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Wellness: What
does it mean?
Following are descriptions
of the Six Dimensions of Wellness,
the various facets of our lives that
make us who we are. Throughout the
course of the year, we are challenging
you to examine these areas of your
life and to set your own goals about
how to improve each aspect.
Wellness is a proactive
approach to living an optimal lifestyle.
Wellness is an active process through
with the individual becomes aware
of and makes choices toward a more
successful and healthy existence.
The individual takes a primary role
in his or her wellness.
Six Dimensions
of Wellness:
Emotional
Wellness
Emotional Wellness
involves an awareness and acceptance
of personal feelings while, being
sensitive and responsive to the
emotional states of others. The
degree one feels positive and enthusiastic
about self and life and the realistic
assessment of one’s limitations,
the development of autonomy, and
the ability to cope with stress
are all components of good emotional
health. Optimism, trust, self-esteem,
self-acceptance, self-confidence,
self-control, satisfying relationships,
and an ability to share feelings
are just some of the qualities and
aspects of emotional wellness.
"Wellness
is an active process through which
individuals become aware of and
make choices toward a successful
existence."
Intellectual
Wellness
Intellectual
wellness encourages creative stimulating
mental activities. An intellectually
well person uses the resources available
to expand his or her knowledge and
improve skills along with expanding
potential for sharing living and
working environments with others.
The hallmarks of intellectual health
include an openness to new ideas,
a capacity to question and think
critically, and the motivation to
master new skills, as well as a
sense of humor, creativity, and
curiosity.
"Wellness
is a lifelong approach to aliveness
designed to make one more happy
and effective."
Environmental
or Planetary Wellness
Increasingly,
personal health depends on the health
of the planet - from the safety
of the food supply to the degree
of violence in a society. Other
examples of environmental threats
to health are ultraviolet radiation
in sunlight, air and water pollution,
lead in old house paint, and second-hand
tobacco smoke in indoor air. Environmental
Wellness requires learning about
environmental threats to our health
and protecting ourselves against
such hazards - and doing what you
can to reduce or eliminate them.
"Wellness
is an approach which encourages
individuals to seek lifestyles that
enable them to achieve their highest
potential of well-being."
Physical
Wellness
Physical Wellness
encourages improved cardiovascular
capacity, flexibility, strength,
regular physical activity, knowledge
about food and nutrition, medical
self-care, and appropriate use of
the medical system, and discourages
the use of tobacco, drugs, and excessive
alcohol consumption. The habits
you develop and the decisions you
make today will largely determine
not only how many years you will
live, but the quality of your life
during those years.
"Wellness
is a way of life.... It is a positive
approach to living."
Spiritual
Wellness
To enjoy spiritual
health is to possess a set of guiding
beliefs, principles, or values that
give meaning and purpose in your
existence. Spiritual wellness includes
the development of a deep appreciation
for the depth and expanse of life
and natural forces that exist in
the universe. This includes learning
how to experience love, joy, peace,
and fulfillment; and knowing how
to help ourselves and others achieve
their full potential. Spiritual
wellness is an antidote to cynicism,
anger, fear, anxiety, self-absorption,
and pessimism.
"Wellness
is an integrated method of functioning
which is oriented towards maximizing
the potential of which the individual
is capable, within the environment
where she or he is functioning."
Interpersonal
and Social Wellness
Interpersonal
and social wellness encourages contributing
to one’s human environment
to the common welfare of one’s
community. It emphasizes interdependence
with others. It includes the pursuit
of harmony in one’s family,
as well as relationships with others.
Developing interpersonal wellness
means learning good communication
skills, developing the capacity
for intimacy, and cultivating a
support network of caring friends
and or family members. Social wellness
requires participating in and contributing
to your community, country, and
world.
"Wellness
is an approach which encourages
individuals to seek lifestyles which
enable them to achieve their highest
potential of well-being."
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