What It Really Means to Live a Holistic Life: Thoughts from a Therapist in Denver

Have you ever felt like your mind is racing, your body is exhausted no matter how much sleep you get, and your spirit—wait, I have one of those? Like you’re going through the motions of your day but not really in it?

We’re living in a time that glorifies productivity, where the pressure to do more often comes at the expense of our well-being. We're constantly bombarded with messages to fix ourselves—take a pill, lose the weight, buy the next product promising peace or happiness.

But healing doesn’t have to come in a bottle, box, or something outside of yourself. There’s another path—one that invites you to come home to yourself by tending to your mind, body, and spirit as a whole. That’s the heart of holistic living.

As a holistic therapist in Denver, I support women and moms in reconnecting with themselves through creative, compassionate practices. Again and again, I’ve seen how nourishing all parts of the self—mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual—can lead to a more grounded, joyful, and meaningful life.

What Does It Mean to Live a Holistic Life?

Holistic living means caring for your whole self—mind, body, and spirit—not just one part of you in isolation.

And I get it: that might sound like a lot, especially if you're already feeling stretched thin. But living holistically isn’t about doing more. It’s about gently tuning in to all parts of yourself, rather than only focusing on your thoughts or what your mind is telling you to do.

In our culture, we’re taught to live from the neck up—solving problems with logic, pushing through fatigue, overthinking our way through life. But we’re not just heads on a stick! We're also emotional, physical, and spiritual beings. And when we ignore those parts of ourselves, we start to feel disconnected, depleted, or stuck.

Living holistically means becoming aware of what your whole self is needing:

• Maybe your body is asking for rest, not another workout.

• Maybe your emotions need space to move, not to be shoved aside.

• Maybe your spirit is craving connection, beauty, or something meaningful—something more than just crossing tasks off a list.

Checking off self-care boxes like “eat healthy,” “go to therapy,” or “take a bath” can help, but true holistic care goes deeper. It’s about learning to listen inwardly and care for yourself in a way that honors the full complexity of being human.

Why We Feel Fragmented (and Why It’s Not Your Fault)

Let’s be honest—living a holistic life isn’t easy in today’s world. There are systems all around us that make it hard to stay connected to ourselves in a real, meaningful way.

Capitalism pushes us to constantly work and produce just to survive. Patriarchy leaves women, mothers, and marginalized groups overwhelmed and unseen. Hustle culture glorifies burnout as a badge of honor. Social media pulls us away from our own inner knowing and into a constant loop of comparison or numbness.

And don’t even get me started on the myths of motherhood—those made-up stories we’ve been taught about what a “good mom” should look like or do. These damaging narratives leave so many women feeling like they’re failing, even when they’re doing their best.

When you're constantly navigating all of this, of course you start to feel fragmented. Of course it’s hard to feel whole.

Common Signs of Fragmentation

Okay, I might be aging myself here, but do you remember when we used to have to de-fragment our computers so the information could be reorganized, helping them to run more smoothly? That’s kind of how fragmentation works in us, too. When different parts of ourselves—our mind, body, emotions, and spirit—get disconnected or disorganized, things just stop flowing the way they’re meant to.

You might notice signs like:

• Feeling numb or checked out

• Constant tension or exhaustion, no matter how much you rest

• A lack of creativity, joy, or spiritual connection

• Overwhelm, burnout, or anxiety that seems to creep in for no clear reason

These signs of disconnection do not equate to a personal failure. Rather, it’s a completely natural response to systems that ask too much of us and offer too little support.

How Creativity Reconnects the Mind, Body, and Spirit

One of the most powerful ways to “de-fragment” ourselves is through creativity. Even small moments of creative expression can help realign the mind, body, and spirit and bring us back into connection with our wholeness.

Now, you might be thinking, “But I’m not creative,” or “I’m not an artist.” But here’s the thing: creativity isn’t about being good at art. It’s about expression. It’s about curiosity and play. We were born creative beings; think about how naturally children explore, build, scribble, and imagine. But many of the systems we talked about earlier—capitalism, patriarchy, hustle culture—pull us away from that instinct.

When we give ourselves permission to create, even imperfectly, we invite all parts of ourselves to come to the table. Creativity engages our thoughts, emotions, senses, intuition, and inner wisdom. It can be grounding, freeing, and even spiritual.

Using Creativity as a Bridge

Here are a few simple ways creativity can help reconnect you to your whole self:

• Scribbling with both hands to release tension or emotion

• Making playful marks with paint to tap into flow

• Choosing colors that express how you feel when words don’t quite fit

• Molding clay to reconnect with your body and the present moment

As an art therapist in Denver, I support women and moms in using these kinds of creative practices to move through anxiety, disconnection, and overwhelm. Art becomes a language of its own—a way to listen inward, express what’s hard to say in words, and feel more grounded and whole.

Gentle Steps to Begin Your Holistic Journey

Starting (or continuing) your holistic journey doesn’t have to feel like a big undertaking—or just another task on your already full to-do list. The whole point of a holistic lifestyle is to bring more ease, simplicity, and alignment into your everyday life.

Most people I know who begin living more holistically aren’t doing it perfectly. In fact, many of them are slowly stepping away from the toxic systems we talked about earlier. They’re learning to say no to the hustle, to question old stories or patterns, and to find peace in a slower, more authentic rhythm. Holistic living is about coming back to yourself in small, meaningful ways.

Prompts for Holistic Living

Here are a few gentle ways to start tuning in:

• Take five quiet minutes to simply breathe and notice sensations in your body.

• Ask yourself: “What part of me needs care today—my mind, body, or spirit?”

• Make space to create something just for you—with no goal or outcome in mind.

• Start (or revisit) a simple ritual like morning tea, journaling, or lighting a candle with intention.

There’s no right way to do this. Let it be soft. Let it be imperfect. Let it be uniquely you and remind you of your wholeness.

You Don’t Have to Do This Alone

Holistic healing doesn’t mean doing everything by yourself. In fact, one of the most powerful parts of healing is realizing that you’re allowed to be supported; in fact, we’re meant to be supported.

Working with a holistic, trauma-informed therapist in Denver can offer you a safe, compassionate space to explore your mind, body, and spirit. My approach is rooted in nervous system awareness, deep listening, and the belief that we are meant to heal in relationship—not isolation.

Whether you're navigating anxiety, burnout, disconnection, or just feeling the weight of trying to hold it all together, therapy can be a space to slow down, reconnect, and come home to yourself.

Start With a Gentle Step Toward Wholeness

If you’re feeling the pull to reconnect with your inner self beyond talking things out—start with something simple.

✨ Download my free Therapeutic Art Guidebook
This guide includes accessible, creative prompts to support your emotional well-being and help you explore the healing power of art—no experience necessary.

If you’re ready for more personalized support, you can learn more about working with me as an art therapist in Denver.

You're not alone in this. And you don’t have to find your way back to wholeness all by yourself. Book your free clarity call with Leanne today!