What is Wellness?

"Your body holds deep wisdom. Trust in it. Learn from it. Nourish it. Watch your life transform and be healthy".

-Bella Bleue

Wellness is a holistic integration of physical, mental, and spiritual well-being, fueling the body, engaging the mind, and nurturing the spirit (1).

Wellness is not just striving for health; it is striving for health in a manner that includes living life to its fullest potential (1), and is “a lifestyle and a personalized approach to living life in a way that… allows you to become the best kind of person that your potentials, circumstances, and fate will allow.”(1)

Wellness encompasses 8 mutually interdependent dimensions: physical, intellectual, emotional, social, spiritual, vocational, financial, and environmental (1). Not nurturing any one of these areas can lead to the deterioration of all other areas.

 The 8 dimensions of health include the following:

·  Physical – Taking care of your body.

· Emotional – Exploring your intellect and understanding of a healthy range of           emotions.

· Social – Participating in positive social relationships, including friends, family, and community. (1)

·  Spiritual – Exploring meaning and purpose in your life to help in the development of           a sense of self. (1)

· Intellectual – Stimulating mental activities that expand a person’s knowledge and           skills both in the classroom and beyond. (1)

· Occupational – Exploring various career options and opportunities.

· Financial- Satisfaction with current and future financial situations.

· Environmental- leading a lifestyle that values the relationship between us, our           community, and the environment.

Wellness occurs when all these dimensions of health are being nurtured, cared for, and honored.

When one tends to all these areas, they can live their life to their fullest potential while maintaining enough energy to do so, while taking care of other commitments.

Wellness is dynamic and ever-changing and must constantly be reevaluated, especially when things are off in your life for one reason or another.

Take a moment to meditate, journal, go for a long walk, and get honest with yourself. You cannot afford not to. Do not wait for a crisis like I did. Put yourself first in this moment and remember that your happiness and your loved one’s happiness depend on you.

For me, at my lowest, I struggled in all eight areas. To my surprise, beginning to make changes in one area began to improve all areas of my life.

Take a moment to reflect on the 8 dimensions of health.

What areas of your life are you happy with and why?

What areas are lacking and why?

If you truly sit with your feelings and listen to your heart, what do you need to do to live your best life?

I began with exercise, dedicating 15 minutes daily to using my elliptical. It was the one activity I could fit into my schedule. This step provided the opportunity to become more creative and implement further changes in my life, allowing me to concentrate on my desires and needs. It also boosted my confidence to initiate those changes.

The great aspect of this is that you have the freedom to decide what your first step will be, not the media, your doctor, mother, spouse, or even your best friend.

You might decide to focus on enhancing the social aspects of your life, even if the doctor indicates that your weight and type two diabetes are more urgent concerns. You could be surprised to discover that your relationships impact your weight, as everything is interconnected. A small change can lead to many others, collectively influencing your health significantly.

 What small step can you take today, tomorrow the next?

Where do you need to put your efforts in this moment?

Dig deep and trust yourself because you already know what you need to know to begin your journey; you just need to be honest with yourself.

1. 8 Dimensions of Wellness, (UMD) University of Maryland’s Your Guide to Living Well. [Last accessed June 27, 2017]. Available from: https://umwellness.wordpress.com/8-dimensions-of-wellness/

2. Ardell DB. Definition of Wellness. Ardell Wellness Report. 1999;18:1–5. [Google Scholar]