Holistic Optimization: A Principle Influencing Personal and Professional Performance

The part carries the whole,” said the master.

I liked the simplicity of the statement, so I began my exploration on this subject. I was to discover that this principle is universal. We find it in philosophers like Plato or Hegel.

The principle is also used in traditional Chinese medicine, stated under the name of “li.” According to traditional Chinese medicine, the human body is a complex system of organs, meridians, and energies. All these parts are interconnected and work together to maintain harmony.

The natural consequence of harmony is health. The meaning is not singular; the two influence each other and feed off each other.

“Everything is connected to everything. A change in one part of your life will undoubtedly bring changes in the others.” — John Muir

When I learned about this principle, I was in a qigong class, studying the connection between the ear and the human body.

Interestingly, the principle can be applied at both a personal and a group level.

On a personal level, every aspect of our lives is connected with the others. Specifically, what you can control as a result is the physical level.