The concept of wellness is more than just being free from illness; it is a dynamic process of change and growth. It is a holistic integration of physical, mental, and spiritual well-being, fueling the body, engaging the mind, and nurturing the spirit (Dunn, 1959)[1]. It’s about living life fully and becoming the best person that your potentials, circumstances, and fate will allow (Anspaugh et al., 2017)[2]. This article aims to delve deeper into the multifaceted concept of wellness and discuss how individuals can enhance it in their lives.

Understanding Wellness

Unlike health, which is a state of being and more passive, wellness extends beyond the absence of illness; it involves actively seeking a better quality of life and achieving personal potential (Swarbrick, 2006)[3]. It is a proactive process of becoming aware of and making choices toward a healthier existence. For instance, instead of simply avoiding illness, choosing to eat a nutrient-rich diet, engage in regular physical activity, manage stress, and practice mindfulness can all contribute to enhanced wellness.

Components of Wellness

According to the National Wellness Institute, wellness is an active process wherein people become aware of, and make choices toward, a more successful existence (Hettler, 1976)[4]. This process is embodied by the following six dimensions:

1. Emotional Wellness: Emotionally well people understand and acknowledge their feelings, cope effectively with stress, and enjoy life despite its occasional disappointments and frustrations (Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000)[5]. An example would be recognizing emotional responses and managing feelings about a job loss or a loved one’s death.
2. Occupational Wellness: This dimension involves getting personal satisfaction and enrichment from one’s work, whether that work is on the job, in school, or with informal activities (Harzer & Steger, 2013)[6]. For instance, a teacher finding joy in shaping young minds or a retired individual finding fulfillment in volunteering.
3. Physical Wellness: Physical wellness includes self-care through a regular physical activity, proper diet, adequate sleep, and a healthy lifestyle (Warburton et al., 2006)[7]. It can be as simple as choosing to take the stairs over the elevator, maintaining a balanced diet, or ensuring regular sleep.
4. Social Wellness: This dimension pertains to one’s ability to interact successfully with people and one’s environment, maintaining comfortable interpersonal relationships and appropriate social boundaries (Cohen, 2004)[8]. This could involve engaging in healthy relationships, respecting personal boundaries, and valuing diversity.
5. Intellectual Wellness: Intellectual wellness encourages ongoing learning, problem-solving, creativity, and the application of knowledge (Horowitz et al., 2018)[9]. This might look like learning a new language, solving a crossword puzzle, or taking up a creative hobby like painting.
6. Spiritual Wellness: Spiritual wellness allows individuals to develop a set of values that help them seek meaning and purpose (Koenig, 2012)[10]. This could mean reflecting on the purpose of life, meditating, or engaging in activities that align with one’s beliefs and values.

Enhancing Wellness

Enhancing wellness requires self-responsibility, an active search for health, and a balance among the different dimensions of wellness.

1. Self-Responsibility: The first step towards enhancing wellness is taking responsibility for one’s own health. Wellness is not a passive state but an active pursuit. This may involve regular doctor’s appointments, mindful eating, and seeking mental health support when needed.
2. Active Search for Health: Actively seeking a healthy diet, regular physical activity, adequate sleep, and maintaining positive social interactions contribute to overall wellness. This might involve making dietary changes, enrolling in a fitness program, or cultivating positive relationships.
3. Balanced Lifestyle: It’s important to seek a balance among the six dimensions of wellness. Overemphasis or neglect of any one dimension results in a less healthy state. For example, overemphasis on physical wellness while neglecting emotional wellness could lead to burnout and emotional distress.

Benefits of Wellness

Achieving high levels of wellness results in increased longevity, improved quality of life, decreased risk of disease, improved productivity, and reduced health care costs (Aldana et al., 2005)[11]. For instance, a company that emphasizes wellness may see an increase in employee productivity, reduced absenteeism, and lower health care costs.

Conclusion

Wellness is a multi-dimensional concept that involves a conscious, self-directed, and evolving process of achieving full potential. Understanding and pursuing wellness is an essential part of living a higher quality life. It is much more than being free from illness; it is a dynamic process of change and growth.

References

[1] Dunn, H.L. (1959). High-Level Wellness. Beatty Press.

[2] Anspaugh, D. J., Hamrick, M. H., & Rosato, F. D. (2017). Wellness: Concepts and applications (9th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.

[3] Swarbrick, M. (2006). A wellness approach. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 29(4), 311–314.

[4] Hettler, B. (1976). The Six Dimensions of Wellness Model. National Wellness Institute.

[5] Seligman, M. E., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2000). Positive psychology: An introduction. American Psychologist, 55(1), 5–14.

[6] Harzer, C., & Steger, M. F. (2013). The eudaimonics of meaningful work. In A. S. Waterman (Ed.), The best within us: Positive psychology perspectives on eudaimonia (pp. 97–108). American Psychological Association.

[7] Warburton, D. E., Nicol, C. W., & Bredin, S. S. (2006). Health benefits of physical activity: the evidence. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 174(6), 801–809.

[8] Cohen, S. (2004). Social relationships and health. American Psychologist, 59(8), 676–684.

[9] Horowitz, B. P., Wong, S. D., & Dechello, K. (2018). Intergenerational service learning: To promote active aging, and occupational therapy gerontology practice. Gerontology & Geriatrics Education, 39(1), 16–31.

[10] Koenig, H. (2012). Religion, spirituality, and health: The research and clinical implications. ISRN Psychiatry, 2012, 278730.

[11] Aldana, S. G., Merrill, R. M., Price, K., Hardy, A., & Hager, R. (2005). Financial impact of a comprehensive multisite workplace health promotion program. Preventive Medicine, 40(2), 131–137.