Mindful Matter
Wellness is awareness.
Each month in our Holstee Guides, we include a few questions intended for self-reflection or group discussion that are inspired by our monthly theme. I recently shared one of these questions with our private member Facebook group: “True or false? Wellness is something that can be achieved.” One response particularly stood out. It was from Katie in Portland: “I think of it less as an achievement and more of a continuously changing state. What may be a good choice for me one day, may not be the next. It requires a lot of checking in with myself to know what wellness means for me today. Sometimes a nap may be more important than hitting the gym. Or splurging on that piece of cake might be just what the doctor ordered.” What I love about Katie’s response is that she acknowledges that wellness doesn't just vary by person but it also continues to vary moment to moment. It’s a fluid state, and the only way to really know where we stand is to be aware of what our mind, body, and soul are trying to communicate to us. What do you think — is wellness something we can achieve? Join the conversation in our private members Facebook group. Mike RadparvarCo-Founder, Holstee P.S. We just launched Maslow. A new feature for Holstee Members to easily access all member content (Art, Guides, and more) quickly and easily on the go. Explore the awesomeness that is Maslow at: Holstee.com/maslow
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Flourish.
In 2011, psychologist Martin Seligman wrote the book Flourish, which introduced a new theory for the Positive Psychology movement that centered not on pursuing happiness, but rather on pursuing a sense of holistic wellness. “I used to think that the topic of positive psychology was happiness, that the gold standard for measuring happiness was life satisfaction, and that the goal of positive psychology was to increase life satisfaction. I now think that the topic of positive psychology is well-being, that the gold standard for measuring well-being is flourishing, and that the goal of positive psychology is to increase flourishing.” - Martin Seligman In Seligman’s view, happiness — a topic he had written extensively about, notably in his bestselling book Authentic Happiness — is too narrow of a lens through which to measure life satisfaction. Well-being, through flourishing, is a much more nuanced state. In the book, Seligman states that we can flourish by focusing our attention on five measurable elements: Positive Emotion- Experiencing emotions such as gratitude, hope, and contentment. Engagement- Activities that fully absorb our attention, entering us into a state of ‘flow’. Relationships- A sense of strong trust, connection, and support with others. Meaning- An altruistic purpose in life that is bigger than the self. Achievement- Having ambition and goals and following through on them. Seligman wrote: “Authentic happiness theory is one-dimensional: it is about feeling good and it claims that the way we choose our life course is to try to maximize how we feel. Well-being theory is about all five pillars ... (it) is a combination of feeling good as well as actually having meaning, good relationships, and accomplishment.” It isn’t just about feeling good in the moment, it’s about recognizing our complexities and building a life that is meaningful. This distinction really resonated with me. All too often people focus on being happy or positive —but there is so much more to life than the elusive and often fleeting sense of being happy. To flourishing, Dave RadparvarCo-Founder, Holstee & Relfection.app P.S. In this month's Digital Wellness Guide we explore the many ways to prioritize our well-being daily and for the long haul. We share poetry, philosophy, and a range of activities to help you reflect on the role Wellness plays in your life.
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5 Things We Learned About Wellness this Month
Jennifer Lioy, Creative and Community Lead at Holstee
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Aaché.
It seems like flu season lasted longer than ever this year. Whenever I find myself with an itchy throat or stuffy nose, I know it’s time to break out the Aaché. What’s that, you ask? It’s a tea-tonic that Mike and I have come to depend on over the years, filled with all sorts of natural, immunity-boosting goodness. Since we are exploring the theme of Wellness this month, I thought it would be fitting to invite you into our kitchen and share our not-so-secret recipe for it.How To Make Aaché: Throw the following into a blender… - One small clove of garlic (peeled)- One peeled piece of fresh turmeric, about the same size as the garlic clove (one small teaspoon turmeric powder can work as an alternative)- One peeled piece of fresh ginger, about double that size- One heavy-handed shake of red cayenne pepper- A quick shake of black pepper- Fresh-squeezed juice from half a lemon- A heaping teaspoon of (preferably local) honey- 5 oz of hot water Blend until liquified (or if you don’t have a blender, hand-chop the garlic, turmeric and ginger into a puree and stir it briskly with the other ingredients). The final result should be cloudy. Give it a good stir before drinking to make sure that too much isn't settled at the bottom of your glass. Drink twice a day or until you feel even better than you did before you got sick. Bottoms up!🍹 Dave RadparvarCo-Founder, Holstee P.S. Friends often ask where the name “Aaché” came from. As mystical and exotic as it might sound, we actually made it up 😆. The name is inspired by the sound you make when clearing your throat after that last, heavily concentrated sip. Try it and you’ll see exactly what we mean ;-). P.P.S. Wellness comes in many forms — and physical health is just one component. Explore our Wellness Guide where we explore the six dimensions defined by the National Wellness Center.
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Take care.
This month’s Wellness Art comes from Jennifer Lioy, our creative and communications lead at Holstee. When Jennifer first showed me a draft for this art, I asked her why she chose the words "take care" as her starting point. I loved her thoughtful response: “I love the phrase ‘take care’ as a mantra for wellness because while it's most commonly used as a casual, sometimes careless way of saying goodbye, when you give it a moment of pause, it's actually a lovely message to wish someone (or yourself).There’s no guilt implied, no judgment about what you should be doing buried underneath.While taking care for me means spending time in the sun, sleeping soundly, eating roasted veggies, and not drinking too much coffee, maybe it looks completely different for you. I hope this art serves as a helpful reminder to do whatever you need to feel good, content, and strong. Take care." What do you need to do in order to “take care” of yourself today? Dave RadparvarCo-Founder, Holstee P.S. For me, this comes back to my daily non-negotiable habit that I shared in a past Reflections email. P.P.S. Love this month’s art? Become a print or digital member today and let me know by shooting me an email. I’m happy to send you a copy of this month’s Wellness Art and Guide as a gift. Oh and if you haven't seen it yet, here is a peek of the art...
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