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The theory of mind, body, and spirit suggests that these three elements all work together to create a balanced life. If one or more of the three areas are suffering or off-balance, all areas will suffer.
We have all met someone whose physical ailments drag down their mind and spirit, and maybe we have been there ourselves. Likewise, you’ve probably seen someone whose body is healthy, but their mind and spirit are suffering. Perhaps you have experienced this, too. It takes all three aspects of human life working together to create overall health and wellbeing.
Today, we’re diving into all three of these components to learn how they create our lived experiences.
The Mind
The mind is housed in the brain. It is responsible for cognitive reasoning, memory, processing speed, executive functioning, imagination, perception, sensation, and reciprocal communication. This part of the body controls the body’s ability to move, function, and experience feelings.
Teens with healthy brains exercise regularly and have the ability to keep stress and worry at bay by choice. They are less likely to get overwhelmed or panicked by daily life, even when they experience stress. Someone with a healthy mind has gratitude, joy, and positive thoughts, and they are resilient when bad things happen.
Happy minds are both calm and active. People with strong mental health have a thirst for knowledge, adventure, and learning. If someone has lost interest in things he or she used to be passionate about, that is a big signal that the person is struggling. Just like the brain requires sleep every night, the brain also requires new knowledge to digest and new ideas to ponder.
The Body
The body is our human physical structure, the version of ourselves that the rest of the world can see. A healthy body is a symphony of very complex systems, including the nervous system, the digestive system, the immune system, and the circulatory and respiratory systems, just to name a few. A healthy body is free of disease and it is not riddled with pain.
There are basic principles of physical health we all have in common: We all need a healthy diet, sound nutrition, and regular exercise. A healthy body naturally wants to move and seeks activity. Maintaining physical health also includes keeping regular checkups with your primary care doctor in order to prevent, detect, and treat illness.
When someone’s physical health is poor, they may feel isolated and in pain, and their mental health may suffer. When someone’s mental health is poor, the stress they feel may manifest itself in physical ailments. But when both mental and physical health are strong, the individual takes care to eat well, stay active, and use healthy thought patterns to navigate life’s challenges.
The Spirit
The spirit includes intellect, passion, and creativity and is a component of human philosophy, psychology, art, and knowledge. When someone understands themselves as a part of a community and a larger universe, that is a sign of a healthy spirit! Though the word “spirit” is sometimes used interchangeably with "soul,” the spirit is our higher self that is connected to God and the world around us. The soul, or psyche, is often used to reference our more base elements of human nature.
Just like the body and the mind, the spirit needs nourishment. This can come from faith and prayer, mindfulness, and meditation, as well as time with loved ones. A broken spirit is one that feels unloved and disconnected. Feeling loved is fuel for a healthy spirit.
The Camp SEK experience is designed to nourish these three core aspects of our lives. Campers get active in nature, learn from and are supported by others, and learn how to manage very strong emotions through faith and mindfulness. Everyone deserves to know and value all three aspects of themselves, and Camp SEK provides an in-depth education in how to live your strongest and healthiest life.