Educational Consultant
2552 Summit Rd
Manasquan, NJ 08736
(732) 528-5886
| Holistic Living | |
|
What is Holistic living? Just ask Dr. Helen Greenleaf, one of the first female physicians in Monmouth County and a proponent of healthy living for over 40 years. Located in Red Bank, NJ, Dr. Greenleaf developed a holistic model of treatment that included and addressed the physical, mental, and spiritual development of patients. Her philosophy impacted both the medical and the actual community; and her practice reflected and encompassed a truly holistic lifestyle including proper dietary practices, exercise, positive mental care, spirituality, and a belief in God. I first met Dr. Greenleaf at Monmouth University (then college) while serving as an elementary school principal at Wall Central School, in Wall Township, NJ. Parents were asking me to help them to stem the tide of alcohol and drug addiction. At first I was surprised as I did not realize that there was a problem with my students. As it turned out the following week a request come from Monmouth College invited educators to participate in classes addressing addiction prevention. Dr. Greenleaf was the first person I met and I was shocked by her message. Dr. Greenleaf made it very clear the first place to start addiction prevention was in the elementary school. During the 1985-86 school year, with the assistance of Fran Micieli, a state prevention educator, Dr. Greenleaf worked with Wall Central School to enact an addiction prevention program for students. Focusing on the importance of teaching social problem solving techniques in the elementary school, a model based on the educational program, "Here is Looking at You 2000" was developed. This program incorporated holistic healthy living and problem solving. As a result of the program, Wall Central School received a meritorious citation from the New Jersey Department of Education for educational excellence. How does this tie into Holistic Living for adults? Those students that were taught those social problem strategies are now using them as adults. Your question for change in our life style begins with visualizing the new you. When you start to change your lifestyle you begin to reinvent yourself. You are practicing what Dr. Greenleaf taught. Her model for Holistic and Healthy Living is constantly evolving. Let us take a look at the current perception of Holistic precepts. Seek out and identify your strengths and weaknesses. This will empower you to define who you are. Seek answers to the following questions: ›› What is my purpose in life? ›› Do I have a new lifestyle identity? ›› Is there love in my life? ›› How do I communicate at home, work, and in the community? A new word in our lexicon is resiliency: The ability to change or come back from a difficult or traumatic event; a new way of thinking. You are on the path to becoming a new you. Throw away all those negative, depressive, and addictive behaviors and beliefs that took you down and continue to hold you back. According to Dr. Elizabeth Lombardo, resilience "includes realistic optimism, hardiness, determination, and self-confidence." According to many experts, including Dr. Lombardo, exercise and meditation changes our set of focus on more positive ideas and changes our mood. They include the following. 1. The need to become resilient, the ability to come back after a difficult event. 2. Develop skills for problem solving. Start journal writing. Ask the questions, what did I do today? How am I changing? 3. Reach out to the world around you. Call several family members, friends or others that might need help and expertise. 4. Pray daily. 5. Think poetry and prose. 6. Have no fear what tomorrow will bring. 7. Exercise and have fun but not at the expense of others. 8. Establish a positive sleeping behavior. Take no alcohol or caffeine before bedtime. 9. Put your daily concerns in a box and toss them away. 10. Be aware of your diet, more Omega 3 and less Omega 6. Junk food undermines your health. Restrict sugars, fats, and salt in your diet. 11. Be at peace with yourself. Practice Yoga, martial arts, and music therapy. 12. Put aside anxious thoughts and imaginations. Stop analyzing yourself. Give yourself a break. Be nice to you. 13. Put humor into your daily life. Try to practice self deprecating humor. 14. Begin to de-technologize your world. Set boundaries concerning the use of media for yourself and your family. 15. How about de-stressing our lives? 16. Develop and embrace an open arms policy of hugs and friendship. I will try to start off with art and imagery in the introduction to this brochure. All ideas are on the table. Everyone has humor in their heart. |