Are you ready to launch your authentic, holistic lifestyle? Let’s get you started with these three simple steps.

Step 1: Reflection and assessment

Before you set out to achieve a goal, you have to know two things: where you are and where you’re going. Adjusting your lifestyle to incorporate holistic wellness habits is no exception.

First, you have to take time to carefully reflect on your life and conduct an assessment of how you are on the scale of overall well-being. If your personality is especially quiet and reserved (like me), it might be challenging to open up like this, even to yourself. But trust me — it’s worth it.

I recommend conducting this assessment in a place where you feel completely relaxed and with minimal background noise, whether that’s outside, on your bed or at your desk. All you need is something to write (or type) with and a cup of tea, coffee or a snack, if you’d like.

Once you’re settled, think through the following areas of your life: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Consider how well the equally important needs of these areas are being met. Here are some questions that might help you get started:

• How am I taking care of my physical health — i.e., eating, sleeping, exercise, socialization? Take into account any physical health conditions you may have.
• Am I nurturing my emotional needs through balanced community, solitude, hobbies and work-life balance?
• In what ways am I overwhelmed with mental roadblocks like stress and anxiety? Do I have healthy way of processing/coping with them?
• What does my spiritual life look like? Am I making time for God, reflecting on my life as it relates to loving/serving Him and others?

Step 2: Decide where you’re going

After your reflection and assessment, you’re going to need to specify your goals. Maybe you’re looking to adjust habits in all four corners of your life or you see some areas that are out of balance while others are on the right track. Either way, this calls for more quiet, intentional time to think.

Just like you did with the reflection and assessment, give yourself a designated time and space to complete this step. I’ve written a few questions in case you’re feeling stuck on this step.

It should be noted that I did not include phrases like “where do I want to be in six months.” This is because healing — and authentic, holistic life balance — is a continual process. Don’t be discouraged if you feel like you’re not making progress. It’s all a process — we learn and grow every day, better equipping us to fully embrace our full humanity.

• What areas of imbalance in my life do I want to improve?
• Are there any physical, mental or emotional conditions I have that I need to learn how to manage?
• What wounds (physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual) am I struggling to heal from?

Step 3: Identify practical habits to achieve your goal

Once you’ve completed the more in-depth reflection, assessment and goal-setting, you’re ready to identify practical habits to start growing.

Taking your individual responses from the previous two steps, determine how you can practically work to improve the areas of your life which are imbalanced. Depending on your unique needs and desires, this could be cleaning up your diet, spending more time with friends and family, increasing your daily prayer or a combination of it all.

Keep in mind that, while I’ve given you a sort of road map in this article to start your holistic lifestyle, it’s important to develop your own personal approach. I can’t tell you that; you have to determine what works best for you independently, with the help of those around you who know you well and can walk with you more directly.

I hope and pray that this article provides some guidance and practical advice to help you get started on your journey to develop an authentic, holistic lifestyle.