More than ever before, we are hearing this word â€wellness†on the internet, in the news, on billboards, in talk shows and even at work. Interestingly, there is no unanimously accepted definition of wellness. There is, however, a set of common characteristics seen in many attempts to define this word. Charles B. Corbin of Arizona State University gives this definition of wellness: â€Wellness is a multidimensional state of being describing the existence of positive health in an individual as exemplified by quality of life and a sense of well-being.†Wellness involves continually learning and making changes to enhance your state of wellness. When we balance the physical, intellectual, emotional, social, occupational, spiritual, and environmental aspects of life, we achieve true wellness. Here are some of the dimensions of wellness defined : Physical wellness is keeping yourself in the best condition by performing physical activities/exercises along with healthy eating habits. Perform physical activities by walking at least 30 minutes daily at a pace that brings your heart rate up to 65-80% of your maximum heart rate (MHR). Play your favorite music while exercising, for motivation. Also, plan family outings and vacations that include physical activities or make a date with a friend to enjoy your favorite physical activities. By taking charge of your physical wellness, you are also taking charge of your overall health, such as decreasing minor illnesses and seeking medical assistance when necessary. Intellectual wellness is engaging your mind by applying the things you have learned and stimulating mental activities to expand your knowledge. By getting involved in intellectual and cultural activities, you create opportunities to learn more and you engage your mind in lively interaction with the world around you. Emotional wellness is more than just handling stress. It also entails the ability to adjust to change, express emotions appropriately and enjoy life despite its occasional disappointments and frustrations. It is the ability to handle emotions in a constructive way in order to enable you to maintain a positive emotional state. Emotional Wellness helps you achieve positive self-esteem, helping you satisfy relationships and providing resilience to meet life’s challenges. Social wellness is having positive interactions and enjoying being with others. It gives us the confidence to build friendships and to be caring and affectionate towards others. It includes building close friendships and intimacy, striving to be good listener and allowing others to care for you. It is recognizing the need for relaxation and free time as well as scheduling time for those activities. Occupational wellness is related to one's attitude about one's work. This means successfully integrating a commitment to your occupation into a total lifestyle that is satisfying and rewarding. You will contribute your unique skills and talents more to work that is personally meaningful and rewarding. You will start to value the importance of not only your own personal gratification, but your contribution to the community at large. Spiritual wellness is the ethics, values and morals that guide us and give meaning and direction to life. The path to spiritual wellness may involve prayer, affirmations, or specific spiritual practices that support your connection to a higher power. Having compassion, the capacity for forgiveness, love and fulfillment help you enjoy your spiritual health. Your religious faith, values, beliefs, principles, and morals are what define your spirituality. The National Wellness Institute says spiritual wellness encompasses the following tenets: â€"It is better to ponder the meaning of life for ourselves and to be tolerant of the beliefs of others than to close our minds and become intolerant. â€"It is better to live each day in a way that is consistent with our values and beliefs than to do otherwise and feel untrue to ourselves. Environmental wellness involves our environment and how we feel about it. This can have a significant impact on the way we feel overall. It includes tryingto livein harmony with the Earth by understanding the impact of your interaction with nature and your personal environment. This leads to taking action to protect the world around you. To enjoy environmental wellness, we require: clean air, pure water, quality food, adequate shelter, satisfactory work conditions, personal safety, and healthy relationships. Florida Hospital is on a mission to help the members of our community to increase their wellness and live to a healthy 100 years and beyond. Visit www.healthy100.org to utilize tools that will help you live a longer, healthier life.
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