The homonyms holy and wholly have always given me a smiling pause. Holy (sacred) and wholly (completely) are two concepts that fit together so well. Holistic work celebrates this sacred completeness as we recognize both the importance of the whole and interdependence of its parts.
Wellness as a concept refers to actively maintained physical and mental health. Wellness as an industry helps many people find greater health and balance. The field is not without fault – stories of cultural appropriation, charlatans pedaling dubious wonder cures, and sexual abuse abound.
Holistic Wellness Consulting works from the evidence based Indivisible Self Model. The 22 dimensions and contexts of wellness look different in every person’s life. The way they interact and individuals might make changes to enhance overall wellness will look different as well. A factor that is integral to one person’s survival may be trivial to someone else.
Personal experience of wholeness, holiness, holistic and wellness may be different as well. For me, wholeness is the sense that my truest self – not my ego and fears but the me that is peace, joy and love – completely fills my entire body down to the last toe nail. Holiness is surrendering to love – the sacred – as the guilding force behind every action in my life. Holistic is the sense that I am a whole being made of many interdependent facets. Wellness concerns the actions I take to care for my body, mind and spirit so that I may maintain a sense of wholeness and holiness.