WHAT IS HAPPINESS?
WHY IS HAPPINESS A DECISION?
One of the basic aspirations of mankind is to remain in a state of health for as long as possible. Despite that we are the most intelligent specie which have walked the earth, our wittiness, meticulous studies,
Ideally, the modern man is supposed to live an optimum life. I mean, if you lived a thousand years ago, you would do a lot more physically to enjoy a fraction of the basic amenities you enjoy today. However, as easy as life is for the modern man, he seems to be prone to more diseases than his ancestors in older ages.
Could there be a missing link that modern advancements, despite their breakthrough in the field of medicine, seem not to get right?
In old times, people paid more attention to other aspects of their lives aside from their bodies. This can be traced to ancient religions emphasizing the care for the mind, emotions, and spirit. The Hadith of Muhammad expressed undeniable wisdom towards achieving holistic health when it encouraged the Muslim: “Fast to heal.” Fast, here, was not only prescribed as abstenance from food and drink, rather an entire cleansing practice in the physical, spiritual, and mental context as well. Fourteen centuries later, Yoshinori Ohsumi won the 2016 Nobel Prize in medicine for his discovery on the role of fasting in reversing age through autophagy; a process where cells eat up aging and unhealthy cells and renew themselves. Health, in Islam as well as in most old world cultures and religions, was viewed through the lens of general wellbeing: mind, emotions, spirit, and body.
Could it be that this was the reason they lived happier lives? The facts tend to support this hypothesis. It is also possible that life in its completeness surpasses wealth as it must involve happiness, wellbeing, and holistic health.
What does holistic health mean?
To get a deeper understanding of this subject, let’s get to the fundamental aspects of the subject.
The Canadian Holistic Medical Association defines holistic medicine as a system of health care that fosters a cooperative relationship among all those involved, leading towards optimal attainment of the physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual aspects of health.¹
This means that bodily wellness depended on the wellness of other aspects of the person; emotion, mind, and spirit. Holistic health practitioners believe that a human being is made of a body, a soul, and a spirit and that they are interdependent.
“WHILE THERE COULD BE MANY DEFINITIONS TO WHAT HAPPINESS IS, MY FAVORITE IS:
HAPPINESS IS CLARITY OF THOUGHTS..
AN YOU ONLY NEED TO THINK OF THE OPPOSITE TO FIND OUT HOW TRUE.”
— NIDAL SAKR
In modern medicine, however, medicine tends to diagnose the problem in the body alone and seek a cure for bodily wellness without the active participation of the sick person in his or her recovery to health. Modern medicine depends largely on drugs, surgeries, and the interaction of chemicals on the body, however, holistic medicine emphasizes the person’s ability to engage in self-care, a sort of health promotion that is self-directed in such a way that allows a person to be part of his or her healing process.
Thomas McKeown, a 20th-century philosopher, and physician proposed a thesis where he stated that medical practitioners placed more emphasis on cure rather than care. He was promulgating an approach that inculcated the principles of holistic medicine. He concluded with a plea for a more humanistic, less technocratic role for the medical profession.²
Considering the definition of health as given by the World Health Organization, you would discover that although modern medicine is practiced without interacting with every aspect of the human person, the world governing body on health seems to have a holistic health view. It defines health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing, and not just the absence of infirmity.³
Did modern medicine affect the practice of holistic medicine?
In 1970, National Geographic traveled to the northern region of Pakistan to learn more about the Hunza people. The longevity and vitality the Hunza people enjoyed first drew global curiosity when Sir Robert McCarrison wrote about them in his famous 1921 book “Studies in Deficiency Disease.” The revelation which unfolded showed the modern world how the deviation from the natural ways of life has cost us in the aspect of health. The Hunzas attribute their longevity and vitality to a holistic health approach to living.⁴ They fed on natural foods such as berries and nuts, breathed unpolluted air, and had rigorous daily schedules which involved climbing mountainous terrains, farming, and domestic chores. In general, they had a way of life that sponsored soulish and bodily happiness and tranquility.
No doubt, the worldwide acceptance of modern medicine makes people unreceptive to the administration of holistic medicine. However, Tu Youyou may have changed how the world viewed holistic medicine especially in the field of alternative medicine. In 2015, Tu Youyou won the Nobel Prize for medicine when she extracted a cure for malaria from sweet wormwood.
Is holistic health practicable in today’s world?
Holistic health or medicine is practiced with reference to some principles. These principles, ten of them, to be precise,⁵ are applicable in everyday life and some of them without the presence of a holistic doctor. For instance, a principle emphasizes the need for personal fulfillment in the pursuit of soulish wellness. In Abraham Maslow’s 1962 book titled “Towards a psychology of being”⁶ he revealed how the fulfillment of personal needs can bring one to a state of true happiness and whole health. He represented those needs in the form of a triangle which is known famously as the Maslow triangle of needs. We may not go deep into Maslow’s work but it is clear that in pursuit of personal happiness, what we subtly practice is a principle of holistic medicine.
Conclusion
Holistic medicine isn’t a new concept, it is perhaps the oldest recorded form of man’s pursuit of wellness. No doubt, it struggles to find its place in modern prevention and cure of illness perhaps because it affects every aspect of people’s being. The whole human needs wellness; his mind, spirit, and body. Modern medicine offers a lot of solutions to problems however only holistic medicine promises wholeness to every other aspect of the human being aside from the physical body.
As you would find out, holistic medicine offers solutions that are not just long-lasting but also interesting in practice. In my book “ Lead a Horse to Water” you would discover that holistic health is not farfetched, it is a possibility you and I can achieve. It is a call to a state where we live perpetually in general health rather than where we only seek cure when our health begins to deteriorate.
What is fame if we cannot enjoy it in mental tranquility?
Can we say we are wealthy when we have money but lack the vitality to taste the goodies of life we can afford?
I don’t aim to show you anything else but a way of life that keeps your emotions on the bright side, your health free of illness, and your mind continuously in a state of fulfillment. This is what we believe in and do at, HolisticLiveYounger.
References
- What is holistic health? http://www.holistic-med.com/whatis.html
- Colgrove J. The McKeown thesis: a historical controversy and its enduring influence. Am J Public Health. 2002;92(5):725-9
- World Health Organization. Basic documents. 15th ed. Geneva: WHO;1948
- How the Hunza People Live. https://verywellhealth.com/the-hunza-valley-the-original-shangri-la-222404
- American Holistic Medical Association. Principles. http://www.holisticmedicine.org/content.asp?contentid=22
- Maslow AH. Towards a psychology of being. New York: Van Nostrand; 1962
- Peter Mariёn, Mario Manto. The Linguistic Cerebellum: 2015.
- How Do Thoughts and Emotions Affect Health? https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/how-do-thoughts-and-emotions-affect-health