You’ve likely seen health practitioners that become fixed or adamant on a specific “thing” before eventually softening their approach or dropping the topic all together. I’ve seen this happen in many areas: toxins, pathogens, diets, supplements, modalities, etc. The “hot topic” becomes an item of fixation for the holistic health community, and it seems as though it is the only thing that matters to your health. That is, until something else becomes the community’s obsession…

Why have we become extremists?

Yes, environmental toxins affect our health, but we shouldn’t fear our environment or attempt to create a non-toxic “bubble.”

Yes, stress & trauma impact our physical & emotional well-being, but not every hard situation is traumatic. (In some cases, stress is a good thing and can help us grow.)

Yes, eating should be joyful, enriching and nourishing, but it doesn’t have to be “special” or elaborate every single time.

Yes, supporting drainage and natural detoxification is helpful, but obsessing over detox can be detrimental, and sometimes lead to orthorexia.

And yes, emphasizing organic food is important, but not everyone has the resources to make organic food a priority.

This black & white thinking tends to force all of us to put all of our eggs in one “health basket,” but health is rarely found in reductionist, either/or mindsets. It’s time we bring more nuance, discernment, and humility to the health world. We know so little, all things considered!

If you’re feeling overwhelmed…

…or perhaps even a little bit annoyed by the sheer number of modalities & rituals suggested to “keep you on track,” remember that simplicity is okay. Even things like meditation, diaphragmatic breathing, or dry brushing can make it easy to feel like what you’re doing will never be enough.

And don’t get me wrong… I practice and love many of these techniques! However, I think exposure to so many many holistic health interventions makes people feel like they’re always behind, or as if they’ll never be “completely” healthy.

I encourage all of us to take a more balanced approach, to recognize different perspectives, and to remember that simplicity is okay.

Find what works for you, and don’t compare your wellness journey with what anyone else’s. Simply do what you can with what you’ve got.

With love,

Amanda