What does WELLNESS actually mean? According to Merriam Webster?s dictionary, wellness is defined as “the quality, or state of being in good health especially as an actively sought goal”. Other definitions go on to say, “an active process of becoming aware of and making choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life”. The common word in both of these definitions is “active.” Wellness does not come upon us by passively watching life go by, by hoping for health but refusing to make any changes, or by denying the influences and impact our daily choices have on our health and well-being. In order to achieve wellness, one must make the conscious choice to make a change, to take that first step, and to keep moving forward even after life?s set backs and unforeseen obstacles.
People often define their wellness by their physical health alone. Actually, there are seven domains of wellness and each one is equally important to achieving true wellness and quality in our lives. Here is a list of the seven domains of wellness:
- Physical
- Emotional
- Social
- Intellectual
- Spiritual
- Environmental
- Occupational
It is important to reflect on each of these domains and determine what they look like and mean to you now, at this stage of your life. In the upcoming entries, we will be diving in and exploring each domain in further depth.