[Living better and longer: a holistic approach to health]

Illness can be a signal that a person has exceeded his or her capacity to adapt to a particular situation. To remain healthy, we must learn to manage stress and know how to use energy. The public now has access to various therapeutic models of health care, including medical and psychospiritual approaches. The author discusses the holistic approach as one way of optimizing health. It is an approach that recognizes the innate tendency of the body to re-establish equilibrium when an imbalance has occurred and provides the body with the beneficial conditions necessary to regain strength and increase resistance. The healing process involves redefining one's self, values, behaviors, personal relationships and lifestyle. It is only by establishing harmonious relationships with the physical universe as well as the social and spiritual environments that authentic healing can occur. Because of our capacity to assess and heal ourselves, we have in us the power to change whatever interferes with our well-being and promote attitudes of love, harmony, forgiveness, self-acceptance, responsibility for our actions, while finding a meaning to life and joy in helping others.