What is holistic wellness and how
can I achieve it?
The
term holistic means: “characterized by the belief that the parts of something
are intimately interconnected and explicable only by reference to the whole”.
When applying this to the wellness field, holistic is an all-encompassing part
of wellness that is more than just physical or mental wellness. Wellness begins
from within ourselves when we recognize a healthy and balanced lifestyle.
In
general, there are 7 pillars, or dimensions, of wellness that fall under the
umbrella of holistic wellness. They include:
Social:
focuses on our inter-dependence on others
Emotional: importance of positive thinking and healthy
relationships
Occupational: finding enrichment through work and satisfaction when
completing goals
Physical: staying active as well as eating well and drinking
water
Spiritual: integrating beliefs and values with our actions as well
as seeking meaning and purpose
Environmental: maximizing harmony with the earth and minimizing waste
Intellectual: encourages creative and stimulating mental activities
Once a holistic lifestyle is
recognized, we begin to feel better about ourselves and more fulfilled in life.
It becomes a balancing game of making sure that we take care of our entire
being vs. simply focusing on one dimension. The most commonly advocated
dimension is physical wellness. Everyone wants to have that aspect of wellness
under control, but we cannot forget to take care of our minds and
emotions.
Mental wellness plays a huge role
in our ability to deal with everyday situations. A healthy mindset pushes us to
work hard and take satisfaction from our daily tasks, versus not being
optimistic about what opportunities the day can bring.
The same principles can be
applied to the other dimension; if we focus on the good in every aspect of our
life, we will ultimately gain a holistic sense of wellness!
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