One thing I’ve noticed over the years of being a Pastor’s wife and a Holistic Health Coach is that many people don’t like simple answers.  Oddly enough, there are many who believe if solutions aren’t complicated or complex, they must not work.  Simplicity = Unintelligent in their minds.  

Sadly, it’s these very ones who live unhappy, unhealthy lives.

The longer I live, the simpler I want my life to be.  And frankly, the path to a healthier, happier life is one of simplicity.  To me, Simplicity = Healthy + Happy.

The following 10 pillars are ones I seek to practice in my own life.  Honestly, I believe they are life-changing. And I don’t say that glibly. This is certainly not an exhaustive list.  But these are foundational habits that I have observed make the most profound impact on overall health and happiness. And they are simple.

Keep in mind, simple does not necessarily mean easy.  As you’ll see, some of these pillars will be hard to do (your flesh likely will NOT want to do a number of these); but they won’t be complicated or complex.  You’ll easily be able to understand what to do.  You just have to make the choice to do it. 

Are you ready to improve your health and happiness?

5 Pillars of Health

1.Eat More Plants

The evidence is in, and it’s overwhelming. Plants are the healthiest foods on the planet (you can read more about that here)! No matter what diet you subscribe to, hopefully we can agree that eating more plants will benefit your health. To keep it simple, I like to collect easy, yummy recipes in the following categories:

• Smoothies/Juices
• Salads
• Bowls
• Wraps
• Soups/Stews
• Snacks

I still make all kinds of yummy dishes, but these 6 categories help simplify what we eat in a typical day. Get a 3-ring binder with 6 dividers and start collecting your favorite recipes in each category (print them out and slide them into sheet protectors to protect them while cooking!).

Plants are loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytonutrients that will nourish, strengthen, and heal your body from the inside-out. So, make sure to eat more plants!

2.Move your Body

You knew I was going to say it. You can’t expect to be sedentary and be healthy. We were meant to move! Exercise impacts everything from our moods to our metabolism. It’s a must if you want to increase your overall health.

So try to incorporate daily movement into your schedule. Here are few suggestions:

• Go for a brisk walk (start with 20 minutes and work your way up to 30+ minutes)
• Yoga
• Strength Training
• Cycling
• Pilates
• High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) workouts
• YouTube Workouts (a complete database of FREE workouts of all kinds!)
• BODi Workouts (my favorite subscription service for incredible workout and nutrition programs)

There are SO many different activities you can do, so find something you enjoy and start moving!

3.Supplement your diet

Even the best diets can’t provide everything we need for optimal health. That’s why I always recommend taking high quality supplements (when I work with clients one-on-one, we create a customized supplement program for their specific needs).

Everyone can benefits from taking:

• Food-based Multivitamin and Mineral
• Essential Fatty Acids (Omega 3, 6, & 9s)
• Antioxidant Formula

These 3 will help create a solid foundation to fill in any nutritional gaps in your diet. However, many would benefit from additional targeted supplementation for specific health issues. If that’s you, consider booking a one-on-one consultation with me!

4.Avoid Toxins

Unfortunately, we live in a toxic world. But there is plenty we can do to avoid many toxins as well as help our bodies detox on a regular basis. Simply following these 10 habits will go a long way in helping to reduce your toxic exposure.

Here are a few simple tips to avoid toxins:

• Eat organic – this will limit your exposure to toxic herbicides & pesticides
• Avoid plastics – these contain toxic ingredients like xenoestrogens and pthalates, which are hormone-disruptors and cancerous
• Cook with cast iron, stainless steel, ceramic and glass – avoid toxic non-stick and aluminum cookware
• Use non-toxic personal care products – from toothpaste to shampoo and makeup, learn to spot toxic ingredients in your personal care products and opt for safer products
• Switch to non-toxic cleaning products for your home

Check out my post, How to Detox Your Home Room-by Room, for lots more helpful info and tips!

5.Reduce stress

Stress is one of the #1 causes of chronic diseases and health problems today. We would be wise to learn practical ways to reduce our stress every single day.

Here are a few ideas:

• Take an Epsom Salts Bath
• Read a good book
• Listen to relaxing music like jazz
• Diffuse calming essential oils
• Meditate on Scriputure

I keep a list of my favorite de-stressing activities in my phone for easy access. When I’m feeling particularly stressed, I can just pull it up and choose one of the activities.

5 Pillars of Happiness

1.Find Your Identity in Jesus Christ

As a Christian, I believe you will never know your true identity (and therefore true happiness) until you experience a saving relationship with your Creator and Savior, Jesus Christ. You will never truly know who you are or why you are here until you know the Triune God of grace.

Sometimes even Christians don’t realize their new identity in Jesus. For the Christian, the wonderful news is that we are not who we once were. We are new creations!

If you struggle to know who you truly are in Christ, I encourage you to spend the next 100 days meditating on this list of 100 Identity Truths. It will change your life and how you view yourself!

If you don’t yet know Jesus, I encourage you to read through this brief tract. This is the most important decision you could ever make!

2.Forgive Everyone who has ever hurt you

Refusing to forgive is one of the #1 causes of unhappiness. It will affect you both spiritually and physically. When you hold grudges and nurse wounds, like the saying goes, it’s like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.

In order to experience deep-rooted health and happiness, you must forgive every single person who has ever hurt you.

As author Stormie Omartian puts it, “Forgiveness doesn’t make the other person right, it makes you free.”

3.Renew your Mind every day

Stinkin-Thinkin is one of the fastest ways to make ourselves miserable. Negative, cynical thinking is natural. Positive, joyful thinking is supernatural.

I love Romans 12:2, which says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.“

The way to transformation is by renewing our mind. So look for ways to renew your mind every single day.

Here are a few suggestions:

• Read/Meditate on Scripture
• Listen to uplifting podcasts or sermons
• Read good books
• Listen to worship music
• Pray
• Journal

4.Have Dreams & Goals

There is nothing sadder to me than people who have no dreams and goals. They seem to wander through life aimlessly, hopping from one thing to the next.

Some people will plan more for a week’s vacation than they will for their entire lives.

The happiest people I know have big goals and dreams. They have sought the Lord for His bigger purpose for their lives, and they make plans to fulfill it.

Want to instantly boost your happiness? Start dreaming and ask God to give you big goals for your life and His kingdom.

5.Love & Serve others

The happiest people are others-focused.

They look for ways to love and serve others, just like Jesus did.

Do you have special gifts and talents? Ask the Lord how you can use them to bless others and make their day.

The world desperately needs the love of Jesus. The way they can experience His love is through His people. We are His hands and feet on this earth. Living an “others-centered” life is one of the fastest ways to boost your happiness!