Free Faith Based Wellness Journey: Closing 2024, Welcoming 2025!

45 Days to a more Nourished Life: A Free Faith-Based Wellness Journey

Day 32 of our wellness journey, and I’m sitting here in awe of the transformations unfolding in our community. Not just the visible changes—though those are incredible—but the subtle shifts in how we think about health, happiness, and wholeness.

The beautiful thing about transformation? It doesn’t wait for New Year’s resolutions or Monday mornings. It starts the moment you decide to take that first step, however small it might seem.

Today, I want to share Week 1 of this journey with you—the foundation that’s helping us create lasting change. Whether you’re reading this in December 2024 or discovering it months later, remember: your journey starts when you’re ready. There’s no such thing as ‘falling behind’ when you’re moving forward.

In this post, I’ll walk you through the exact steps we took in that transformative first week. Feel free to start anywhere, adapt the activities to fit your life, and most importantly, consider joining our supportive community at Olive + Basil: Thriving Together | A Health & Happiness Journey.

What Makes This Journey Different

This isn’t a rigid program or strict regimen. Instead, it’s a flexible, grace-filled approach to wellness that:

• Honors your unique path
• Centers on faith and scripture
• Builds sustainable habits
• Creates meaningful reflection
• Supports whole-person wellness

How The Journey Works

The first half of the journey offers two options for engagement each day. You might choose Option 1 one day and Option 2 another – or create your own variation that better serves your needs. Some days I do both options! There’s no falling behind, no pressure, and no wrong way to participate. Feel free to skip days if that better serves you for the day. I do encourage you to still try to pick one or two from the daily framework list below if you choose to skip! Small steps in the right direction add up to big results 🤍

Every day includes:

• A guiding scripture
• Daily reflection or activity
• Ways to customize your experience

Daily Framework

To help create consistency without rigidity, we follow this simple daily framework:

🌅 Morning intention setting

💧 Hydration goal

🙏 Prayer/meditation moment

✍️ Brief journal reflection

💪 Movement of choice

🌙 Evening gratitude

Remember: You don’t need to do everything perfectly. Choose what resonates and leave what doesn’t.

Getting Started

Whether you’re joining us from the beginning or finding this journey partway through, you’re in the perfect place to start. This guide is designed to meet you where you are and grow with you.

Ready to begin? Let’s take this journey together, one day at a time, as we nurture our bodies, minds, and spirits toward a more nourished life.

Day One: Understanding your Foundation

Welcome to Day 1 of our Wellness Journey – Closing out 2024- Welcoming 2025! 

Today marks the beginning of something truly special – our journey of self-discovery and growth. Whether you’re here to improve your physical health, nurture your mental wellbeing, or simply connect with like-minded individuals, you’re in exactly the right place at exactly the right time.

Day 1 is all about Understanding Your Foundation – because every meaningful transformation starts with knowing yourself deeply and authentically.

Today’s Activity Options:

Hint: Choose the activity that resonates with you most

 Take the free personality assessment at 16personalities.com or take a (paid) test at understandmyself.com

• Discover your unique strengths and growth areas
• Understand your natural tendencies and motivations
• Get insights into your decision-making style

 Write a heartfelt letter to yourself

• Reflect on where you are today
• Acknowledge your current challenges and victories
• Set intentions for your journey ahead

Remember: This isn’t about judgment or criticism – it’s about understanding and acceptance. You are exactly where you need to be, and every step forward, no matter how small, is progress worth celebrating.

 Share in the comments (if you feel comfortable, no pressure!):

• Which option you’re choosing
• One thing you hope to learn about yourself today
• Any questions or support you need from our community

As we begin this journey together, remember that transformation happens one mindful choice at a time. You don’t have to be perfect – you just have to be present and willing to grow. 

 “Progress over perfection, grace over judgment, and community over competition.” 

 Day 2: Values Alignment – Building Your Inner Compass 

Yesterday we explored our foundation, and today we’re diving even deeper by discovering what truly matters to us. Our values are like the stars that guide us home – they help us navigate decisions, set meaningful goals, and stay true to ourselves on this wellness journey.

Today’s Creative Options:

 Create a Values Vision Board

• Gather magazines or hop onto Pinterest
• Let your heart guide you to images that speak to your core values
• Arrange them in a way that tells YOUR story
• Digital option: Use your favorite photo editing app!

 Values Rating Exercise (check the comments section for some ideas!)

• List your top 5 personal values
• Rate how well you’re currently living each one (1-10)
• This isn’t about judgment – it’s about awareness and growth!

Choose the option that speaks to your heart – there’s no right or wrong way to explore your values 

 Remember: Values aren’t just words on a page – they’re the pillars that support every choice we make, from what we eat to how we move our bodies to the way we speak to ourselves.

“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” – Philippians 4:8

Let’s create something beautiful together today! 

 No artistic skills required for the vision board – just an open heart and willingness to explore!

Day 3: Physical Space Reset

After exploring our inner world for the past two days, today we’re turning our attention to our physical environment. As we’re learning, transformation isn’t just about what’s inside – it’s also about creating spaces that nurture our goals and bring peace to our daily lives.

Today’s Peaceful Options:

Declutter One Small Space
– Choose just one drawer or area that causes daily frustration
– Sort items into keep, donate, and discard
– Give yourself permission to let go
– Remember: progress over perfection!

 Create Your Sacred Morning Space
– Select a quiet corner of your home
– Add elements that bring you peace (maybe a cozy chair, your Bible, journal)
– Make it a space that invites morning reflection
– Keep it simple and meaningful

Choose what feels most manageable today – even small changes create ripples of peace. 

When we create order in our physical space, we make room for clarity in our minds and hearts.

Creating peace in our spaces is a form of self-care, dear ones. Let’s take this gentle step together. 

 Day 4: Digital Detox – Mindful Connection in a Digital World 

Today we’re taking a gentle but powerful step toward digital wellness. After aligning our values and creating peaceful spaces, it’s time to look at how our digital world affects our daily peace and purpose.

Today’s Mindful Options:

 Mindful Unfollow Challenge

– Review your social media follows with intention

– Choose 10 accounts that no longer serve your highest good

– Release them with gratitude

– Make space for content that uplifts and inspires you!

 Screen Time Boundaries

– Set loving limits for your social media use

– Create dedicated phone-free zones or times

– Design a schedule that works for YOUR life

– Use your phone’s built-in tools to help

Optional Bonus Activity: spend 5-10 minutes deleting email clutter and/or unsubscribing from newsletters that no longer align with you!

*Choose the option that feels most supportive of your wellness journey right now* 

What we consume digitally shapes our thoughts, impacts our peace, and influences our choices. Let’s be intentional about what we allow into our sacred mental space.

 Day 5: Movement Exploration – Honoring Our Temple 

Good afternoon!

Today we’re entering an exciting new phase of our journey – exploring joyful movement! After preparing our minds, hearts, spaces, and digital environments, we’re ready to celebrate the gift of movement in ways that honor our bodies.

Today’s Gentle Movement Options:

 Try Something New

• Explore a form of movement that calls to your heart
• Ideas: dumbbell exercises, yoga, walking, dancing
• If you have access to a VR headset (like the Oculus) consider doing a free trial of getsupernatural.com (one of my favorite ways to move!)
• Listen to your body’s wisdom
• Focus on how you feel, not how you look

 Design Your Movement Schedule

• Create a realistic weekly plan
• Consider your natural rhythms
• Start small and build gradually
• Leave room for rest and flexibility

Choose the option that brings you joy and feels sustainable for YOUR life 

Movement isn’t about punishment – it’s about celebration of what our bodies can do and honoring the temple we’ve been given.

 PS: Remember, all movement counts – even dancing while doing dishes or taking an extra lap around the grocery store! Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can.

 Day 6: Nourishment Basics – Loving Our Bodies Through Food & Water 

Good morning, cherished community!

Today we’re exploring another beautiful way to honor our bodies – through mindful nourishment! After discovering joyful movement yesterday, we’re now learning to fuel our temples with love and intention.

Today’s Nourishing Options:

 Whole-Food Meal Planning

• Choose three clean-ingredient meals that spark joy to try soon
• Focus on foods that make you feel energized
• Keep it simple and achievable
• Let creativity and excitement guide you!

 Hydration Journey

• Design your personal water tracking system
• Make it fun and sustainable
• Consider your daily rhythm
• Celebrate small sips of progress!
• Add some lemons or limes, and a sprinkle of sea salt!

Choose the option that feels most nurturing for your body today 

Nourishment isn’t about restriction – it’s about loving our bodies well and choosing foods that help us serve God and others with energy and joy.

 PS: This isn’t about perfection! It’s about progress and learning to listen to our bodies’ needs. Start small, stay consistent, and remember to always consult your doctor before making any drastic dietary changes, especially if you have any medical concerns.

Bonus: Consider blessing your food and water with gratitude – everything tastes better with a thankful heart! 

 Day 7: Mindful Moments – Finding Sacred Stillness 

Good morning, beloved community!

We’ve journeyed through inner exploration, physical spaces, digital wellness, movement, and nourishment. Today, we pause to embrace the power of sacred stillness and grateful hearts.

Today’s Sacred Options:

 Morning Meditation/Prayer

• Set aside 5 gentle minutes
• Find a quiet space (maybe in your newly created morning sanctuary!)
• Simply be present with God
• Let your breath be your anchor

 Mealtime Gratitude Ritual

• Create a simple blessing practice
• Take a moment to pause before eating
• Express thankfulness for your nourishment
• Connect mind, body, and spirit

Choose the practice that calls to your heart today 

In our busy world, stillness is a radical act of trust. These quiet moments aren’t about perfection – they’re about presence and connection with our Creator.

With faith in your journey, Marissa

 PS: Even if your quiet moment gets interrupted (by kids, pets, or life!), remember that returning to stillness is itself a beautiful practice. Every new moment is an invitation to begin again.

Gentle Reminder: You don’t need special cushions, apps, or tools – just your willing heart and a few sacred minutes. 

Here is a peek at Day 8-15!