Body. Mind. Spirit.

I have spent a long, long, long time trying to settle on what the meaning of our lives is. I have tried to make the messy and chaotic nature of life into some coherent sort of formula without success. And the reason for this is obvious, life is not organised, it is not the same for everyone and it does not follow a straight path. But as I try to figure out how I will get through this by being "okay" I have settled upon an age-old philosophy based upon the balance of three different components.

Body
We must look after our bodies and keep them in good form. This means eating the right foods, doing the right exercise and keeping in shape. We must look after our health. We must dress ourselves in clothes that make us feel good. As humans, we are essentially made up of a physical component, an emotional component and a spiritual component, and although we may see our "body" as being the most superficial of the three, we still must not underestimate the importance of looking after it. As we learn to do this, we will be more energised towards life and have greater confidence in ourselves.

Mind
Our attitude is of most grave importance. It is imperative that we perceive things rationally, not through a warped lense. We must be kind to ourselves, love ourselves and feel confident with ourselves. We must remember that attitude is everything - we are not slaves to our circumstances, but can actively overcome them in the way we respond to them. Finally, we must believe in ourselves - whether you think you can or you can't, you are right.

Spirit
I believe this is the most extensive component of the three. To me, this component encapsulates the essence of life and what it means to display human spirit. Above anything, it involves doing things that make you feel free and make you feel alive. We must engage ourselves in living and doing things that give us "flow", the mental state in which a person is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and success in the process of an activity. Let us find the things that make us feel free, alive and happy: netball, surfing, writing, swimming, reading, running, yoga, relaxation, helping other people, being compassionate, spending time with friends... Find what it is that makes you feel alive and enjoy it for the rest of your life. Share experiences with people. Help others to do the same. Let go. Breathe. Be free.

I often see the latter component as the greatest of the three, as I believe it is the one that is directly attached to our meaning and our happiness. However, these three components are intertwined and are all equally important. Without one, the others cannot exist in harmony, so it is important not to throw out balance. Love your body, nurture your mind, release your spirit.

Live.