Wellness is a state of being, living, feeling. It evaluates self as a whole to improve quality of life. It looks different on each person and comes in many different forms. Being well is actively working towards a healthy, happy life. Living a “well” life means actively making choices of the physical and mental self through awareness, behavior change, and personal growth. Optimal wellness is a vital part of living a healthy life which in return improves the quality and functionality of living. There are many forms of it in one’s life and it’s crucial to analyze the totality of life rather than inspect minute areas. When looking at self as a whole, it is easier to dictate the gray area that’s weighing someone down.

Wellness is more than being illness free, in fact, you can have an illness and still live a life surrounded by wellness. The idea focuses on the conditions of living, thriving, and existing based on how one feels and interacts within their life. Balance, health, and happiness are key components, and finding the right tools for development is pertinent in any journey. There are eight primary areas, or dimensions, of wellness; physical, intellectual, emotional, spiritual, environmental, financial, occupational, and social.

Wellness vs. Health

Being in good health is a condition of wellness, especially when it’s found as a pursued goal in life however, health and wellness are not the same things. One can be healthy and not well and vice versa. Health refers to the state of being illness and injury-free whereas wellness refers to the quality of living, feeling, and being. The main difference is that health is a condition and wellness is a lifestyle choice that can improve health. Essentially, health is a state of being whereas wellness is a state of living.

Think of it this way:

Say you’re married and settled into a career. You have two kids and you’re used to working 50-60 hours a week. You recently quit your job to pursue your passion of being a writer. Before quitting your job you found it difficult to get a day’s work done in the little time you have while maintaining a social life, enjoying family time, and partaking in hobbies and activities that you enjoy. It became a challenge to exercise and meal plan. Because of this, you’ve become overweight and have elevated blood pressure. Now that you have quit your job, you have focused one exercising to lose the unhealthy weight and eating well to lower your blood pressure. You make intentional time to spend with friends and family, and you have picked up new practices such as yoga, traveling, and game night.

In the above scenario, health would refer to the exercise and eating well. These two key components reduce the likelihood of having long term illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, etc.

Though the exercise and eating well are a part of wellness in this scenario, quitting a draining job to pursue a passion, finding new hobbies, and traveling are all a part of wellness too.

Why Wellness Matters

Everything relates to your well-being. Each choice you make, each emotion you feel, the people you’re around, etc. impacts how you feel every single day. When wellness becomes a priority, quality of life exponentially improves. Understanding how wellness plays a factor in your life will help you reduce stress, improve relationships, and enjoy every aspect of your life. It helps you tap into your truest potential while letting go of fear and anxiety.

When you choose a life of wellness, you choose a life for yourself. You are no longer allowing the chain of society to hold you back. You open new doors and possibilities that allow you to understand your worth. Wellness matters because you weren’t placed on this Earth to passively live and die. You were placed here with purpose and meaning. When you live a life of wellness, you are committing to reaching goals, following through, and creating a life worth living.

Common Questions About Wellness

How will I know if/when my efforts are successful?

Are you enjoying life wholeheartedly? You’ll know when your strategies are working when they become habits and you don’t have to think about the efforts going into them. Creating a habit and behavior change is the first part of implementing wellness into your life. Once you feel like you are no longer trying to alter things, you’ve probably reached the point of success. You’ll know. Wellness is a way of life and you’ll feel the difference.

Are there specific qualities that classify “wellness”?

There aren’t. Living a life of wellness is about perspective and subjective. There isn’t a mold that fits everyone and there are “qualifications” of being well.

Do I have to love exercise and nutrition?

Nope. Physical wellness is one of the dimensions and there are many ways to implement this area into your life. Exercise and nutrition are components but there are so many ways to make it enjoyable and not feel like a hassle.

What tools should I invest in understand more about wellness?

Since it’s a way of life, there aren’t core tools that you need to invest it. The internet has many sources to help and there a lot of support groups. It’s important to have a positive mindset around the topic and understand that the changes aren’t going to happen overnight. Like most things, it takes time and commitment. My e-book, The Way to Wellness, is a great place to start your journey through basic strategies in all eight dimensions of wellness.

Do I have to actually change who I am to live a well life or is it just my attitude?

It depends on what you want for yourself. Sometimes just creating a more positive outlook on life help people feel better and live better and sometimes people need to physically change various parts of their lives such as the people they hang out with, their environment, and they must challenge themselves a little more. It varies from person to person and there isn’t a right or wrong answer to this. Wellness is about living authentically and if you feel you are not enjoying the changes and process, take a step back to see what’s going wrong.