Embracing Wellness in the Face of Chronic Health Challenges

Breaking the Stigma Around Chronic Conditions

When I attended a workshop earlier this year, a well-respected spiritual teacher shared her struggle with chronic fatigue syndrome. Her honesty almost moved me to tears because it broke the shame I had been carrying. In the spiritual community, there's often an unspoken expectation that deep spiritual work should resolve all health issues. While some symptoms can improve or even resolve, chronic conditions don't always disappear entirely.

"Chronic conditions don't make us failures or less spiritual—it makes us human."

Many healers, myself included, come to this path because of personal challenges, including chronic health issues. We seek answers and solutions, often gravitating to modalities that offer profound shifts in consciousness and healing. The practices I engage in have undoubtedly improved my life. But they haven’t "cured" me, and that's okay. 

The Layers of Healing

Healing, especially when dealing with chronic health challenges, requires addressing multiple layers of well-being—physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual—and approaching each with dedication and consistency. Over the years, I’ve found that a combination of various healing modalities has brought me incredible progress, even for long-standing issues.

Healing Modalities I Use:

1. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine

2. Spinal flow therapy

3. Prana healing

4. Sound healing

5. Exchanges of Umana and Pellowah with other practitioners

Equally important is daily spiritual hygiene. This involves practices that help clear, align, protect, and strengthen my energy field, which is essential not just for healing but also for maintaining well-being. Whether it’s through meditation, energy clearing, or other tools, dedicating time each day to this practice creates a foundation for wellness.

"Healing is not a one-time fix; it’s an ongoing, layered process."

The Role of Diet and Spiritual Hygiene

There was a time when I was exceptionally health-conscious. Daily exercise was non-negotiable—I made sure to move my body for at least 30 minutes every day. My diet was rich in fruits, vegetables, and nutrition and I was diligent about the choices I made. However, life has a way of shifting priorities. Over the past couple of years, I’ve endured significant changes and challenges, and my commitment to healthy living understandably took a backseat.

Now, I’m intentionally reclaiming those habits, but it’s not without effort. Returning to a healthier lifestyle requires conscious decision-making and significant dedication. I’ve started exploring new recipes, which means buying a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, and other high-quality ingredients. While this process is undeniably expensive—especially in Melbourne, where the cost of fresh produce is high—it’s also incredibly rewarding. Experimenting with new meals and focusing on nutrition has brought a sense of joy back into my daily routine, which, in turn, positively impacts my energy levels.

It’s not just about the food or exercise, though; it’s about the awareness and intention behind every choice. Having clarity around what I want to achieve and committing to those goals daily has been transformative. For example, repeating my goals to myself every day has helped me stay focused and accountable. This level of mindfulness creates a ripple effect, making each decision feel purposeful and aligned with my broader vision of wellness.

"Every small action contributes to a larger sense of well-being."

Re-establishing a healthier lifestyle is about more than just physical health; it’s about cultivating joy, energy, and balance in all areas of life. This layered approach—combining conscious decision-making, intentional goals, and the enjoyment of the process—has been pivotal in managing my energy and priorities. Every decision, no matter how small, plays a role in shaping our energy, mood, and ability to show up in the world. Ultimately, creating alignment in all areas of life means committing to the process daily, being mindful of your goals, and celebrating the progress you make. It’s not about perfection but about taking steps that, over time, lead to a greater sense of balance, energy, and well-being.

I’m admittedly late to discovering Spotify, but its curated playlists have introduced me to incredible current artists and genres I wouldn’t have explored otherwise. The music is invigorating, beautiful, and deeply connective, filling me with energy and creativity. When it’s playing, I find myself loving the process of being in the kitchen, experimenting with recipes, and immersing myself in a joyful flow. Music has reminded me how important it is to allow playfulness and creativity into daily life, which can so easily be overlooked.

The Power of Intention and Daily Commitment

All of this may sound like it takes an extraordinary amount of time, but in reality, much of it happens first thing in the morning before I even open my eyes. I wake up early, and before I start the day, I go through this process mentally—setting intentions, aligning myself, and creating the tapestry of my day. It’s indulgent in the best way, but it doesn’t require hours. Some days, I may spend more time if I have it, but even when I only have a few minutes, the effect is profound. By starting my day this way, I find that every choice I make flows effortlessly, aligning with the intentions I’ve already set. Decisions that make me stronger and more grounded come naturally, as they’re already part of the foundation I’ve built for the day. When you’re in this place—when your light is shining so strongly—you naturally become a candle for others. This is incredibly important. The time and energy you invest in becoming medicine, in strengthening your own light, is profoundly powerful. Whether you’re a parent, a friend, a colleague, or simply existing in the world, your presence becomes a beacon for others. Sometimes, you don’t even need to say or do anything; just being in that state of light has an impact on everyone around you.

The effort you put into yourself is not selfish, self-centred, or indulgent. Many of these practices can be done quickly, especially if you wake up just a few minutes earlier to set your intentions and align your day. Once you do, every choice you make throughout the day begins gravitating effortlessly toward those intentions.

"When your capacity to hold light expands, you naturally become a source of medicine for the world, simply by being you."

For love, the goal I set was to be a better, more present mum to my son. While this seems like an obvious priority, it’s surprisingly easy to lose focus when you’re building a business. In the past 12 months, my business became my primary focus, often overshadowing my time and attention for my son. By setting a goal to prioritise being a loving and available mom, I’ve completely reshaped my daily life. I’m now far more involved, giving him more time, love, and attention. This intentional shift has transformed not just my relationship with him but the structure of my entire life. My son is once again the centre of my world, and my actions reflect that in ways they didn’t during the early days of my business.

For spiritual growth, the goals I set and worked on have been incredible. The daily practice of focusing on this quadrant has resulted in profound shifts in my perspective and energy. Committing to these goals has shown me just how much can change in three months when you dedicate yourself to small, consistent actions.

The power of intention and daily commitment cannot be overstated. By consistently connecting with these goals and removing distractions that don’t align with them, I’ve created a life that feels more purposeful and fulfilling. I’m so much more aware of where my time and energy go because my goals are always top of mind. When distractions arise, they’re easier to dismiss because they don’t align with the priorities I’ve set. This clarity and focus have been transformative, shaping my actions, my habits, and ultimately my life in ways I could not have anticipated.

For me, wellness—feeling good and having energy—is abundance. It’s not something I take for granted, given how often I’ve been unable to function due to migraines or fatigue. On the days when I do have energy, I’m incredibly productive and deeply grateful. Those moments are a reminder to make the most of what’s available while showing compassion for myself when I need to rest.

Rediscovering Joy Through Small Acts

At the core of wellness lies the balance of the four quadrants: spiritual growth, love, health, and abundance. Together, these quadrants hold immense potential for cultivating a sense of vitality, joy, and peace in our lives. Love, for instance, often intertwines with what brings us joy, reminding us that joy itself is a vital component of feeling well and having the energy to thrive.

When we approach life with a conscious effort to nurture all four quadrants, we create a foundation for true wellness. Assigning a goal to each area and prioritising them in a cycle for three months allows this process to unfold naturally. Interestingly, while you may start with a fixed priority order, the act of repeating and connecting with these goals daily organically shifts your focus. You end up cycling through each priority in a balanced way, ensuring every area gets the attention it needs.

For me, this approach has been transformative. It has improved my health, increased my energy levels, and cultivated a sense of calm and peace within my mind and heart. All the dimensions of wellness I’ve outlined—conscious decision-making, diet, spiritual hygiene, joyful connections, and more—are puzzle pieces that, when combined, create a complete picture of well-being. However, neglecting one piece leaves the whole incomplete. Without joy, there’s no energy or motivation. Without nourishing food, balanced attention, or intentional actions, the structure falters. The recipe for wellness is layered, requiring significant awareness and effort.