
Where To Start In Your Health And Wellness Journey
by Vivian Fong
Where to start in your health and wellness journey is such a common question for those who are new. This talk goes through limiting consumption of content and tuning into your needs and your wants, as well as advocating for simplicity and finding nourishment in the practices that bring you the most benefit and joy.
Transcript
Where to start?
I feel like where to start is such a common question when it comes to health and wellness.
Social media and the internet and all of these sources can feed us information and sometimes the message that we get is that we have to do all of these things in order to be well and to feel well.
But the thing is,
When too much information comes at you all at once,
It's just really hard to know where to start and to know what works best for you.
So if that's you and you're feeling a bit overwhelmed,
My first advice is to stop the consumption.
If you are exposed to a lot of health and wellness information,
You probably know what you need to do.
But it's just a matter of knowing where to start and getting yourself to start that.
I think the main thing to ask yourself is what do you need?
Pick one thing for your mind,
Pick one thing for your body,
And pick one thing that just brings you happiness and joy.
It can be a hobby,
It can be something you used to do when you were a kid.
It can be exploring the city around you,
Connecting in nature.
Find that thing.
Then find your mental practice.
What is something you can do to unplug,
To detach from the internet,
From stimulation,
From social media,
From the phones?
And really find that connection within yourself to clear the mind and quiet the mind just for a little bit.
Then the third thing I would say is to find a body-based practice,
Whether it's strength training or Pilates or yoga,
Find a practice that helps you connect with your body.
So the three things,
Basic things on where to start is to find a body practice,
Any body practice,
Find a mental practice,
Anything that clears the mind,
Any ritual,
Any habit,
Any any way you can calm the mind and to bring that connection back towards you.
Then the third one is to reconnect with the outside world,
Whether that's going to a park or whether it's connecting in nature or just for a little walk.
And the main goal here is not to have a wellness,
Be like a checkbox,
Like we're not trying to treat this as a project,
Like an optimization project.
We're not trying to optimize your body or to optimize your health.
We're trying to let the benefits of these practices,
We're really trying to get these practices to nourish you from the inside out.
It's not just a thing to check off a to-do list because it's something you know you need to do.
But rather reaping the benefits of what the practice brings you,
Which is why I like to say,
Don't do too much.
You don't have to do everything.
You have to do what works best for you and really soaking benefits from it,
Reaping the benefits from it.
And yes,
There's going to be so much external noise,
But I think having that discernment and that filter within yourself to decide what is best for you,
That's going to go a long way and it's going to keep your practice sustainable.
It can be tough to start,
But the moment you get the hang of it,
And the moment you reap the benefits of health,
And you're doing what you truly love and enjoy,
It will come easier.
I think there was another quote that I read that said,
Things have to be hard first before they become easier.
And to make something become easier,
It's just consistency and repetition,
Continuously showing up,
Doing the best you can with what you have,
And see where it takes you,
See what happens.
Meet your Teacher
