What does wellness mean to you?

It seems that wellness means something different to everyone. To some wellness might mean giving up sugar, going on a diet, a new gym membership or doing yoga. But what does wellness really mean to you?

When people think wellness, they might picture their ideal self – perfection of balance including physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. However, this image is usually conjured up with image of comparisons (that’s a whole blog in itself…) making it feel intangible, that coupled with the reality of busy lives and suddenly wellness gets booted to the bottom of our list of priorities. Wellness is the active process of becoming aware of and making choices towards a healthy and fulfilling life. Surely that is something everyone should be investing in?

‘a conscious, self-directed and evolving process of achieving full potential.’ – The National Wellness Institute

Wellness occurs by living lives we truly love – by reconnecting with nature, nurturing our body through nutrition and fitness, and practicing daily mindfulness. Wellness happens by making incremental changes that add up over time. Some maybe small – swapping tea for coffee, while others maybe significant – letting go of feelings of guilt perhaps. 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 – and so the cycle continues whether it be good or bad. Therefore, it is vitally important for everyone to achieve optimum wellness in order to reduce stress, the risk of illness and support positive interactions.

‘All paths are the same leading nowhere. Therefore, pick a path that has heart!‘ – Carlos Castaneda.

Wellness is broad – covering different facets of our lives. Consider these 8 dimensions that support wellness, they weave together holistically; emotional, environmental, financial, intellectual, occupational, physical, social and spiritual. There is no magic to your wellness, no prescription or check list. However, the magic lies within all of us, it is down to you and your experience. You are the key to realising your happiness, and living a life that fills you with joy and contentment.

The road to wellness may not be perfect, there maybe humps and holes along the way – and that’s ok. What is important are the little wins, and being open to what you might be able to do in order to start feeling happier and healthier, or choosing your path with heart. If you can make a small difference every day, then each day will be better than the last.

In joy and gratitude,

Heddy