Is there a definition of wellness? The word wellness is all over the news, on social media, on blogs, in books, on billboards, and in conversations. Many people refer to a “welfare state,” which is vague to say the least. The loose definition of well-being and well-being implies ‘a state of acceptance or satisfaction with one’s own condition or conditioning, that is, what one accepts, tolerates, ignores, pretends, faces or fights for.
Wellness has become the latest buzz word with little understanding of what wellness is or how to create it. Interestingly, the Federal Drug Administration, the American Medical Association, or the American Pharmaceutical Association have failed to come up with a definition of wellness. There is, however, a set of criteria and characteristics that is a precise definition of people who live their lives free of disease, dysfunction, chaos, anguish, discomfort, drama or trauma.
Wellness is a natural state of being, not a choice someone must make or a choice made only after mind, body, and spirit are in extreme decline. Wellness is your birthright; purpose of life and a way of life. You were designed to be healthy. All aspects of human existence—mind, body, and spirit—play an important role in maintaining the health of human existence, provided the system has adequate emotional, physical, and spiritual support.
Well-being is a multidimensional state of being that describes the existence of positive health exemplified by quality of life and a sense of wholeness. Wellness is the active process of becoming aware and making decisions towards an empowered and successful life. The dimensions of well-being include: Emotional; Environmental; Financial; Intellectual; Mental; Occupational; Social; Spiritual; and Physical.
The concise definition of wellness is:
• Know my needs and work to achieve them.
• Express and communicate feelings; including what I’m experiencing.
• Act assertively – without passivity or aggression.
• Follow a healthy eating (nutrition) plan for my blood type. – Avoid junk food, GMOs, pharmaceuticals and medical pills, potions and cut-out body parts.
• Take care of my physical health daily – Natural foods, avoid processed foods, natural remedies – discover the root cause and eliminate it; instead of treating the symptoms.
• Maintain body weight within the BMI for my height and frame.
• Engage in appropriate exercise and build physical stamina.
• Participate in meaningful activities and projects that reflect my most important values.
• Love myself unconditionally first and foremost.
• Love others unconditionally.
• Create and cultivate close relationships with family and friends.
• Respond to life’s challenges as opportunities to grow emotionally and spiritually, rather than just seeing problems and work.
• Create my ideal life instead of reacting to ‘what happens’, that is, avoid believing that ‘shit happens’.
• See everything as an opportunity to learn and grow.
• Trust myself as my personal resource and my greatest strength to live and grow.
• Experience myself and others moment by moment: avoid worrying about the future or regretting the past.
Well-being is the state of being fully alive with a sense of accomplishment; responding appropriately instead of reacting to life and circumstances. Wellness is the act of staying calm and focused while working things out with unconditional love. Ultimately, your personal character; personal strength and courage will evolve. Achieving wellness requires you to make healthy choices about nutrition, social contact, work, exercise, leisure, and relationships. I wish you the best on your journey.