What is Whole-Self Health?
Here at One Million Women Walking we focus on walking’s benefits for our whole Self because of walking’s unique ability to create whole-Self health. (The capital S is not a misprint, it’s a 1MWW short-hand that stands for the whole Self.) But, what exactly is whole- Self health? Great question!
Whole-Self health, sometimes referred to as whole-person health, is a concept growing in popularity in today's wellness and healthcare landscapes. It’s a holistic approach that considers the full spectrum of physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual aspects of a person's well-being.
In the current conversation, whole-Self health often revolves around the integration of various dimensions of health. The idea is that you can't just treat the body or the mind in isolation—the two are intrinsically linked, and that wellness comes from acknowledging and nurturing all parts of oneself.
Those parts include:
Physical Health: Nutrition, exercise, sleep, and management of physical conditions.
Mental Health: Psychological care, stress management, and treatment for mental illnesses.
Emotional Health: Understanding and expressing feelings in a healthy way.
Social Health: Building and maintaining fulfilling relationships, and feeling connected to a community.
Spiritual Health: Finding purpose, value, and meaning in life, whether through organized religion, meditation, nature, or personal philosophies.
“I experience whole-Self health as an ongoing, lived conversation between body, mind, emotions, spirit, my social world and my connection with Nature.”
The term whole-Self health is used in various settings, from corporate wellness programs and health care facilities to fitness and personal development communities. It's also a significant concept in integrative medicine, which combines conventional medical treatments with alternative or complementary therapies that address the whole person.
With the growing emphasis on preventive medicine and the recognition of mental health as critical to overall well-being, whole-Self health is gaining traction. It's being discussed in health publications, wellness blogs, and conferences, as well as being promoted by wellness advocates and influencers. The approach aligns closely with the values of conscious businesses and B-corps that often prioritize the overall well-being of their employees and customers.
Through 1MWW’s resources, I share how walking benefits not just physical health but also mental, emotional, and spiritual health—body/mind/spirit. (Some of those free resources are just below this post!)
In The Walking Women, my women’s walking community, walking together creates social health—fostering a sense of connection and shared purpose.
I experience whole-Self health as an ongoing, lived conversation between body, mind, emotions, spirit, my social world and my connection with Nature. Each of us will experience whole-Self health slightly differently but by bringing your focus to an integrated experience of health you’ll enhance every part of your life.
Some ways to start bringing a sense of whole-Self health into your life are:
Begin walking! A brisk 25-minute daily walk outside creates whole-Self health!
Look for health care providers that treat the whole Self,
Seek out wellness coaches and leaders who use a whole-Self approach,
If you’re looking for work, check out B-corps and conscious businesses that bring the whole-Self into their business values.
“I believe walking is the best whole-Self, Self-care in the world. I founded 1MWW to help you experience whole-Self health through walking.”
I believe walking is the best whole-Self, Self-care in the world. I founded 1MWW to help you experience whole-Self health through walking.
Here’s to your whole-Self health!
PS. Here’s some resources for you as you begin your whole-Self health journey.
The Big List of Walking Benefits
To learn how walking can create whole-Self health for you, download my free report, The Big List of Walking Benefits, which includes my list of 20 body/mind/spirit walking transformations.
The Sole Investment for Fempreneurs
If you’re a fempreneur struggling to fit Self-care into your incredibly busy schedule, download The Sole Investment, my free guide that shares how a 25-minute daily walk is the best Self-care and business investment you can make.
The Walking Women Online Community
If you’re ready to start your whole-Self, Self-care journey, join The Walking Women, my members-only walking community where you’ll find motivation, accountability, ongoing support and fun.