What is Wellness?
WELLNESS is the integration of mind, body, and spirit. It includes a positive approach to life and health that helps to maximize the individual's potential. When we balance the physical, intellectual, emotional, social, spiritual, and environmental aspects of life, we achieve true wellness.
PHYSICAL WELLNESS is a perception and expectation of physical health. The achievement of physical wellness is through exercising regularly, eating properly, getting regular physical check-ups, and avoiding the use of tobacco or illicit drugs.
SPIRITUAL WELLNESS is a positive perception of meaning and purpose in life. Spiritual wellness is the search for meaning in life and can be achieved by being open to different cultures and religions, spending time defining personal values and ethics as well as making decisions that complement them, and participating in spiritual activities.
SOCIAL WELLNESS is a perception of having support available from family, friends, or co-workers in times of need as well as the perception of being a valued support provider. Those striving for social wellness are comfortable with themselves, interact easily with people of different ages, backgrounds, races, lifestyles, and contribute time and energy to the community. Finally, social wellness is achieved through budgeting and balancing your time to include both responsibilities and relaxation.
EMOTIONAL WELLNESS is a possession of a secure self-identity, a positive sense of self-regard, and the ability to cope with and/or improve unpleasant mood states. Emotional wellness is keeping a positive attitude, being sensitive to your feelings and the feelings of others, and taking responsibility for your own behavior, but also knowing when you need to ask for help.
INTELLECTUAL WELLNESS is the perception of being internally energized by an optimal amount of intellectually stimulating activity. Some ways to do this are learning because you want to - not because you are told to, learning through varied experiences (reading, writing, sharing and exploration, listening, questioning, etc.), and exposing yourself to new experiences (arts, theater. etc.).
ENVIRONMENTAL WELLNESS is the positive perception of the environment that one works and lives in. While working on your environmental wellness; find satisfaction and worth in your work, ensure your work environment and relationships are comfortable, and be aware of the natural environment you live in while working to ensure the stability and longevity of our natural resources.
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