Personal Wellness

The term “wellness” means so much more than just being free from disease.  Wellness is what’s known as an “holistic” concept.  This means that it involves the whole person, not just someone’s blood pressure, body fat, exercise routine or eating habits.  Wellness is a mindset, a lifestyle approach that leads to good health and a satisfying life.

THE FIVE COMPONENTS OF WELLNESS

To work toward wellness, it’s important to focus on five different components of life, including:

  1. Emotional Wellness:  People who are emotionally well are able to express their feelings freely.  They know how to handle the stress of their daily lives and know when and how to seek support from others.  They also work to develop healthy relationships with others.   
  2. Intellectual Wellness:  Ongoing education is important for intellectual wellness.  People who are intellectually well enjoy learning new things, expressing their creativity, and improving their skills.  (For example, by reading this information, you are working on your intellectual wellness.) 
  3. Physical Wellness:  Proper nutrition, exercise and other healthy habits are all part of physical wellness.  People who are working on their physical wellness avoid the use of tobacco, drugs and excessive alcohol.   They also seek proper medical care when necessary.  
  4. Social Wellness:  People with social wellness contribute to their community by maintaining healthy relationships with a variety of people—despite any differences in background or ethnic origin.  They practice good communication skills with everyone they meet and when conflict arises, they work to resolve it in a healthy manner. 
  5. Spiritual Wellness:  People who are spiritually well spend time thinking about their own beliefs and values and strive to find a source of inner peace and strength.  This “soul searching” may involve a relationship with a “higher power” which helps them deal with the ongoing challenges that life brings. 

The Bottom Line 

Wellness is a journey that continues throughout your lifetime.  Each step along the way may add years to your life AND life to your years.

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