In the modern world of multi-tasking most of us attribute good health to be free from physical illness. I was also one of them, until few years back when I started my health and wellness journey from 2014. I focused on my balanced meals, ensured quality sleep and also exercised regularly for many years. All my annual medical checkup's turned out to be perfect numbers. Yet I used to feel I was lacking something.
I continued my pursuit of knowledge on holistic health and understood that health and wellness is multidimensional. It encompasses of 4 basic pillars of equal importance.
We always have to bring about balance between these four dimensions to lead a happy and healthy life.
Balanced Nutrition
Regular Exercise
Quality Sleep
Emotional wellness
I understood the point I was lacking to achieve my holistic health and then on started focusing on my emotional wellness. Understood from the scriptures of ancient science and yoga sutras that the vital life force energy that keeps us up and running is called "Prana".
As all the electrical gadgets require "Uninterrupted Power Supply" to function human body requires "Uninterrupted Life force Supply" to be alive.
Quoting one more definition that inspired me from the books of Ayurveda.
“sama dosha sama agnischa sama dhatu mala kriyaaha|
Prasanna atma indriya manaha swastha iti abhidheeyate” –Sushruta Samhita
which can be translated as
"One is in perfect health when the Three doshas ( vata, pitta and Kapha) Digestive fire ( digestion, assimilation and metabolism) all the body tissues & components (Dhatus) (the entire physical body) all the excretory functions (the physiological functions of urination and defecation) are in perfect order with a pleasantly disposed and contented mind, senses and spirit."
Sanathana Dharma states "Paropakaram Artham Idam Shareeram" which translates to "The body has been given to us in order to benefit others.” So our life should be filled with this ideal of doing good to others. It also throws emphasis on the working principles of the universe "Universal Love and Compassion."
In a nutshell good health is not absence of physical diseases but is the "enthusiasm to work" and "enthusiasm to be compassionate". Every morning when you wake up you should feel the enthusiasm to lead the day energetically with a feeling to help others. If you possess such enthusiasm then you are certainly healthy. And to understand this enthusiasm we certainly need to have an awareness of our subtle body along with our physical body.