Definition of Wellness

 

Wellness is taking personal responsibility to direct your life toward optimal health and well-being.


Wellness is the active, lifelong process of becoming aware of the different dimensions of your life and health, identifying the dimensions that need improvement, and making changes in lifestyle behaviors that help you attain the highest level of health and well-being possible for you.

Wellness is about the whole person, about balancing the different dimensions of life and health. These dimensions include: physical, intellectual, emotional, spiritual, social, and environmental. The logo on this website attempts to depict the integral and interactive nature of the dimensions of life and health. For example, improvement in one dimesion as a result of a lifestyle change can result in increased well-being in the other dimensions.

Dimensions of Wellness


Physical
The optimal functioning of the body’s major physiological systems (e.g., cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal, and nervous systems).

  • Regular physical activity, healthy eating, medical self-care, and control of substance abuse contribute to physical well-being.

Intellectual
The ability to gather, process, recall, and communicate information; the ability to solve problems effectively and creatively and to maintain a positive outlook on life.

  • Engaging your mind in ongoing learning for occupational and personal growth contributes to intellectual well-being.

Emotional
The ability to feel and express the full range of human emotions and to control them rather than be controlled by them.

  • Being aware of and accepting personal feelings and being sensitive and responsive to the emotional states of others contribute to emotional well-being.

Spiritual
The maturation of a higher consciousness through strong nurturing relationships with both the self and others; the development of a strong personal value system and a meaningful purpose in life.

  • Doing activities that cultivate hope, gratitude, forgiveness, and a sense of connectedness to the world contributes to spiritual well-being.

Social
The process of forming and contributing to supportive relationships with family, friends, and associates and with one’s environment.

  • Doing activities that build friendships and support better living conditions for all in the community contributes to social well-being.

Environmental
The capability to live, work, and play in a clean and safe environment that is not detrimental to health.

  • Taking steps to increase clean air and to prevent violence in your community contributes to environmental well-being.

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