Holistic is a Lifestyle

One of the most gratifying things about working in the medical field is knowing that I’ve contributed to people’s initiative to take control of their health and wellness. To see their positive changes implemented in their daily habits is rewarding.

I’ve spent the last three years and half years traveling the country, performing ultrasounds on patients’ cardiovascular systems and reporting any preliminary findings to M.D.s.  With heart disease being the number one cause of health-related deaths among Americans, I find myself always answering questions about how to maintain heart health. As a plant-based woman, I am swept away by the idea that plant-medicine is the paradigm of healing, but from the perspective of the mere pill-pushers, I’m engaging in flights of fancy. I’ve learned to distill my medical disagreements into easily absorbent spoonfuls of food-for-thought while simultaneously promoting a holistic lifestyle. I have an untiring and unwavering urge to advocate natural wellness during discussions about alternative medicine with my patients.

I avoid synthesized medications as much as possible. Remember, big pharma is a business focused on masking the symptoms than addressing the underlying cause.  However, I will promote certain pharmaceuticals in specific cases. I mean, let’s face it, sometimes people need antibiotics for infection or Vicodin after major surgery.

I step into the roles of therapist, nutrition adviser, and holistic counselor. I stress to my patients that being holistic is a lifestyle, not a trend. This isn’t a garment on its way out of season. This isn’t a popular hashtag or meme temporarily overflowing on social media. It’s about cultivating an everlasting connection between mind, body and spirit, and the initiative to balance these entities to create overall wellness. Every element needs to be considered and cared for.

Although social media is the epicenter of well-calculated personas, status quo of conformity, the epitome of narcissism, and carefully filtered content that sheds light on this lifestyle, don’t do it for social media. You’re simply saying to yourself that this lifestyle is worth admiring without genuinely living or believing in it. We all know that person who does “it for the ‘gram.” Don’t be that guy or gal. Do it for yourself. Do it for your family.

This lifestyle is tedious and takes the greatest dedication daily. Whatever your spiritual journey is, dive deeper into it. Develop your higher consciousness – balance your chakras, meditate, do yoga, get acupuncture, and spend more time in nature. Make good choices. Be kinder to people, and spread love, peace, and positivity. Be self-aware. Make an effort to amicably communicate your feelings. Treat your body like the sacred temple it is. Eat organic, read and research your labels on all food and products, drink a lot more water, stay active, and dispel anything harmful. Most importantly, do what you love and be true to yourself!