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Leadership

Integrative Wellness for Christians

December 2, 2024

In today’s fast-paced world, wellness has evolved beyond the sole needs of our physical health. We see more and more people seeking a deeper, more fulfilling experience of well-being that goes beyond the body, tapping into the mind, emotions, and spirit. As followers of Christ, I feel we have a unique perspective on wellness – one that sits well with our soul, that integrates our faith and the principles of holistic health but observing a biblical worldview. This is not easy to achieve, especially in a world that is anything but focused on God’s ways but is dominated by the culture and alternative points of view that are non-biblical and point away from God. My goal is to help carve a path and a feeling of a safe space for those who are serious about developing their faith, their walk with God, and honoring the vessel God gave us utilizing sound wellness practices to help you enjoy the gifts God gives us and stay well!

What is Foundational Wellness?

Foundational Wellness is a holistic approach to health that considers the whole person— the mind, the body, the spirit, and our emotions as well. It combines the best of conventional medical practices with appropriate therapies (but testing the spirits always). Things like nutrition, mindfulness, and good spiritual practices all help us achieve this goal which is not just to treat symptoms, but to achieve a deeper level of wellbeing and balance as we walk with Christ.

Please know I don’t come from a place that is holier than thou, I too need to be mindful and practice these daily. Like everyone else, I try, I fail and I get up and I try again. I have days where I achieve absolutely nothing I intend, but the very next day comes with the dawn, and deep clarity and purpose inspires alignment to the Truth as God gave it to us. I come to you with a desire to highlight and clarify what is possible, using Biblical scripture as the basis, and a deep sense of conviction from the Holy Spirit, to help clarify and nurture the vessel. Perhaps the Holy Spirit is convicting you in the same way? Either way, looking after ourselves is in line with God’s will.

 

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your bodies.” – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

 

Here, God calls us to steward our physical, mental, and spiritual health with care and respect. And for me, it calls on us to take life seriously, rather than indulge in neglect, disregard and respond from a point of apathy or contempt of our physical being. God put us here for a purpose! Lets engage with the vessel and thereby give our bodies every chance to be well!

What I love is that modern Foundational Wellness practices are focused heavily on a framework where the body is able to function optimally and dōTERRA embraces these same practices with its focus on everyday wellness for everyone. It has been a bridge to achieve my spiritual goals and align with my daily wellness focus.

The Biblical Foundation for Foundational Wellness

The Bible often speaks about the importance of health and wellbeing, not just physically, but also mentally and spiritually. In John 10:10, Jesus said “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” This “full life” encompasses all aspects of our being, reflecting a holistic view of health vitality and overall wellbeing. He doesn’t want us to be passengers!

1. Body: the body is God’s creation, and there are powerful themes throughout the Bible where He calls us to care for ourselves through prayer, through nutrition, through movement, and rest. In today’s terms, identifying harmful habits and adjusting our approach has a powerful impact on helping our bodies heal. Things like engaging in gentle movement practices, which might be as simple as walking, or strenuous focused aerobic movement; fulfilling our senses with heat and cold (think the powerful advantages of a sauna or a cold plunge to inspire change in our bodies and being fully present with ourselves and the Lord), and reminding ourselves of the gift of life! We can impact our overall wellbeing and even our genetic disposition, by walking in nature, fulfilling our senses with plenty of oxygen and the smells of the trees or the beach. Getting good sleep, and regular massage to help lymph drainage, right down to sharing an Aromatouch experience with a friend.

Woman receiving an aroma oil massage in Japan

2. Mind: The Bible speaks about renewing our minds (Romans 12:2). This means protecting our minds and staying focused on Him. Life on Earth is stressful, and there are ever present threats to our overall emotional and mental wellbeing that make it challenging to put our needs first. We are therefore compelled to manage stress, combat anxiety, and foster a positive mindset – which in the face of adversity can be truly challenging. I like to engage with daily practices like mindfulness, prayer, and meditating on God’s word which are powerful tools to help us become rooted in Christ. Reading or listening to scripture. Reflecting on the power of the Word is humbling.

I believe God is in all things – the science and evidenced based research that is behind our essential oils and supplements have shown a remarkable impact on mental clarity and functioning. A few of the essential oils that come to mind for this sole purpose include lemon, bergamot, sandalwood and others. A recent study showed that after inhaling lemon essential oil (and it must be pure) has powerful effects on memory and retention, for example, assisting emotions and memory processing. You can find more about that here:

To gain the benefits of clarity of mind, a few drops of dōTERRA’s lemon essential oil (because purity is everything) in water first thing in the morning is a powerfully effective way to cleanse and the digestive tract, and begin the day fresh. The incredible amount of studies showing the connection between the gut and the mind means we can afford to focus on ensuring a healthy connection by using a potent, pure, tested grade essential oil like lemon first thing every morning has a powerful impact on the neurotransmitters that live inside the gut where seratonin is produced, lifting mood and lowering inflammation. That’s a wonderful approach to wellness!

3. Spirit: I do believe that this side of things is somewhat neglected by most Christians as being somewhat out of reach and too far into the supernatural. Perhaps those of us who have walked away from Christ or spent too long on the new age, feel as if this is an area that is out of bounds. For a long while I felt the same way, I still do – but I focus on the gifts of the spirit as nourishment for the soul.

What are the gifts of the Spirit?

1 Corinthians 12 speaks to our walk with the Lord so eloquently and beautifully! Paul speaks to us, as new believers in Christ, acknowledging our backgrounds in the new age deception – where we were led astray. I can so relate to this verse! We all have different gifts, different service, different activities. But all of them are bestowed upon us as gifts from God. Things like wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, and prophecy – all of which are gifts from God and we are drawn to ‘drink from the One Spirit, being God. Read more about the gifts here

I believe Spiritual wellness is at the core of the Christian concept of what we understand as Foundational Wellness. It involves nurturing our relationship with God, seeking His guidance in our health practices, and aligning our daily habits with biblical principles. Enhance your connection with God through prayer, through time in the word, through journalling and study and living out our faith in ways that honour God and His promise for us.

When we are wanting to elevate our focus, and eliminate noisy mind chatter we can lean into scripture after we turn on the diffuser to help cleanse, clarify and calm the atmosphere, lower anxiety and focus on keeping a pure, energised environment through this holy time with the Lord.

Foundational Wellness Framework for the Christian”

A Christian approach to foundational wellness incorporates three principles where the physical, the mental, and spiritual health and wellbeing needs to be balanced and attended to. I find that if I ignore one area, it can lead to an uncomfortable imbalance in my life. Things become unnecessarily difficult which can hinder how I feel emotionally and my ability to stay on task.

Here’s some helpful ideas on how we can integrate these elements:

1. Physical Health: The Temple of God
The Bible reminds us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. This calls for intentional care of our physical health and we can do this by focusing on:

• Nutrition and Diet: Being disciplined about how we approach what we eat so our body can function as the temple it is, and based on sound and contemporary dietary practices. “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). Our dietary choices should honour God and provide the nourishment we need to serve Him effectively. Ensure you are getting your daily intake of nutrients through whole foods, rejecting processed foods, and leaning into the complex nutrients that are customised to start your day.

• Exercise and Movement: Regular physical activity, such as walking, stretching, or strength training, not only boosts physical health but also enhances mental clarity and emotional resilience. If you are feeling a sense of resistance around movement, look at some steps that may make that a little easier for you, like dedicating an hour to listen to scripture while moving, or an uplifting sermon. Consider using some peppermint to help energise the spirit and engage the senses before your walk each day.

• Rest and Renewal: God modelled rest for us in creation (Genesis 2:2-3). Taking time for Sabbath rest, quality sleep, and relaxation is vital for physical renewal.

 

“And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.” – Genesis 2:2-3

2. Mental Health: Renewing the Mind

Mental health is often overlooked in faith communities, yet the Bible emphasises the importance of our thought life and mental wellbeing

• Mindfulness and Meditation: While secular mindfulness practices focus on inner peace, Christian mindfulness involves focusing on God’s presence and His Word. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.”

• Prayer and Reflection: These are powerful tools for managing stress and anxiety. Philippians 4:6-7 encourages us not to be anxious but to bring our concerns to God in prayer, promising that His peace will guard our hearts and minds.

• Cognitive Renewal: Romans 12:2 speaks of being transformed by the renewing of our minds. This involves filling our thoughts with God’s truth, which can help counteract negative self-talk and destructive patterns of thinking.

Here’s my favourite list of must-have essential oils for powerful cognitive functioning:

Peppermint, Rosemary, Copaiba, Frankincense, Bergamot, Lemon, Cypress, Eucalyptus and Lemongrass

Bergamot
Lemon
Cypress
Eucalyptus
Lemongrass
Peppermint
Rosemary
Copaiba
Frankincense
Sandalwood

Shop the list of essential oils for mental clarity and cognitive functioning
here:

3. Spiritual Health: Nurturing the Soul

Spiritual wellness is the cornerstone of the Christian approach to integrative wellness. It involves cultivating a deep, personal relationship with God and living out our faith daily:

• Scripture and Worship: Engaging with God’s Word and worshipping regularly helps keep our focus on Him. It reminds us of His promises and provides strength for our journey. Spending time in the word is deeply beneficial to nourishing and renewing the soul. He reminds us constantly how He is there for us, to help support and uplift us on the daily. It’s inspiring to look at the Ancient Oils and determine how many times they have been mentioned in the Bible!

• Community and Fellowship: The Christian life is meant to be lived in community. Regular fellowship with other believers offers encouragement, accountability, and spiritual support. You can do that through a church you feel called to be part of, through community and giving back, by finding charitable outlets, or even looking helping out with our incredible Healing Hands Foundation in dōTERRA.

• Purpose and Calling: Understanding and living out our God-given purpose contributes to a sense of fulfilment and joy. We are reminded in Ephesians 2:10 that we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ to do good works. Have you ever had a strong yearning to work to your purpose and find your calling? I work with women who are keen to cultivate their strengths and orientate themselves on a powerful walk with the Lord. If this sounds like something you’d love to know more about, reach out to me here

My Final Thoughts

Integrative wellness offers a powerful framework for holistic health, grounded in biblical truth. It invites us to consider every aspect of our wellbeing—physical, mental, and spiritual—as interconnected and essential for living a full, vibrant life in Christ. By embracing this approach, we not only care for ourselves but also honour God and prepare ourselves to serve His Kingdom with greater energy, clarity, and purpose.

In the end, wellness is not just about what we achieve for ourselves but how we can glorify God through the way we live. And that is true breakthrough wellness—living fully in alignment with God’s plan for our lives.

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