"Exploring the Definition of Wellness: A Step Toward Improving the Quality of Life"

By Ingrid Snellings, BA, Health Coach

What does Wellness mean?

Wellness is a multidimensional concept that considers all facets of our lives and recognizes that every facet influences every other.  In considering one’s level of wellness or in a desire to achieve overall wellness, one would be looking at how effectively or efficiently each area of one’s life is operating.  For example, not getting enough sleep or experiencing ongoing negative stress is directly linked to contributing to the onset or exasperation of medical conditions as well as affecting one’s mental well-being.  Here are a few quotes that reflect the multi-faceted nature of wellness:

“The Global Wellness Institute defines wellness as the active pursuit of activities, choices and lifestyles that lead to a state of holistic health.” (1)

“The concept of total wellness recognizes that our every thought, word, and behavior affect our greater health and well-being.  And we, in turn, are affected not only emotionally but also physically and spiritually.” - Greg Anderson

“Wellness is a holistic integration of physical, mental, and spiritual well-being, fueling the body, engaging the mind, and nurturing the spirit.”- National Institute of Health

Optimal wellness is about living life fully and achieving one’s highest potential by improving and using one’s natural talents and living in harmony with one’s positive inclinations.  It is about living a life with passion and satisfaction.  It is living life without regrets as one has learned the skills to address problems in life as they emerge in a straightforward manner rather than denying, hiding, or running away from them.  It means caring for ourselves, others, our environment, and our communities, in other words, practicing good stewardship and being a good neighbor.  It means having and nurturing supportive, loving relationships.  It includes having defined for oneself meaning and purpose and living in congruence with one’s personal beliefs and philosophy.  It is having hope for the future, peace in the present, and acceptance and forgiveness concerning the past for ourselves and others.  It is about challenging oneself to be better, while also finding contentment and satisfaction with current circumstances.  And most of all, it is being responsible for self, and one’s decisions including mistakes and resulting consequences, current circumstances, and how one feels.  It is taking charge of one’s physical health and mental well-being and being proactive in what is needed for optimal living. 

These are the dimensions that are generally mentioned in discussing wellness:

·         Physical health

·         Mental well-being

·         Emotional wellness

·         Spiritual wellness

·         Intellectual wellness

·         Social wellness

·         Environmental wellness

·         Financial wellness

·         Vocational wellness

·         Sexual wellnessThe goal is to work towards improved wellness intending to experience more satisfaction, peace, physical health, and mental well-being.  In considering areas to work on, Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is useful (see Diagram 1).  As one achieves and feels comfortable within each level, then one can strive to achieve higher levels of improved wellness.  Achieving success in one area builds a foundation for success at higher levels.  The reality is most of us are probably working on multiple levels at once with varying degrees of success.

Diagram 1

At the top of the pyramid is Maslow’s concept of “self-actualization” or optimal wellness.  Abraham Maslow defines it best, “It looks as if there were a single ultimate goal for mankind, a far goal toward which all persons strive. This is called variously by different authors self-actualization, self-realization, integration, psychological health, individuation, autonomy, creativity, productivity, but they all agree that this amounts to realizing the potentialities of the person, that is to say, becoming fully human, everything that person can be.”

In achieving wellness or moving up Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, one needs to spend time being introspective.  What areas of your life do you need to work on?  As stated earlier, a key activity in increasing wellness is being responsible for yourself, and the circumstances you presently live with.  One of the areas to consider is one’s relationship with your healthcare team, whether you are proactive, and view your health as your responsibility.

Healthcare and Wellness

Healthcare has several different philosophies and approaches toward physical health and mental well-being. Over the last century, the idea of physical and mental health and how to manage it has transformed.  Previous medical models have focused on treating disease and injuries, reducing risks, and preventative measures.  In the conventional (or traditional pharmaceutical) models, the focus has been on treating the symptoms by prescribing medications, surgeries, or other medical interventions.  Patients act reactively allowing medical professionals to prescribe treatments to address medical issues and to provide guidance on how to make healthcare decisions.

That has shifted to preventive models that focus on influencing more healthful lifestyle choices and diagnosing symptoms early before they develop into more serious health issues.  Preventive healthcare includes regular medical care, health screening tests, counseling on healthful diet practices, exercise, stress management, depression, and cessation of harmful behaviors, such as smoking, excessive alcohol use, and illegal use of drugs.  The focus of decision-making remains with healthcare providers as with conventional models.

Holistic models of health, developed more recently, consider the whole person in evaluating physical health and mental well-being.  “The term “holism” refers to the theory that all parts of a whole are intimately interconnected.” (2) and encompasses the idea of “wellness.”  Areas included in these models are physical health, mental well-being, sexuality, self-care, intellectual factors, spiritual life, social life, occupational factors, cultural factors, and environmental factors.  It also includes personal growth through developing skills, and hobbies, excelling in your craft, employment, or business, or otherwise challenging yourself to improve in some way.  The patient is viewed as a partner and as collaborating in making healthcare decisions.  The client is active in their healthcare process and viewed as having valuable input as to what is best for themselves.  “…[T]he preventative posture is defensive and largely reactive.  That is, it is designed to protect you against illness or disease; wellness [holistic models], on the other hand, achieves the same end by advocating health enrichment, or health promotion, and life enhancement.” Don Ardell, High Level Wellness

The Holistic model is the most comprehensive.  Practices, approaches, and individual attitudes of healthcare professionals likely include aspects from different medical models.  None of the models exclude any of the others, as conventional models are very useful when we have injured ourselves or have other immediate, life-threatening issues and the guidelines outlined by the conventional model or the preventive model are certainly useful.  Diagram 2 is a helpful illustration to show the Wellness Continuum and shifts in perspective (or paradigms) in the healthcare industry:

Diagram 2

Regardless of the healthcare perspective of the personnel or organization that you might be seeking services, you can take responsibility for how you are treated as a patient advocating that your opinions and your concerns are heard and addressed to your satisfaction. 

Role of a Health Coach

As healthcare has moved towards a more holistic approach to working with people, the emergence of the Coaching field has grown in value as a tool to aid in promoting wellness in our communities and in conjunction with healthcare providers.

Being responsible for change and improvement requires introspection to know where changes need to be made.  This is a lifetime process.  What you recognize today as an area that you need to improve will be very different from your past and your future.  A Health and Wellness Coach can support individuals as they identify values, prioritize and set goals, navigate how to overcome obstacles, and chart a course on how to achieve goals.  Coaching involves fostering motivation, providing support in establishing how one will be accountable, encouraging independence and self-monitoring, and encouraging having support systems, plus much more.

Keep in mind that this is a process and do not be overwhelmed with all the areas that you may want to improve.  Just focus on today and what you can do today to improve the quality of your life.

“I can feel guilty about the past, apprehensive about the future, but only in the present can I act. The ability to be in the present moment is a major component of mental wellness.”― Abraham Maslow

For more information on specific areas, several articles providing information and tips on improving physical and mental health can be found on my website at betterlivinggoals.com

References:

1.      Global Wellness Institute (n.d.). WHAT IS WELLNESS? Retrieved April 11, 2024, from https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/what-is-wellness/

2.      (2022, May 20). What Is Holistic Health? Overview and Career Outcomes. St. Catherine University. Retrieved April 8, 2024, from https://www.stkate.edu/healthcare-degrees/what-is-holistic-health

3.      Arloski, M. (2012). Wellness Coaching for Lasting Lifestyle Change (2nd ed.). Whole Person Associates, Inc.

4.      Brehm, B. A., Colberg, S. R., Fassbender, J. E., Finn, L., Fogg-Phillips, L., Franklin, B. A., Jo, S., Matthews, J. A., Muth, N. D., Pagoto, S., Pettitt, C. D., Read, B., Skinner, J. S., Zize, M. (2019). The Professional's Guide to Health and Wellness Coaching. American Council on Exercise.