue. That in order for me to be who I’m meant to be and the best version of myself, then I needed to address this issue head on in each area of my physical, mental, and spiritual wellness.

Mentally 

I’m a huge proponent that everyone needs a therapist. My son texted me recently asking if I thought he needed a therapist. I said immediately, “Yes!,” without even asking more questions. (I did eventually ask more questions.)

Then I told him that the reason is that life is hard; learning who we are as we grow and change as we get older is hard; and that investing time and energy into being emotionally healthy is one of the best investments we can make in ourselves and for those we love. I have a therapist that I love and trust. I recommend her to everyone, especially my type-A, baller-chick business friends. She really knows how to cut through our BS. Things go best when I’m truly honest with her. 

Physically

Oof. In this area, I have done two things. I hired a functional nutritionist, Karri Ball (you’ll learn more about her later in this issue) and started reading a book called Atomic Habits. I am working on building the habits that will nourish my body and help me be kinder to it.

It’s shockingly harder than it seems. I’m busy. I never eat breakfast and if I eat lunch, I’m lucky. I survive off coffee and adrenaline and my body hates me. We are working on that. 

Spiritually 

Well, this is a hard one. I’ve learned that without this one, the three-legged stool of holistic health falls. I try to operate on my own power with the best of them, but I just can’t anymore. I have asked three people I trust deeply in my church to walk with me as I work my way out of a shame-based identity and into one of a deeper trust in God.

I started by being honest about where I was … trying to solve the world’s problems on my own. Then, I read the book The Cure. I highly recommend it for anyone who is struggling in their faith. 

Ultimately, I’m grateful for those that have shown up for me and have proven that I can lean into the comfort and wisdom of my friends and those that love me. I’ll leave you with this: check on your friends, especially those who are business owners and responsible for the livelihoods of others. We have had it rough, and many of us are not okay. Thankfully, I’m now okay … and working my way to healthy.