Being healthy is not just the absence of illness, but rather a complete state of mental and physical wellness. Achieving this involves adopting a lifestyle that centers on making choices that enhance your life in all its dimensions.
Think about a time when you did not feel well or healthy– perhaps you were feeling down or felt you lacked energy and motivation. Chances are, the causes of these feelings related to several different areas of your life, not just one. The concept of wellness means that everything you do in life is linked to your well-being and feeling at your optimal best involves a balance of each of these dimensions.
Today, we are going to explore the six dimensions of wellness, and define what it means to be “well” in each of these areas. The easiest way to remember these dimensions is to think about putting a little SPICE in your life – participating in activities that enhance your life, socially, spiritually, physically, intellectually, occupationally, and emotionally.
The first S is Social Health. It involves the ability to relate to others and express care and concern for others. Your social wellness is determined by how effectively you interact with those in your community, in your family and in your network of friends. Do you have a strong social network? Are there people in your life that can support you in your time in need? Do you support others in their time of need? Being socially healthy means you see yourself as an important part of the world and you participate in activities that enhance the relationships you build in this world.
The second S is Spiritual Health. Now, do not confuse Spirituality with Religiosity, - though some do express their spirituality through participation in organized religion, others express it in many different ways. Being spiritually healthy simply means that you recognize the forces of this universe that are greater than yourself, that you seek to find meaning and value in your life, and participate in activities that enhance your purpose in life.
Next, we Physical Health. How well to you take care of your physical body. Do you choose healthy meals, do you get plenty of exercise, to you rest your body? Being physically healthy involves taking steps to ensure all your body systems are in and continue to be in working order. And, we they are not, you seek the appropriate treatment to return them to working order.
Intellectual Health is our next dimension. The old adage “use it or lose it” rings true here. Being Intellectually healthy involves the ability to seek out and learn from new experiences, seeking to learn about how your world works, learning from others, and participating in activities that “fuel” your brain.
Next we have the “C”, career, also known as Occupational Health. Have you chosen a career path? Are you happy with your line of work? Do you participate in activities that help you to feel fulfilled in the career you have chosen? If you are working toward your career, have you set goals designed to help you get there? The extent to which you feel satisfied and enriched in your work, determines your Occupational health.
Finally, we have the E, Emotional Health. Being emotionally healthy does not mean that you do not experience sadness, anger, or other so-called negative emotions. Instead, it means that you recognize and validate the emotions you feel and you remain in control of those emotions, not vice versa. People who experience true emotional health have developed flexibility with life’s ups and downs and positive coping skills for those times that are more challenging.
Poet John Donne said, “No man is an island…” – the same is true for these six dimensions of wellness. Everything we do in our lives affects each dimension. Think about it, when was the last time you were able to leave a problem happening at home at the door when you walked into work? Sometimes too, we spend so much time trying to enhance our lives in one dimension that we do so to the detriment of another. For example, working hours on end on work for school and forgetting to eat, take a break to hang out with friends, or spend some time just relaxing. It is important to understand that being WELL, involves balancing the activities and relationships in your life.The second part of this lecture will explore ways in which we can enhance our lives in each of these six dimensions while still maintaining a sense of balance.I encourage you to consider each of these dimensions of wellness and how you are doing personally. Are there areas that you are ignoring? Are there areas in which you are devoting too much time? How balanced is your wheel? Your answers to these questions will help this week as we explore the activities that can help achieve that sense of balance, so that you can determine the steps you can take towards wellness!