How can I live a holistic life?

[Epistemes]

Hello,

I just got back from confession, and my priest suggested I might not be living a holistic life. This is likely since I don’t even know what a holistic life entails or how to live one.

 

[BarbaraTherese]

Hello,

I just got back from confession, and my priest suggested I might not be living a holistic life. This is likely since I don’t even know what a holistic life entails or how to live one.

I had a look in the dictionary and in the Catholic dictionary and still am none the wiser as to what “holistic life” may mean precisely. I would be going back to the Confessional and telling Father I did not understand his meaning and could he explain please. Other posters may be of more help to you.

 

[Epistemes]

I had a look in the dictionary and in the Catholic dictionary and still am none the wiser as to what “holistic life” may mean precisely. I would be going back to the Confessional and telling Father I did not understand his meaning and could he explain please. Other posters may be of more help to you.

I’ve given our little confessional chat a bit more thought. The priest asked me prior to giving me my penance, “Do you find you feel lonely more often than not?”

So, his recommendation for living a holistic life might just be a recommendation to reflect on whether or not I’m cultivating meaningful relationships with other people. I can’t help but think of Matthew Kelly’s book “The Rhythm of Life” in which he discusses the four areas each person should concentrate on to live a meaningful(, perhaps holistic) life.

 

[BarbaraTherese]

I’ve given our little confessional chat a bit more thought. The priest asked me prior to giving me my penance, “Do you find you feel lonely more often than not?”

So, his recommendation for living a holistic life might just be a recommendation to reflect on whether or not I’m cultivating meaningful relationships with other people. I can’t help but think of Matthew Kelly’s book “The Rhythm of Life” in which he discusses the four areas each person should concentrate on to live a meaningful(, perhaps holistic) life.

Born of the Grace of The Sacrament you have received, the Holy Spirit is speaking to you in all the above…were it me, I still would ask Father his meaning - even ask him about the above conclusions you have arrived at…and let the Holy Spirit lead me on…

 

[blessedtoo]

I’ve given our little confessional chat a bit more thought. The priest asked me prior to giving me my penance, “Do you find you feel lonely more often than not?”

So, his recommendation for living a holistic life might just be a recommendation to reflect on whether or not I’m cultivating meaningful relationships with other people. I can’t help but think of Matthew Kelly’s book “The Rhythm of Life” in which he discusses the four areas each person should concentrate on to live a meaningful(, perhaps holistic) life.

Yes, holistic usually means all parts incorporated into the whole. For example, when I’ve gone to holistic doctors, they tend to take the entire body into consideration when making a diagnosis or treatment plan, rather than just the part that hurts! It is the belief that everything is connected to and impacts the whole.

Perhaps your priest was suggesting there might be some “knitting together” of the various parts of your life?

 

[Trishie]

I would have thought he means a “wholesome life”, lived as a person who is body and spirit. I think he means not to neglect your spiritual needs, your needs as a person emotionally, mentally, and physically also. He is advising but to nurture wisely all these aspects of your humanity sensibly and in a balanced way.

Jesus said that we must love others as ourselves. There is the obvious command that we must love others, and the intrinsic command to love ourselves… but with healthy, commonsense care of ourselves, our physical wellbeing, our mental development, or emotional and social needs, as well as our spiritual needs. If we do this then we are more able to love and benefit others.