Well-being and wellness can sometimes get a little bit confusing... Is it about good eating, good sleeping, healthy relationships, or working out? The answer is... ALL OF THE ABOVE and MORE! Now, I know it can sound overwhelming, even more if you're just starting on this wellness and health track, but let's start with this...
You wake up in the morning and you're feeling especially happy because last night you went to the greatest concert of your life (John Mayer's would probably be mine)! You head to the gym to do your morning workout and get your energy going to get you through your day.
After you finish, you go have some delicious breakfast at your favorite place and you run into an old friend from college... You talk for a while, have some good laughs, but you have to run! You're late for work and can't afford to miss that meeting!
So... you're at work, excited about the brand new project you've been assigned to, talking to the team you'll be leading. Although you don't know everyone, they all seem to know their jobs pretty well and everybody's with their best attitude, so the project should turn out even better than planned.
It's 7:12 pm and you're just arriving home... you took a little detour to go watch the sunset and THINK at this new, fantastic spot you found last week near your apartment. You're ready for tomorrow...
Does a day like that sound so impossible? Is it really that crazy to think you can live most of your days that way?
You see, we're all capable of living a healthy, happy and purposeful life. A great way to start is to be aware that we have many dimensions we're in control of and that making them part of our daily lives can create the greatest, most positive changes to achieve our ultimate goals. These are the 8 dimensions of wellness (some say there are just 6 or 7, but 8 seem the most appropriate to me):
Emotional: Coping effectively with life and creating satisfying relationships.
Life can sometimes be challenging, but we're always presented with opportunities. You just have to be patient and conscious enough to see all angles of everyday's situations. If you stop thinking of a problem like it is a problem, is it still a problem?
Spiritual: Expanding a sense of purpose and meaning in life.
Have you ever stared at a fire, just contemplating its movement, beauty, and energy? That calmness you feel all throughout your mind and body? You're able to bring that sense of fulfillment and tranquility into your daily life by really getting to know yourself. Meditation is a perfect way to start!
Physical: Recognizing the need for physical activity, healthy foods, and sleep.
I believe we're spiritual beings having a physical experience, so taking care of my body in every possible way is a priority in my life. In the end, we only have one, right? Wouldn't you like to know your body's full potential?
Occupational: Personal satisfaction and enrichment from one’s work.
"A job is only just a job if you choose to see it as a job"
We're always hearing the phrase "Do what you love, and you'll never work another day in your life"... and it is so true! Yes, there will always be things you don't like that much or enjoy as much, and even if you love your job, it will sometimes be really hard and frustrating. But, as Robin Sharma says in his video blog The 3 Habits Of Happiness: "...a job is only just a job if you choose to see it as a job". Go find the meaning in your work!
Social: Developing a sense of connection, belonging, and a well-developed support system.
We spend most of our lives surrounded by people. Let them be people you admire, respect, and love, because only those you do can help you grow, develop, and improve yourself towards a better version of yourself. Remember (and really take it seriously) what Jim Rohn said: "You're the average of the five people you spend the most time with".
Financial: Satisfaction with current and future financial situations.
Finances are one of the most common stress factors for people. Being able to worry less about it can make a great difference in your life, and the first step towards this is having a clear picture of how your finances really are and how they behave. Having a household budget and a simple monthly cashflow are a good start!
Environmental: Good health by occupying pleasant, stimulating environments that support well-being.
It's our job to create spaces and communities which will help us develop and live a healthy life. From biophilic designs inside our workplace and our homes, to connecting with people that support our own well-being. It's up to us to choose our surroundings, and with it... our lives.
Intellectual: Recognizing creative abilities and finding ways to expand knowledge and skills.
Did you know that our brain has a memory capacity in the petabyte range?! [Dr. Terry Sejnowski] For those of you who don't know, a petabyte is the same as a million gigabytes. This means that our brains can hold up to approximately the same amount of information available on the World Wide Web or 14,124,293.78 4K resolution pictures (yes... I did the math). As you can see we have a massive amount of storage in our minds... let's use it to LEARN!
Try to focus each day on something new to improve, and you'll get there! Let it become a habit to know yourself and change whatever it is you need to change to fit into your vision of who you want to be!
Is there a dimension you're already trying to improve? We'd love to know which!