Page 161 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 8

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Step 3: Gladys K. Mwiti, Kenya

What is a Person? An African Perspective

Understanding personhood enhances holistic balanced living. This
is wisdom and insight. The worth of a human being does not depend
on what one owns, where they live or the level of education achieved.
“Knowledge without wisdom is like water in the sand,” (Guinean Pro-
verb).
A person is made up of interlocked system – all forming one organism Gladys K. Mwiti,
called a “human being.” A human being is not all body or just physical, PhD, Consulting Cli-
not all mind or intellect, and not all soul or spirit. To perform optimally, nical Psychologist,
one needs balance between all these sub-systems. Investing concern and is founder and CEO,
energy to consistently maintain this balance is what we call personhood Oasis Africa Center
or holistic living. for Transformational
Psychology and Trau-
The Body ma Expertise.
A person lives within a body that houses our organs that give us the abi- She is Chair, Kenya
lity to touch, see, hear, smell, taste, breathe, eat and exercise. Balanced Psychological As-
personhood calls for the care of the body: maintaining a balanced diet, sociation; Interim
keeping it clear of toxins often ingested in what we eat, smoke or drink. Chair, Kenya Society
It involves the practice of moderation so that we do not overeat or ingest for Traumatic Stress
too many substances that compromise health. Exercise tones the mus- Studies; member,
cles, enhances breathing and oxygen supply, and ensures healthy blood Board of Directors,
circulation. International Society
We are what we eat. In African, we have our own traditional foods – most for Traumatic Stress
of it organic, herbal and wholesome. Once, an American doctor who Studies; and member,
trains the USA Olympic team passed through Nairobi and was inter- Lausanne Congress
viewed in a local radio station on health matters. He dissuaded Kenyans for World Evangeli-
from adopting a sedentary lifestyle, encouraged exercise and walking in- zation Care & Coun-
stead of riding in vehicles for short distances. Later on, he was asked to sel as Mission Global
comment on diet. “What advice would you give Kenyans on healthy ea- Leadership Team. Dr.
ting? What should we eat? His answer: “Eat Kenyan food.” He went on to Mwiti, pioneer for
say that Kenyan traditional diet is low in sugar, high fibre, mainly organic transformational and
and balanced. However, obesity is creeping into families that adopt fast integrative psycholo-
and processed food, forgetting that Kenyan five-star hotels serve arrow- gy in Kenya desires
roots, sweet potatoes, irio, sukuma wiki or kale. that the Church be re-
Beyond traditional food, we encourage exercise and regular medical minded that in Christ
check ups. and among us, we
have all the resour-
The Mind ces we need for the
A person’s other system is the mind: comprising of the will, intellect, healing and transfor-
thinking, creativity, giftedness and emotions. The mind houses a sense of mation of the Nations
hope and patience when we pass through challenging seasons of life. The beginning with the
basic foundation of maintaining a healthy mind is based on the values household of faith.
we uphold – cultivating hope, dealing wisely with failure, exercising dis-
cernment, persisting in personal development and living a focused life glmwiti@oasisafrica.co.ke
where we maximize our giftedness.

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