The 7 Dimensions of Wellness

We generally associate Wellness with physical health. However, wellness is all encompassing and multi-dimensional. This article discusses the 7 dimensions of wellness so that we understand what it takes to be well.

Human Beings are engulfed with multiple environmental forces to earn a living. This was true during prehistoric times and pronounced in the modern days. The Great Conqueror, Julius Caesar, was so focused on winning new territories for the Roman Empire, he suffered from fits later in his life. This should make us all realize that no matter how powerful you are, you are still under Nature’s embrace. Hence, respecting what your body needs is the only way of attaining wellness.

Therefore, it is not only the physical health which matters. One’s physical health might be good today but if care is not taken of other dimensions of wellness, it is sure to reflect badly on the physical health. The other dimensions of wellness have a latent effect on our body and if taken proper care, ensures our longevity and good health for a long time to come.

Physical

The prime aspect of wellness is associated with physical health. Rightly said, all the other aspects do reflect in physical health in either the short term or long term. That makes the physical dimension as the most important one of 7 dimensions of wellness.

The physical aspect of wellness is felt close with being disease free. You are at the prime of enjoying life when healthy. Actions are smooth, thoughts are error-free. This loosens up as soon as you suffer from eve small abnormality like headache or acidity. That those times, you focus only on the pain area.

Maintaining a good physical health and keeping our body in active state speaks a lot about wellness. There are ways and means to achieve it via exercises and having nutritious food. There are a number of articles on this blog including anytime body stretching exercises which is meant for anybody who is either not active or super-active like sportsmen which will help them relax their muscles after a strenuous day at work.

Emotional

The second most important factor in our overall wellness is our emotional health. It is one of the foundation of the 7 dimensions of wellness. We don’t “feel good” and hence not well. That is what the common observation in life is about.

Emotional health severely affects the physical health of our body and mind. Painful thoughts penetrate through weak emotional barrier. We suffer due to these painful thoughts because our own emotional strength allows it so. Otherwise, people with strong emotional strength are able to bear whatever comes their way.

The ways of enhancing one’s emotional strength is to create a positive aura around yourself. This can be achieved through meditation or simply by being surrounded among positive thinking people.

Intellectual

One of the important dimension of wellness is the Intellect. You would have often felt how good it feels to stoke your intellectual talent. This dimension is often missed when talking about wellness.

Intellect is what drives the wellness in artists, singers or writers. In general, practicing your skills gives you immense satisfaction. This satisfaction causes flow of wellness into life.

Practicing certain intellectual exercises as per your own interest is sure to have a profound effect on your wellness.

Social

The Social Dimension of wellness does a long way in maintaining Emotional Health. A good relationship keeps you happy. Be it within the family, a supportive spouse or a colleague with whom you can share your worries.

In maintaining the Social Dimension for Wellness try to have at least one “4 o’ clock Buddy”. Now let me explain what a 4 o’clock buddy is. He/she is someone whom you trust to call at an unwanted call hours to share your plight. He/she may not come for immediate help but just knowing whom to call at this distress hours keeps you sane.

In my case, it is my Father, who has never turned me away in these hours of distress. For my spouse it was her Mother. It might be a close blood relative or a close friend with whom you studied in school. But just knowing that you have someone to trust you innermost secrets prevents you from going into depression. This works wonders for your wellness.

Spiritual

The Spiritual Dimension of Wellness is a long term one with a sustained effect on overall Wellness. Religion is a different matter here but believing in Powers of the Supreme is spirituality.

Spirituality lets you choose right over wrong. You are never pained by doing wrong if you are spiritual. That feeling of elation works wonders in keep you well.

Contributing to the uplifting of the under-privileged helps in this aspect. Joining an NGO or the Boy Scouts gives you some sense of working for the society. Even in your normal job, think why you are working. Most probably, you are working to improve the economy, paying taxes enabling the Government to work for the Society in whole.

Environmental

The Environmental Dimension of Wellness is a key dimension which affects both our mental and physical health. It is therefore stressed in my earlier article on Yoga and Wellness to practice Yoga in natural and serene surroundings. It is due to this reason that morning hours are considered best for Mediation.

We all know how pollution is creating havoc for our wellness. The natural habitat of Human Beings is in forests, hills and rural settings. Flowing water has attracted growth of many civilizations in history which perished when water went dry.

It is difficult to live in all natural surrounding due to the demand of earning a livelihood. However, we can be close to nature wherever possible. Early morning hours provides such surroundings even in modern urban settings.

Conclusion

We are now sure that mere physical health does not amount to our wellness. There are at least six other dimensions to our well-being. Being educated on these seven dimensions, it would now be easier to maintain your wellness.

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