Wellness as a word that gets thrown around like confetti, which is a great thing but some might not even know exactly what it really is. I'm here to help with that today.
By definition, wellness is the quality or state of being healthy in your body and mind especially as a result of deliberate effort. You choose to be so. Also referenced as an approach to healthcare, wellness emphasizes preventing illness and prolonging life, as opposed to emphasizing treating diseases.
In short wellness is a positive approach to living - one that emphasizes the whole person.
It is the combination of the body, mind, and spirit; and the appreciation that everything you do, think, feel, and believe has an impact on your state of health.
It is a proactive, preventive approach designed to achieve optimum levels of health, social and emotional functioning.
Wellness can also be defined as an active process through which you become aware of and make choices toward a more successful existence.
✓ Process - improvement is always possible.
✓ Awareness - seeking how you can improve.
✓ Choices - finding what works for you.
✓ Success - determined by you.
Still a little confused? Here are just a few places where you can start.
Occupational Wellness
Do you enjoy going to work most days?
Does your career offer you a manageable workload?
Do you feel that you can talk to your boss and co-workers when problems arise?
If you answered "No" to any of the questions, it may indicate an area where you need to improve the state of your occupational wellness.
Spiritual Wellness
Are you taking the time to determine what values, principles, and beliefs are important to you?
Are you using your spirituality to drive your actions and thoughts to give meaning to your life?
A person who is spiritually well examines personal values and beliefs, has an understanding of right and wrong, reflects and finds joy in everyday life.
Physical Wellness
Physical Wellness encourages us to care for our bodies through physical activity, proper nutrition, and a strong mind.
Are you getting regular physical activity whenever you can, and making it fun?
Do you have access to fresh, healthy food?
Are you sleeping enough?
Maintaining an optimal level of wellness is absolutely crucial to live a higher quality life. Wellness matters because everything we do and every emotion we feel relates to our well-being. In turn, our well-being directly affects our actions and emotions. It’s a never ending ongoing circle.
Wellness is as much a mindset, an attitude, a strength of focus, as it is anything else. While medical doctors prescribe drugs and address symptoms, an attitude of wellness is a pivotal part of staying healthy.
The choice of living a lifestyle of “wellness” is a collection of many things. When you can manage stress, handle issues of personal accountability, build meaningful relationships, take personal responsibility in terms of diet, nutrition, exercise and spiritual development, that is how wellness is maintained.
Sometimes we slip and wellness is a far-fetched word of "whatever" but we all loose sight and that is totally fine, it's getting back on that horse that really matters.
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