Whether you’re at the start of your wellness journey or ten years deep, the reality is, navigating the “wellness” space can sometimes get tricky.
And I know this from personal experience. Between calorie counting, “clean eating” perfectionism, and high-intensity workout routines – it’s easy to get lost in the noise of what you’re “supposed” to be doing.
But rest assured, wellness is none of that. Wellness is a personal journey that should be tailored for you by you! And, it’s not meant to be complicated.
So with that, here are my 5 Myths About Wellness:
Myth #1: You have to obsess over being “clean.”
I see this emphasized a lot lately, and I understand why. Our collective health as a country is questionable (when you look at the statistics), and we now have a plethora of knowledge regarding the role of chemical content in pretty much every aspect of our lives.
“Wellness,” however, encompasses so much more than just diet and consumption; wellness involves your state of mind, how you mitigate stress, and how you show up for others. Consumption is just one part of that equation (an important one at that), but it’s not the full picture, which leads me to my next point…
Myth #2: Spend, spend, spend!
At the beginning of my personal “wellness” journey, I thought I needed to buy every gadget, every “brain hacking” product, and every essential oil on the market. Boy, was I wrong.
The reality is… you can’t purchase wellness.
Some of the most enjoyable parts of wellness don’t cost a dime. Carving out time to enjoy fresh air and sunshine, peaceful moments of solitude, meaningful conversations, moving your body, and expressing gratitude are all moments that are as free as can be.
The only requirement? Your presence.
Myth #3: No pain, no gain
Now, we’ve all been there: Guilting over a skipped workout, gulping down a kale smoothie (because we “have to”), and running our bodies to the ground for the sake of #wellnessgoals.
Reminder: Your personal well-being does not have to come at the expense of pleasure, rest, and peace of mind. Instead, what wellness really is, is taking the scenic route in life:
It may take a little bit of patience, but it’s all about the journey.
And that journey should be enjoyable and sustainable. Crash dieting, 15-day workout challenges, and crazed detoxing will put you through some pain, but the long-term gain is questionable.
Myth #4: There will be no bad days ahead
*Cue the drumroll, please*… having a solid wellness plan does not make you exempt from human emotions and life’s challenges.
Contrary to popular belief; we ALL have bad days and we ALL get sick (no matter how much kale we eat). Having a life centered around wellness includes all of that.
True wellness will never promise you rainbows and sunshine without the storm.
Instead, it’s about how you approach those challenges in a way that prioritizes your well-being with compassion and with realism.
Myth #5: There is one “right” way
And for my final point, I am here to remind you that, no, you’re not doing wellness wrong if you didn’t drop your career to become a full-time yogi, and no, you don’t need to cut out entire food groups to be healthy. Heck, you surely don’t have to eat or do what I do.
Because, there is no “right” way to do this, and there certainly isn’t a deadline.
So before you go nuts this holiday season; calorie restricting, buying a bunch of things you don’t need, and pushing your body to the limit in honor of “new year, new me,” think about what you are doing and ask yourself…
“How am I feeling right now? Does this feel good? And if not, what can I do differently?”
“God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.” ―
Stay organically opulent,
Goldie Wollman
