The physical level is the most visible level of all 5 holistic levels. It refers to your body, your temple, including everything else that belongs to it. Problems, complaints, and illnesses often become physically visible. Which means that your physical body sends out signs regarding your entire health. It is important to realize that you have a body, but you are not it. You can influence everything that you have in your life; in the previous module, we’ve explained that who you are, is found in your essence. Thoughts, feelings, and your body are things that you have. You are able to determine whether you are healthy when you are aware of the signs your body transmits. Awareness is again the keyword.

It is of course unnecessary to question whether you are healthy regarding every little pain you sense. When you bump your knee and it hurts, you are aware of the cause of this pain. Taking your rest and patience will make the pain disappear again. The same goes for when you have a headache after a long and busy workday. Tension is the obvious cause in this case and taking it slow is often the best medicine. When you experience persistent physical complaints, or from which the cause can’t be found immediately, it’s valid to question where it has come from. This makes it possible to tackle the issue at its core; by yourself, a doctor, a coach, or a therapist.

Taking proper care of your body is essential if you want to stay healthy. Exercising frequently and a healthy diet are the key ingredients for this on the physical level. When you live a lesser healthy life, the consequences will often be physically visible. Too much, too greasy, and unhealthy food instantly causes fat-sediment and obesity. Smoking causes your face to have an ash-grey color and you are less likely to exercise which your physical fitness can be in a bad condition. For example when you have to catch your breath after little physical effort. To keep your body, and your temple, healthy; it is important to be aware of what you do, and what you eat and to keep track of your lifestyle.

This awareness enables you to take appropriate action when you experience physical complaints or to tackle them before they become present. Last but not least, you have the ability to make sure that you feel comfortable in your body. Feeling comfortable in your own body is actually quite easy. Self-love, loving yourself for who you essentially are, is the key ingredient here. Accepting yourself exactly as you are, including your flaws (your shadow side, module 1) makes it possible for you to be unconditionally happy. Do you like to enjoy your food without having to keep track of your carbohydrate, fat, and sugar intake? That’s completely fine, as long as you can accept this of yourself. So if you feel the urge to eat a bar of chocolate and/or a bag of chips, feel free to do so. Eating unhealthy every now and then won’t make you less healthy instantly. Do you sense some tension or does it make you feel unhappy? Resist the urge. If you feel a greater need to go for a run, go running. What makes you feel comfortable?

The examples above already notify the following: what and how you feel determines at the moment itself what is good for you. Trusting your feelings means that you utilize your intuition which is a very important tool in nourishing yourself holistically. In the next chapter, we’ll look at how you can exercise your intuition and how you can apply it.

We recommend you do one of the grounding exercises before you go to the next chapter, so you can become aware of your body and be able to interact with your feelings. The aim of this exercise is for you to consciously connect with yourself, your body, the earth, and the universal energy. During the exercises, you listen to what your feelings have to say to you and you let go of your thoughts as much as possible. This will instantly make you feel more confident about yourself.

Grounding exercise

When learning how to get in touch with your feelings, how to become aware of your body, and how to protect your energy; being properly grounded is essential. Because by properly grounding yourself, you stand more firm with both feet on the ground, literally as well as figuratively speaking. It also makes it easier for you to feel your own energy.

Grounding exercise:

• Come into a seated position and place your feet firmly and flat on the ground. Place your hands on your knees.
• Close your eyes and tune in to yourself, don’t let yourself get distracted by your surroundings.
• Breathe calmly.
• Imagine roots growing out of the soles of your feet.
• Follow the growth of the roots into the earth.
• Try to feel that you are truly connected with the earth, connected by the roots that grow out of the soles of your feet.
• Let the roots grow bigger and accompany them into the earth.
• Whenever you sense that you are less grounded, you can practice this exercise. When you continuously repeat this exercise, it’s enough to recall the feeling of the roots growing out of the soles of your feet.