We all know that taking care of our physical bodies will help us to be healthier -- but are we missing a critical factor when it comes to our overall well-being?
Dr. Elaine Ferguson, author of Superhealing, says most of us aren't tuning in enough to our emotional health -- and we're suffering as a result. Ferguson recently told HuffPost Live host Nancy Redd that while physical health is important, there is too much emphasis placed on the body and not enough on the mind and spirit.
"There was too much of a focus on physical health and well-being, and not enough encompassing of the mind and spirit as well," Ferguson said. "When I became a physician I had a couple of illnesses that were chronic and quite severe, and when I was in the hospital I realized that my emotional health was definitely impacting my physical body and I made a decision to take charge of that and to do some things that I knew I needed to do."
According to Ferguson, it is important for us to connect the mind and the body -- and the first step to achieving that connection is through simple focus.
"One of the first things you can do is to pay attention to what's going on," she said. "We're so externally-focused in this world, we don't pay attention to our inner voice and the inner message that our body gives us. Attention is the first step of loving, self care."
Check out the clip above for more on observing health through the body, mind and spirit and watch the full video on HuffPost Live.
For more on the Third Metric, click here.
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