Damalie Catherine, founder of Feel Blissful Wellness, is a visionary in holistic wellness and a certified health and wellness coach. Passionate about empowering Black and Brown women, she guides them to release visible and invisible weight, reclaim inner peace, and thrive sustainably in every area of life through whole-person wellness.
Imagine your life as a beautiful wheel, each segment representing a vital area: family, relationships, health, career/vocation, spirituality, physical activity, nutrition, home cooking, sleep, finances, creativity, and more. When these areas are balanced, the wheel turns smoothly, easily carrying you through life. But when one or more segments are neglected, the wheel wobbles, and stress, overwhelm, or dissatisfaction can take over.
Holistic wellness, inspired by the Wheel of Wellness concept, offers a way to find balance and harmony by addressing all parts of your life, not just the visible ones. At Feel Blissful Wellness, we believe that harmonizing well-being entails a simple yet transformative process of Releasing, Reconnecting, and Reclaiming.
Release: Letting go of what no longer serves you
Carrying unnecessary weight, whether it’s toxic relationships, limiting beliefs, or outdated habits, keeps your wheel stuck. In her memoir Becoming, Michelle Obama writes, “For me, becoming isn’t about arriving somewhere or achieving a certain aim. I see it instead as forward motion, a means of evolving, a way to reach continuously toward a better self.”
Consider a culturally affirming practice like a self-reflection ritual. Write down the areas where you feel most drained or stuck. For example, you might notice that constantly overextending yourself to meet others' expectations leaves little time for self-care. Acknowledge these areas without judgment, and commit to releasing them.
Reconnect: Aligning with your best self
Once you’ve made space by letting go, it’s time to reconnect with your inner wisdom, the highest version of yourself. Audre Lorde, in Sister Outsider, reminds us, “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”
Reconnect by engaging in practices that resonate with your identity and culture. For example, reconnect with nature by walking barefoot in the grass, a grounding tradition found in many African cultures. Or, honor your roots by cooking a meal that connects you to your heritage, nourishing both your body and spirit.
Reclaim: Embracing inner peace
Reclaiming peace means stepping into the power of a balanced and harmonious life. This is where the wheel of wellness begins to turn effortlessly again. In Sisters of the Yam: Black Women and Self-Recovery, bell hooks emphasizes the importance of prioritizing joy and community. Surround yourself with people and activities that bring you peace and fulfillment.
Perhaps it’s joining an uplifting sisterhood circle to share stories and support or practicing mindful meditation with affirmations like: "I am whole. I am enough. I am free."
Your journey to balance
Holistic wellness isn’t about perfection; it’s about progress and intentionality. By releasing stress and whatever no longer serves you, reconnecting with your highest self, and reclaiming more inner peace, you can experience a wholesome and fulfilling life.
Maya Angelou once said, “You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.” Take the first step today. Your wheel is waiting to turn smoothly and beautifully toward your most blissful life.
Call to action
Ready to align your wheel of life? Explore Feel Blissful Wellness’s transformative programs to help you release stress, reconnect with your highest self, and reclaim more inner peace.
Read more from Damalie Catherine Akuamoah
Damalie Catherine Akuamoah, Intuitive Holistic Wellness Coach
Damalie Catherine is a visionary leader in holistic wellness, guiding women through her transformative framework: Release, Reconnect, Reclaim, and Restore. Inspired by her personal journey to reclaim inner peace, she specializes in stress management and whole-person well-being. Her wellness approach is grounded on culturally affirming comprehensive practices that focus on the integration of the mind, body and spirit. Damalie empowers Black and Brown women to release what no longer serves them, reconnect with their inner strength, reclaim their inner peace, and restore balance to thrive vibrantly in every area of life.
