What inspired you to write Quantum Wellness?

It became very clear to me that wellness is not something just to be achieved in physical health. One can be strong and without disease, yet still feel disconnected and ill at ease in life, whether because of emotional issues or a sense of being out of touch on a spiritual level. I have seen people who are struggling with illness who are far more joyful and peaceful than those who are strong and physically fit. As well, I know many others who are thriving in their careers or in relationships but who don’t take care of their bodies. Quantum Wellness is a holistic approach to wellbeing in that it encompasses the body, mind, and soul. This is exciting to me because I believe that as we heal ourselves on all of these fronts, that healing ripples out and we become the healers in a world that so sorely needs them. When we open our eyes to look deeply at the process of how we are wounded, and how we contribute to the wounding of our world, a leap in consicousness is possible.

How did you decide on the 8 pillars of wellness?

I did extensive research and came up with these 8 pillars that really do have the ability to vault someone into an altogether new and better place. You can choose to do 3 or 4 of the methods described - perhaps visualization, conscious eating, or self work, for instance - and experience a substantial shift in your energy. These practices clear out old ways of being and replace those behaviors with new upgraded ones. In this way, you are pulling yourself up the ladder of living consciously. I’ve seen people heal from illness using them, or get out of destructive relationships, change the way they ate, and even curtailed addictions. They are powerful tools, and especially when they are used synergistically.

What would you say to people who do not think that conscious eating is an important part of wellness and spirituality?

Well, I would say that we all at different points along the continuum, and some of us excel one area while lagging behind in another. But eventually, to become fully conscious and self actualized human beings, we do have to be responsible for the choices we make, knowing that everything we do, say, and buy has an effect. And any time you make the choice to eat meat or dairy or eggs, there is an animal - a real living being - somewhere who will experience the fallout of that choice. The very least we can do is to be conscious of that, to not be ignorant of the reality of our food system. We have to think about the principles and values that are important to us, and in as much as we can, live by them.

What would be the first step you would advise readers to do to begin their wellness journey?

The first step on any journey is awareness. Think about where you are, how your choices reverberate out into the world and what you would like to do differently. Set your intention to be more conscious, more alert and awake to the power you have with your every choice. And then lean into becoming the person you would like to be. And give yourself the time and space to adjust; you need not do everything overnight. Progress, not perfection is my motto!

What has been the impact of Quantum Wellness?

I don’t know if it’s Quantum Wellness, or if it’s a confluence of many things (environmental reports advising people to eat a more plant based diet because animal agriculture causes more damage to the environment than all the forms of transportation put together, undercover reports becoming public on the conditions of factory farms, and new health studies that clearly show how eating meat and dairy is detrimental to our health) coming together at once, but clearly, people are talking about moving away from that old Atkins mentality of eating a high protein and fat diet, to a cleaner more plant based diet. When someone like Oprah embraces this type of thinking, saying that she will “forever be a conscious eater”, people in huge numbers begin to question their own diets. There is a cultural shift going on right now, and it seems like it is a trend that will stick. I hear people in restaurants asking for a vegan option, people on airplanes or in hotels requesting soy milk, and I see new products popping up in the market to answer this growing interest. It’s exciting!

How has implementing the 8 pillars changed your life?

I feel healthy, plugged in to my creativity, and I feel like I am living “on target” with my mission of becoming a more awakened human being. I haven’t had so much as a sniffle in many years, and my energy is substantial

Any final thoughts for readers?

Things can change in massive ways by doing little things, like making tiny shifts in your diet. Lean into this awareness, and let your success carry you to your next right step!

Kathy Freston - Author of Quantum Wellness

To stick with your resolution, take it one day at a time. Keep informing yourself with as much information - new health or environmental studies, for instance - as you can find that will keep you impassioned about your new choices. When I committed to eating a plant based diet, I was sure to read as many peer reviewed studies as I could get my hands on that reminded me how my chances of developing cancer, heart disease, and diabetes was greatly diminished by eating a vegetarian diet. At the same time, I made it my business to take seriously the reports from the IPCC on how animal agriculture harms the environment more than all the forms of transportation put together (inc. cars, trucks, planes, and ships). To really seal the deal, I watched a few video links of undercover footage at slaughterhouses. All of this information kept me firmly on my path. And if I started to feel tempted, I would start the whole process over again, day after day, until my new way of eating became natural.

Kathy Freston - Author of Quantum Wellness