HOLI SH*T, it's happening!

On HOLIsm and why we embarked on a journey without a destination

Hello and welcome to our HOLI BLOG, you beautiful souls on the world wide web. We are so very excited to take you along on our journey to a more HOLIstic life that radiates growth, compassion, and strength.

After all, this is what HOLIsm is to us: a never-ending journey without a destination but with many adventures ahead. Before we jump into a first glimpse of what HOLIsm means to us at HOLI SH*T, we would like to introduce you to our founder, Selene :

"After reaching our first 200 followers on Instagram, I am so happy and proud to be able to share our first blog post with you! The last couple of months have been filled with work and creativity. I am full of ideas to create a holistic concept out of HOLI SH*T and try to always find new ways to share my love and passion for this lifestyle with you! I hope our community will continue to grow and eventually become a platform for sharing experiences and ideas. Thank you for going on this journey with us!" – Selene Mori, Founder

As you may have already guessed, the HOLI in our brand name represents, among other things, our pledge to a HOLIstic lifestyle.

As people, we often think about our health and wellness in terms of sickness and pain or the absence of it.

'If I am not feeling unwell that must, in turn, mean that I am well.'

Our wellness is not determined by the absence of something. However, It can be determined by the presence of, for example, healthy boundaries, a job that aligns with our personal values, or a supportive system of friends and family.

While HOLIstic health focuses on treating the whole body instead of specific symptoms, a HOLIstic lifestyle focuses on eight dimensions of HOLIstic wellness. These eight dimensions of wellness were first set out by Margaret Swarbrick, an associate professor at Rutgers University, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

The dimensions include 1.) emotional, 2.) physical, 3.) environmental, 4.) spiritual, 5.) social, 6.) intellectual, 7.) occupational, and 8.) financial wellness. The idea is that these eight dimensions interact, interdepend, and build a foundation for our physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.

Let us look at these dimensions in a little more depth:

These were just some example practices for each of the different dimensions of wellness. When you reflect on them, is there one that stands out to you? One that particularly feels fulfilling or one that leaves you disappointed or frustrated in yourself?

Know that it is rare to feel content with all dimensions. Remember how we said that HOLIsm is a journey rather than a destination? The goal is not to master every dimension. Each of us, individually, gets to decide what we need from each particular one. Some may outweigh others in their importance to satisfy a specific need. For example, when someone is craving security, they may emphasize their environmental and financial dimension.

We realize that HOLIsm in this form may seem overwhelming, but the practice is designed to be inclusive for people of all backgrounds. We also recognize that many of us tend to get caught up in the small details: Therefore, managing eight dimensions may appear an impossible task.

In the upcoming blog posts, we will feature and reference many practices that can help us grow in different parts of our respective lives.

At HOLI SH*T we appreciate every step taken and try – and encourage you, as well – to not dwell on the steps not taken. You have been led to become the person you are today. There is no guarantee that, had you taken a different path, you would be in a better position than you currently are. We hope you can find peace and comfort in the life that you live today. HOLIstic wellness is, after all, achieved through continuous acts of self-care. Some of which may very well already be habits and parts of your routine, others you may have heard of, and some may be new for you.

Please note that a HOLIstic lifestyle is never a cure-all-pill that you simply take with a glass of water. A HOLIstic lifestyle can – at best – help you activate, stimulate and/or promote the body’s innate healing powers. Practicing HOLIsm should always make you feel empowered, in charge of, and connected to, your body, mind, and soul.

We cannot stress this enough. We know from experience what it is like to feel alienated from either one or sometimes more than one at the same time. Sometimes things happen to us. Sometimes bad things happen to good people.

We find that many of us – intuitively – yearn for and crave after those healthy happiness-inducing habits, those so-called acts of self-care that have become synonymous with a HOLIstic practice. Especially after experiencing some sort of trauma. After all, self-care is known to increase self-acceptance, which in turn can encourage self-love. It is only natural that our intuition guides us towards a sustainable practice that promotes a positive outlook on life.

Let us embark on this journey together. Follow HOLI SH*T on Instagram for more inspirational, informational, and most of all HOLIstic content. We have so many things planned and cannot wait to share them with you in the upcoming weeks and months.

xx HOLI BLOG TEAM