Every aspect of our lives can invariably influence our sense of wellbeing. In Vedic times the secret to a life well lived was centered around four goals or objectives of life known as Purushartha.
Since the ancient Vedic times, four goals were believed to hold the key to a life of happiness, prosperity, meaning, and purpose. It was also well understood that mental, emotional, and physical health was the foundation for achieving these objectives.
Many of us may find that being healthy for the sake of being healthy acts as a short-lived motivator for maintaining a healthy routine. Before we know it we find ourselves back on the couch with a block of chocolate spiraling back into a state poor choices that lead to throwing routine, vegetables, and exercise back into the hard basket.
Health and wellbeing require consistency and discipline. To do this we need to find the incentive to value a healthy lifestyle; a reason to make our health a priority because the capacity in which we can experience life depends on it.
When our lives become engaging and meaningful it becomes easier to make good choices that lead to wellbeing. Our incentive needs to be focused on participating in life rather than for the sake of merely being healthy. To do this we need to create a life worth living. The four goals of life enable us to orientate our lives in a way to enhance our incentive to live well and be well.
Purushartha -
Dharmartha kama mokshanam
Arogya mulam uttamam
Translation - Living a wholesome meaningful and honest life with regards to family and social life, finding success in your chosen life path, enjoying material pleasures with the end goal of merging back to our true nature, the place we are from.
Excellent health is the foundation for achieving these four goals of life.