Total Health: Louisa Valentin On How We Can Optimize Our Mental, Physical, Emotional, & Spiritual Wellbeing
Being in nature helps us to cultivate spiritual wellness because we are already connected just by existing. Our bodies follow the rhythm of everything around us. So, connecting with the earth is essentially connecting with yourself. Being in nature is an energizing experience. Putting away the electronics and embracing the sounds, smells, and feelings nature inspires is just good for the soul. Nature isn’t meant to be something outside of our environment, but a part of it.
Often when we refer to wellness, we assume that we are talking about physical wellbeing. But one can be physically very healthy but still be unwell, emotionally, or mentally. What are the steps we can take to cultivate optimal wellness in all areas of our life; to develop Mental, Physical, Emotional, & Spiritual Wellbeing?
As a part of our series about “How We Can Cultivate Our Mental, Physical, Emotional, & Spiritual Wellbeing”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Louisa Valentin.
Louisa Valentin is an Empowerment Wellness Coach, who empowers professional women to find their strength to achieve their optimal state of mental, physical, and spiritual health. As a nurse of almost 20 years, it is no surprise that Louisa is passionate about helping others. She helps women prioritise themselves, creating real lifestyle changes to have lasting transformations and change the world’s perception of who they are. For more information visit https://www.louisavalentin.coach/
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive into the main focus of our interview, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood backstory?
I was a quiet, observant child with a wild imagination. I remember being able to sit for hours, watching everything that was happening around me, and creating these stories in my mind.
I was also attached to my mother’s hip; afraid I was going to miss out on something during the night. I remember playing with my older sisters and friends during the day, and then sitting outside with my mom during the night. I felt so special and grown up, sitting outside with her and her friends “all night” (in reality it was probably 8 or 9 pm). Since I wasn’t much of a bother I was usually allowed to stay, so I quietly observed. I watched how the grownups behaved, and more importantly how they solved problems. I learned what behaviors got rewarded, and which ones were punished. So, I always knew just how to be.
As I got older, I was a little less quiet, but no less observant. I learned what worked and what didn’t when dealing with challenges. That’s what they always were, challenges because there was always a solution. So, I usually took on the role of problem solver in my circle. The person people would go to in order to figure out the solutions to their problems. In my teenage years, I’m sure I drove my parents a little crazy because this meant I had an answer for EVERYTHING, as I’m sure most teens do, though I’m sure they could tell you now, that what I was saying made a lot of sense. Luckily, I was a pretty good kid, so I didn’t use these gifts for evil. I was extremely helpful and helped people with their problems. I liked helping people and I was good at it. I used the tools that I had gathered from as early as I can remember to figure out how to have the best possible outcomes. This has been something that followed me straight into adulthood and led me to a career in nursing.
Becoming a registered nurse appeared to be perfect for me. I was able to take my critical thinking skills to the next level, to not only help people but to help save lives. I’ve thrived on educating my patients to make better choices and become an active participant in their health care. People are so much more successful at achieving long-term success when they understand their “WHY?” behind the goals. It was never about doing what I say to get better. It was, what will you gain from doing XYZ, and is this important to you and why? Then they get to decide. It took me a little while during the beginning of my coaching journey to realize I’ve been coaching practically my whole life. Now I’m just lucky enough to do it with more intention because I’ve learned valuable tools to help me help others.
What or who inspired you to pursue your career? We’d love to hear the story.
My biggest inspirations have been my parents. I have been truly blessed to have parents that believe in me, no matter how crazy of an idea I have, they stand with me. Even during the times, I have doubted myself, or when they do not understand the path I am taking, they shrug it off and cheer me on. With my mom and dad in my corner, I know I can pursue whatever my heart desires.
A quick funny story, when I was three, I wanted to be a bunny when I grew up. Yes, a rabbit! I don’t quite remember my inspiration, but I was very adamant about it. Fast forward a couple of months, and on my fourth birthday, my parents got me a pink bunny costume, white fluffy tail included. Being born on Halloween has its perks. I lived out my career aspiration at the ripe age of four and was able to dream up my next career choice. Needless to say, I’ve always felt supported.
As to what inspired my career as a coach, well, as I said, I’ve been coaching people all my life, I just never had a title for it. As time passed on, I began to develop my own spiritual practice and found a circle of women, who appeared to be on similar journeys, while taking their own path. I’d become a mentor for quite a few people and began helping others create real change in their lives in a different way than I had in the past. I began running sessions for healing, and motivational groups and co-founded a non-profit aimed at healing and spirituality. The route into coaching came naturally, thanks to my background in nursing, my love of health and wellness, as well as my journey into spirituality. I thrive on helping women overcome their barriers of negative self-talk and lack of prioritizing self, to become the healthiest version of themselves, using a system of Whole Health to empower women to have lasting transformation, versus short-term success.
None of us can achieve success without some help along the way. Was there a particular person who you feel gave you the most help or encouragement to be who you are today? Can you share a story about that?
I had been playing with the idea of becoming a coach for about three years before I took any steps to start my coaching practice. I don’t even think I was really serious. When people would say I was really good at seeing the bigger picture and sharing advice. I’d jokingly say, “maybe I should become a life coach”. Come to find out, about 70% of jokes are rooted in truth. Don’t quote me on the exact figure.
One day, a friendly acquaintance, Elizabeth, needed some volunteers for these “sessions” she was doing. As always, trying to help someone in need, I volunteered. I had the opportunity to prepare about a future goal in advance for the session. As I sat and thought about what I could possibly want to achieve in the future, considering I had a solid nursing career, and my work in spirituality was evolving at a steady pace, coaching crept back into my mind. I decided to use that, with no real thought to actually do anything about it at that present time. I was definitely too busy with everything else in life. After a very empowering session, I apparently found the time to start, and here I am now. I’ve helped Elizabeth a few more times and let her know the impact she had on me that day. Again, someone who believed in me, even when I had doubts that it could be done. I’d like to say Elizabeth and I are more friends than acquaintances these days, and I am very thankful for the push she gave me.
Can you share the funniest or most interesting mistake that occurred to you in the course of your career? What lesson or take away did you learn from that?
The most interesting mistake I’ve made in my career is thinking that I had to have all the answers to get started. In my mind, if I did not have all the right certifications or the right connections, then I could not be a successful coach. Lo and behold, those things are nice, but it isn’t what clients care about.
Clients want results. Most people do not care about the degrees, certifications, or who you learn under. Can I get them results and are they sustainable? That is what is important. It was so encouraging for me to realize that I have something valuable that people were seeking out. I have had to turn down clients because they don’t fit my demographic. Not because I could not help them, but because I do not want to water down what I have to offer, or burn myself out, from trying to serve too many communities.
I am always going to point someone in the right direction, but I’ve learned that I don’t have to save everyone. Though in reality, I am not saving anyone, but giving them the tools to save themselves, and THAT is powerful, for both my clients and myself.
Simply put, the lesson learned is that you just need to put yourself out there, and trust that the people who are meant for you, will connect with you. They can’t do that unless you’re able to be found. So now, I leap with both feet, armed with experience, compassion and research, but most importantly, results.
Is there a particular book that made a significant impact on you? Can you share a story or explain why it resonated with you so much?
The book that made a significant difference in my life was The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. It is “funny” how I even came to own it. A friend created a post online, asking people to add affordable Wish Lists, so we could secretly shop for one another. So, I created a list, and on a whim, added that book to it. Just like the magic of the Law of Attraction, I basically set it and forgot about it, until it showed up at my door. Then I could not put it down. The Secret connected so many dots for me. I always thought it was strange how I would say things and it appeared to magically happen. Good and bad! You would not catch me calling out of work due to an ailment, because then, I would actually get that ailment, whether it was a twisted ankle or a bad headache. I knew without knowing that I needed to be careful with my words. Then I read The Secret and found I was not losing my mind, but more importantly than that, I was able to be intentional with creating my life. It taught me the foundation of what I needed to build the life of my dreams and KNOW it was coming my way. I know it can be scary or hard to process, having to take accountability for what happens in your life, but I find it powerful to own what happens for me. For me, it is not only about wishing my desires to me but allowing me to take inspired action. I get to live the life I want starting now. I don’t nor shouldn’t wait until it is my current reality.
Can you share your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Why does that resonate with you so much?
The quote I live by is “Happiness is a choice, not a result. Nothing will make you happy, until you choose to be happy”, by Ralph Marston. This is not about toxic positivity, but more about outlooks and perspectives. Two people can have the exact same situation happen in their life and yet, react so differently. We get to choose our reactions. Our reactions tend to determine our outlook on life. The more we choose happiness, the happier we tend to be. My own personal quote is “Choose happiness”.
Since I create my happiness, through my choices, I choose to infuse happiness as well as a bit of magic into everything that I do. That means things like taking a shower or brushing my teeth, become an experience. I’m not just cleaning the physical, but there’s also a spiritual cleanse happening. So, I’m saying affirmations and thinking about what I’m releasing, along with the grime of the day. When I’m cooking my food, I put on music and create magic. Even on my walks to and from the train, I’m doing walking meditations, looking at all the signs I’m receiving from Spirit. Enjoying the colors in the sky, embracing the space I’m sharing with all these people who I am experiencing life with. Whether the connection is direct, or indirect it doesn’t matter. We are all having this human experience at the same time, and that is magical to me. All of these thoughts bring me immense joy, giddy with excitement. All of these experiences would be happening, independent of how I feel about them, my way is just a lot more fun than “average”.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? How do you think that might help people?
I am currently taking my coaching to the next level, and creating a membership program, where the women who work with me can gain my most successful tools to become empowered and shift the world’s perception of them, as well as their own. Using a mixture of Whole Health, and holistic modalities, these women will be ready to go from ordinary to extraordinary regarding their health — in mind, body, and spirit. This program, along with one-on-one coaching, as well as group sessions with questions and answers and group practices will transform lives. I am truly excited to share this with my current and future clients, as the buzz around the program has been very noteworthy.
OK, thank you for all of that. Let’s now shift to the core focus of our interview. In this interview series we’d like to discuss cultivating wellness habits in four areas of our lives: Mental wellness, Physical wellness, Emotional wellness, & Spiritual wellness. Let’s dive deeper into these together. Based on your research or experience, can you share with our readers three good habits that can lead to optimum mental wellness? Please share a story or example for each.
Mental wellness is the base of my practice. While I truly believe each aspect is equally important, if you don’t have your mind right, nothing else will connect.
One good habit for mental wellness is eliminating negative self-talk. Too often we put ourselves down rather than build ourselves up. The mind believes what we tell it, so speaking negativity into ourselves often results in low self-esteem.
I was working with a woman who never had anything positive to say about herself. She only focused on what she did wrong. Therefore, she continued to fail at her goals, proving herself right and continuing the cycle of feeling bad about herself. We started by changing the way she thought of herself. Focusing on what she did right instead of what she did wrong. Changing the way she perceived her challenges, and just speaking life into herself. She felt silly at first, but she persisted. Her confidence began to shift, as well as how she approached tasks. Reframing her words did wonders for her well-being, and she started crushing her goals. There were still moments where she had setbacks, but she no longer saw them as failures. The work we did on this aspect of her mindset has set her up for a life of success, versus a life of failure.
Another good habit is to take breaks. Giving your mind and body time to reset is so essential. It does not do anyone any good to push past their limits, especially on a regular basis.
In the past, I would keep working until I could barely see straight. I thought if I did not complete the task I was working on, it would not get done. So, I’d work tirelessly and then burn out. Taking even longer to recover the mental capacity to get anything else done efficiently. I stopped torturing myself and started taking breaks, which I found helped me to get done faster. Giving my mind rest allowed me to come back to tasks with a clear head and a more focused vision of how to proceed. I definitely recommend taking breaks for mental wellness.
The third habit I’d like to share for optimum mental wellness is asking for help when you need it and accepting help when it is offered. I am not sure why so many of us in society believe it is a weakness to get help from others, myself included. The thing is, we are not rewarded for taking on all the tasks of the world on our own. Usually, it leaves us tired, overwhelmed, and unhappy.
There have been times when I was really struggling to get things done, but I would refuse to ask for help. Then I felt resentful that I had so much on my plate, that I didn’t have time for myself. I used to say I could handle it all when I really could not. I was mentally drained and physically tired. I finally had enough and allowed someone to help me. The work got done, and I did not get ridiculed for not being able to do it all. These days, while I probably still take on a few too many tasks, I am much better at asking for assistance when needed and taking it when offered. I love the phrase “Teamwork makes the dream work”. Getting help when needed has allowed my mind the space to really move forward with my goals, instead of constantly just trying to play catch up with everything on my mind that needs to get done.
Do you have a specific type of meditation practice or Yoga practice that you have found helpful? We’d love to hear about it.
Meditation is not a one size fits all practice, even for the same person. Depending on the time of the day or what is going on at any given moment, will determine which route I go.
I start just about every day with at least five minutes of stillness. Even before I open my eyes, though, I am awake. I take this time to just focus on my breath and be thankful for having the opportunity to create another day in my life. I think about who in my life I’m thankful for, and how abundant in love I am. This might seem a bit far off to some, but I then end that meditation session with my “thank you’s”. I thank my past loved ones, my spirit guides, and my home, for all they’ve done to get me to this day. I appreciate the love and protection I receive in all forms.
My next daily form of meditation are my mantras. These change daily depending on what I need to encourage myself throughout the day. For instance, if I have a long day ahead of me, I may start with “I am full of energy. I am capable and ready to take on the day with grace and love”. These practices really pump me up and put me in a calm state, so I am ready to take on the day. My last daily meditation would be my walking meditations. I know many people think you have to be still when meditating, but that is simply not true. It is about your mindset and intention. I start by concentrating on my breath, then each step, one at a time. Once I am in the zone, I use those steps to propel me forward, not only physically, but mentally. I am creating my day during this time, aligning with my goals, and not taking anything for granted. I am always grateful, so I thank the universe for allowing me the ability to create and find peace. I am also thankful to myself for showing up for me and doing the work to live a life I love.
For those moments when anxiety creeps in, I choose to meditate with box breathing. Four breaths in, hold for four, four breaths out, hold for four. I will do this for any many breaths necessary to feel a sense of calm. Sometimes it happens in as little as four breaths, and usually no more than 15. Box breathing allows me to take a moment to take attention away from my thoughts and concentrate on my breath as well as counting out each step in the process. This calms me down enough so that I can think clearly, allowing me to give my attention to the matter at hand, versus focusing on the stress of the situation.
The last main method of meditation I do is connecting with nature. It is vital that I take time, at least once a week to touch the ground, and be a part of nature. As a city girl, living in New York City, this isn’t always the easiest task. I am blessed that I have a backyard with dirt ground, so for a quick fix, I get to go right outside my door, barefoot, and just sit on the ground. The best time for me to do this is in the early morning before the hustle and bustle of my neighbors breaking the silence. During this time, I just sit in gratitude and love for nature. The smell of the dirt, the aroma of the flowers, when they’re in bloom. I can listen to the birds, and sometimes I get lucky and have a kitty visitor or two. It is so peaceful to sit and watch the leaves in the breeze. We come from the earth and at the end of life, return to the earth, so it feels so natural to connect with the earth, getting back to my roots (pun not intended).
Thank you for that. Can you share three good habits that can lead to optimum physical wellness? Please share a story or example for each.
One good habit for optimum physical wellness is just to start moving your body, with activities you enjoy. Just because someone had success with a specific method, does not mean that is the method for you. If you hate it, you will eventually stop, sooner rather than later. Pick activities that you look forward to doing, and just start. You do not have to go to a physical gym to become fit. Make the world your gym. If you enjoy dancing, take a dance class, or have your own private dance party. If you enjoy being in nature, perhaps hiking or nature walks are for you. Gardening is another great way to get some movement in. No matter what you do, don’t focus on it being “exercise”, instead create the mental connection that you’re getting to do something you enjoy, with the added bonus of it being good for your body.
When I began my journey, I started out by spending an hour a day in the gym, maybe 3 to 5 days a week. I started with a 10-minute run, then did an upper body workout, then a lower body workout. EVERY SINGLE TIME. Yes, I was seeing results, but I was so bored. I did not think I was going to last much longer. One day, I went online and found an establishment that offered “Class Passes”, where I could try out different types of classes. I took dance classes, Zumba, yoga, spin classes, and even kickboxing. I really enjoyed mixing it up, and still enjoy it to this day. Since I don’t have any specific, aesthetic fitness goals at this moment, outside of health and wellness, I am not held captive by any one style of working out. For me, it is about being consistent to get my body moving, how I do it depends on my mood and what I have at my disposal for the day. I take walks, go for runs, dance, lift weights, or even go up and down the stairs. Okay, the last one might sound weird to enjoy, but I like challenging myself, so I’ll time it to see how many flights I can do within a certain amount of time. The goal is always to move, and now I do that throughout my day, not in a one-hour time frame, where I am bored out of my mind.
Another good habit is to stop depending on motivation to bring you success. This may be a very controversial statement, but motivation is trash……. At least long-term. Yes, motivation to achieve a goal I have may get me started, but it is not going to keep me going long-term.
Last July, I decided to challenge myself to run one mile a day, for 30 days. The only rule I had was that I had to run the whole mile, for it to count. I am a decent runner; a mile should have been nothing for me. Well, fast forward to about week two, and it was HOT out and I hadn’t yet gone for my run. My brain started making all these excuses as to why I should not go for that run. I was tired, I had already done a week straight, it was too hot out, I deserve a break, yadda yadda yadda. Let me tell you, motivation was at a big fat zero that day, but guess what! I had already promised myself that I was committed to myself. I made myself a promise, and if I can’t keep a promise to myself, how could I expect anyone else to. So, I ran. I ignored my lack of motivation, ditched all the excuses, and ran. I felt so good after, and even prouder of myself for getting it done. Fast forward even further in the month, and I was headed to Jamaica for a wedding. The ultimate test in dedication, late nights, and early mornings, along with lots of planned activities. Guess who made it out every morning, no matter what. Yes, yours truly. Again, there were days, I would have rather done anything else, but a promise is a promise. So, I ran.
Lastly, I’d suggest getting a baseline weight, and then hiding the scale. Our weight, especially as women, fluctuates so much, even in one day. Seeing the scale not moving, or worse the weight increasing can be so detrimental to a person’s success. It is easy to become fixated on the numbers, as opposed to the changes you feel in your body, your energy, and even what you see in the mirror.
I remember when I first started my own fitness journey. I bought a fancy scale and said I would weigh myself first thing in the morning, every day. No clothes and before eating. I had days where I could not believe the numbers I was seeing because I was working so hard. I worked out regularly, I changed how I was eating, and even monitored my intake. I was doing “everything right” but was not seeing the changes I wanted to see. Luckily, I kept going and started to notice these NSVs (non-scale victories). I was able to wear my favorite jeans again. My running endurance was increasing, and I was getting stronger, lifting heavier. I am kind of a numbers girl, so even though I was finding success, despite the scale, I kept weighing myself, but at least stopped doing it every day. I noticed trends, but honestly, I stopped caring what the scale said. I liked how I felt in and out of my clothes.
These days, my scale tends to collect dust. When I do use the scale, it is for informational purposes, as mentioned earlier, to get a baseline. Or even to show others how ridiculous it is for me to base my success solely on the number on the scale, by taking my weight at different times of the day, different times of my cycle, or even after the natural task of using the bathroom. I, or anyone, can have three different weights in the span of 10 minutes.
Do you have any particular thoughts about healthy eating? We all know that it’s important to eat more vegetables, eat less sugar, etc. But while we know it intellectually, it’s often difficult to put it into practice and make it a part of our daily habits. In your opinion what are the main blockages that prevent us from taking the information that we all know, and integrating it into our lives?
The biggest obstacle with healthy eating is that we have this all-or-nothing mentality. Instead of incorporating healthy foods in our diets, we try to cut out entire food groups. Carbs are not the enemy. Of course, there are digestive reasons why some people should limit carbs, but in general, a balanced diet, using moderation is truly the key to success. Make small sustainable changes and build on them. For example, a person who doesn’t eat any vegetables at all is going to have more success with adding in a side salad, than with deciding every meal is going to be a salad. Choose the healthy foods you enjoy, but don’t eat enough of, and add that to your regular meal plan.
When I was a kid, I did not like vegetables, except for broccoli, believe it or not. So, broccoli was the first vegetable I added to my healthy eating routine. As that became normal, I added more and more vegetables. I also started to experiment with different seasonings. Once I got comfortable with that, I “snuck” vegetables into my meals. Sauces are a great way to mask vegetables. It may sound a little crazy to some people, but I chop up all types of vegetables and put them in spaghetti. Now I can’t imagine making it without them.
I also make my favorite foods, in healthier ways. Instead of deep-frying chicken, I’ll either bake it or put it in the air fryer. If I am baking a cake, depending on the recipe, I may use apple sauce, instead of oil. Those are just a couple of quick examples. There are so many ways to incorporate healthier eating habits into your daily meals.
The ones that can’t be adapted, I will still eat, again, in moderation. No one is taking my hot wings and cheeseburgers away. I enjoy food and again, make the whole eating process an experience.
Can you share three good habits that can lead to optimum emotional wellness? Please share a story or example for each.
A great place to start when creating optimal emotional wellness is setting boundaries. Women in particular are known for taking on tasks to the point of becoming overwhelmed. It is not only okay to say no, at times, but it is also necessary. You cannot serve others from an empty cup. Do not give so much of yourself, that there’s nothing left for you. It is emotionally draining.
I myself have been there, and still have moments I need to remind myself that I do not have to be all things to all people. It is perfectly acceptable to put my emotional well-being ahead of what others are asking of me. I used to think that if I didn’t help everyone that their world would fall apart, or they would have no need to have me in their lives anymore. Well, once I started setting up those boundaries, I found in most cases, no one completely fell apart, and people still enjoyed having me in their lives. A few people did not accept my new way of living and removed themselves from my life. That’s okay. Not everyone is meant to be in your life for a lifetime.
Detach from social media! No one lives up to the expectations showcased on social media. We often forget that people are sharing the highlight reel of their life and not the bloopers. Once you find yourself comparing your life to someone, or minimizing your own accomplishments, that is a sign to unfollow someone.
I aim to follow people who inspire me and post content that I enjoy engaging with. There have been times that I have watched someone else’s page and had insecurities pop up for me. I will stop following those pages that create those feelings in me. Not because the creator has done anything wrong, but because I don’t like how I feel when viewing their content. I also take social media breaks, which allows me to recharge and continue my own self-development.
Allow yourself to be vulnerable. It is okay to ask for help. It is okay to not be okay. Vulnerability is seen as a weakness by so many people, but really there’s so much strength in allowing others to see the real you. It also creates the space to allow you to truly connect to others.
This was probably one of the hardest habits for me to adapt into my life. Being the go-to person for so many people is a lot of pressure. Put enough pressure into anything and it will eventually explode. Once I allowed myself to share more of myself, and not be scared to ask for help, my relationships became so much more authentic. I no longer felt alone. I learned how strong my support system really is, and I am so grateful. I now share my feelings, without being embarrassed, because I know I am not being judged as harshly as I once judged myself for having those emotions.
Do you have any particular thoughts about the power of smiling to improve emotional wellness? We’d love to hear it.
Smiling is an incredible tool for improving emotional wellness. It has been shown that smiling has the ability to boost those feel-good hormones dopamine and serotonin, while also decreasing stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline. Serotonin, specifically, can act as a mild antidepressant. I’d say that definitely gives reason to smile.
My default facial expression has always been to smile. I remember being a young adult, and some of my friends would tell me to stop smiling at everyone. I never listened and kept that smile firmly planted on my face. I would also like to say it is no surprise that I have always been “the happy friend” in the group. It just feels good to smile, and even when people are a bit surprised by my friendly facial expression, they tend to genuinely smile back. It’s free to smile, so if I can boost not only my mood but someone else’s, I call it a win/win.
Finally, can you share three good habits that can lead to optimum spiritual wellness? Please share a story or example for each.
Connecting with oneself is the base of my spiritual practice. We are all connected to one another, as well as the highest power. Therefore, if I don’t know myself, how can I know of anything else?
Allowing yourself to feel your feelings is an amazing way to connect spiritually. Too often we only appreciate our “positive” emotions and shame ourselves for our “negative” emotions, but they are all valid.
When I’m feeling angry, I know it is my mind’s response to something. I do not have to act on it, but allowing myself the space to be in that emotion and discover why I’m feeling it, instead of blindly reacting or trying to stifle it has helped me optimize my spiritual wellness. This is because I am once again connecting to myself, and I am allowing myself to exist as I am meant to at that moment.
Journaling is another tactic I use for spiritual wellness. It allows me to embrace all the use of different methods of journaling to connect. Journaling helps you connect to yourself, as well as express those difficult feelings and embrace those joyful emotions.
I have a journal that I use whenever I’m inspired to write about anything going on in my life, and I have my daily gratitude journal. My main journal is the one that I share my experiences and thoughts in. I sometimes have a topic in mind, and other days I just pick up the pen and write. Journaling has helped me decipher some of my more complex emotions. Putting words to my feelings has helped me during many difficult times. I also use it when I’m feeling good, and it is a way to help me freeze that memory in time, so I can go back and reflect at a later date. Then there’s the daily gratitude journal that I use so that I am always reminded of the good in my life. I reflect on what is going right, and how thankful I am. I use this as a thank you to the universe for all my blessings. Having a grateful heart is definitely a way to optimize spiritual wellness.
Meditation is the last tip I’d like to share for optimizing spiritual wellness. I am sure it is no surprise that this has made it to my list. Meditation helps to quiet the mind, allowing you to connect with yourself and everything around you.
I’ve already gone in-depth on meditation, so I’ll keep it brief. No matter the meditative technique used, it allows my mind to slow down and bring myself into the present moment. This is a peaceful time where I can leave my troubles behind, if even for a few moments. Meditation is easily one of the best methods for optimizing spiritual wellness.
Do you have any particular thoughts about how being “in nature” can help us to cultivate spiritual wellness?
Being in nature helps us to cultivate spiritual wellness because we are already connected just by existing. Our bodies follow the rhythm of everything around us. So, connecting with the earth is essentially connecting with yourself. Being in nature is an energizing experience. Putting away the electronics and embracing the sounds, smells, and feelings nature inspires is just good for the soul. Nature isn’t meant to be something outside of our environment, but a part of it.
I suggest getting out there and “grounding”, which is doing activities that ground you to the earth. My favorite is to walk on soil with my bare feet, sometimes placing my hands straight on the dirt ground. Since we are a part of nature, this allows nature to recharge our systems.
Ok, we are nearly done. You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good for the greatest number of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
There are so many powerful movements, but if I’m trying to inspire the most good for the most people, the movement I would love to bring more attention to is the World Kindness Movement. This movement was originally created to bring nations together, which has grown to inspire kindness around the world. There’s also World Kindness Day that is celebrated annually on November 13th. Every year, since it was created in 1998, there’s been a theme for the annual celebration to promote kindness on that day.
The reason this is one of the movements that touches my heart is because we as a society, especially Western society, are so hustle and bustle orientated. Always on the move. We are so used to rushing, that we don’t take the time to think of how we can help others, especially strangers. If we were to do more for our communities, our unknown neighbors, as well as those we love, it would create a place of reciprocity. It isn’t about doing good for the sake of the return, but it is a bonus. There’s a quote by Aman Mehndiratta: “Do good and good will come to you”. That really resonates with me, because what we put out into the universe will always find its way back to us. Also, for most people, it feels good to make someone else feel good. Another win/win situation in my book.
We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US, whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we both tag them :-)
Oh, this is an easy one, Chris Hemsworth. His series Limitless really inspired me and gave me a real-life example of just how far one person could push their limits and overcome every obstacle put before them. During his journey, the need for aligning mental, physical, and spiritual well-being was further confirmed. I would love to discuss where he is now, in relation to keeping up with the techniques for optimal health. He also appears to be a very genuine person, with so much love for his family, which touches my heart and aligns with my family values. It would be amazing to connect with him, and a bonus if his wonderful wife, Elsa Pataky would share the experience from her point of view.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
I would love for your readers to continue to follow my journey. I can be found through my website https://www.louisavalentin.coach/, as well as my Facebook page or LinkedIn at Louisa Valentin.
Thank you for these excellent insights, and we greatly appreciate the time you spent with this. We wish you continued success.
