I’m sure you have heard the term “revival” at some point in your life. You may have heard it at work, at school, or in your home. The word has been shouted from religious pulpits and used in the secular arena. Have you ever stopped to think about its meaning though? Does it have a particular meaning to you? The word “Revival” means to possess an improvement in the condition, strength, or fortunes of someone or something. It has its roots in Latin with “re” meaning “again”, and “vivere” meaning “to live”. The word in its most basic interpretation would mean to live again. Revival would therefore mean to give new life too.

Based on the above definition either a person or object can undergo a revival. However, in a holistic sense, an object cannot be truly revived. One can refresh an object’s utility or appearance but it doesn’t actually undergo true revival. Think of a shoe. You may get its sole redone and that just improves its utility and function. At the end of the day though, it is merely an object made of many parts in order to perform a particular function. Now, think of humans. We are complex and mutli-facted living beings. Revival for us goes way beyond just our outer appearance. Would you consider a person fully revived say, if they just merely had a face lift? No. This idea when applied to humans is very misleading.

In order for one to experience a true revival, you must take into consideration all parts of what it is to be human. A holistic approach is a must! As a doctor this is one of my passions and I want to share this paradigm with you. In this chapter we will examine the various components of the person; the body, the mind and the spirit and reflect on what a revival for a person just like you and I entails. I will provide some useful insights on how you can empower yourself to undergo a holistic revival and in turn add years to your life and life to your years!