Exploring Wellness

Perhaps you assume that Wellness is simply a fancy way to say someone is healthy. This could be partly true, but I think you’ll find that it is a bit more complex as we begin to explore wellness and all of its facets.

According to the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sport (2001), “wellness is a multidimensional state of being describing the existence of positive health in an individual as exemplified by the quality of life and sense of well-being.” Wellness can also be described as an active process, meaning it is something you make a conscious effort to achieve on a daily basis.

Wellness vs. Well-Being

Where wellness can be considered a goal you work towards, well-being, on the other hand, is basically having a positive outlook on life. The Center for Disease Control states that well-being, “includes the presence of positive emotions and moods, the absence of negative emotions, satisfaction with life, fulfillment and positive functioning.”

Dimensions of Wellness

As previously mentioned, wellness is multidimensional. Just how many dimensions are there? The specific components vary slightly according to different organizations, but generally they include the followng:

• Physical Wellness
• Emotional Wellness
• Spiritual Wellness
• Social Wellness
• Environmental Wellness
• Occupational Wellness
• Intellectual Wellness

Essentially, these components all work in concert to contribute to our overall state of being. Severely lacking in one area will have an impact on the rest of the dimensions. For example, when we have poor physical health, we often struggle with our emotional wellness and social wellness.

Wellness Wheels

Many organizations use a perfectly divided pie, or “Wellness Wheel” to demonstrate the balanced dimensions. Yes, each dimension is equally important, but as we grow and move through different phases of our lives, our priorities and values change. A younger adult, fresh out of college may need to spend her time developing her occupational and spiritual wellness, whereas a new mom may need to address her social and emotional wellness.

While perfect slices may never be achieved, the important thing to remember is that each dimension is essential to our overall wellness and should be cultivated individually. Ignoring these needs, can be disastrous. We feel disconnected, overwhelmed, and exhausted. It can be challenging to feel like ourselves again, but it can be done.

Resources

• https://www.cdc.gov/hrqol/wellbeing.htm
• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/234720652_Toward_a_Uniform_Definition_of_Wellness_A_Commentary

Exploring Wellness Coming Soon!

Over the next weeks, I will introduce you to each of the seven dimensions of wellness described above through my blog series Exploring Wellness. We will explore what they mean, why they are important, and how you can easily implement them into your lives. I hope you’ll join me!

Interested in Wellness Coaching?

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