Concepts in Wellness
When seasons change, it feels like another New Year’s Day.
September seems full of possibilities and sweater weather, and we fall into a rhythm of those back-to-school vibes.
It is a chance to ask what you value; what is your EUDAIMONIA?
Sounds Greek, eh? Well, it is, and it is a fascinating ancient GREEK word and philosophy. You can quickly sum it up if you want to with the English word “flourishing.” As I further understand Eudaemonia, I know how one word encourages us to flow with life’s most worthwhile projects, even if it comes with great odds without contentment, and yet worth pursuing, nevertheless. When we explore our professional talents, managing a household, our health, keeping a relationship going, creating a new business venture, or engaging in politics …. None of these pursuits are easy and probably exhaust us. Yet, through them all, we still feel these life’s demands give us purpose, but that is a nebulous idea to pin down. Eudaimonia is a concept that asks us instead, what is it you would like to contribute or bestow our gifts to others. It makes for a more meaningful experience, “the act of giving in common with others”. This season I ask you to think about your inherited gifts to share and your check within to know your values to ground you in everyday action.
It’s certainly not a lack of information; beyond trends and protocols, even before the pandemic, we had systems in place and a good sense of it, but everything has changed. How do we go from here? I love the idea of contribution verse pursuit. Elise Loehnen’s recent post tells us the word “contribution” comes from bestowing + with, and it’s about bringing or contributing your gifts, the act of giving in common with others. I love that idea, as it feels more meaningful. What do you think?
Do we know what it means to be subjectively well when we assess someone’s subjective well-being? Let’s start exploring another wellness concept by using a wellness wheel to ground us in the present moment while visualizing tomorrow.
George Ohsawa
A Japanese philosopher named George Ohsawa devoted most of his life to developing 10 concepts to strive for in obtaining wellness. In learning about his life’s work, it allowed me to vision health as a spiral. I’ve come to appreciate Mr. Oshawa’s concepts as keys to our holistic vision of obtaining Eudaemonia.
gratitude⠀
good memory ⠀
precision in thought
good appetite⠀
good sleep⠀
no pain / no fatigue
love ⠀
humility ⠀
good humor⠀
honesty⠀
Wellness Wheel Experience
In considering your definition of wellness and when you are well enough, here is an exercise I use with clients that have been helpful to them. A wellness wheel allows you to identify areas in your life that matter the most while identifying areas of focus for the near future. This allows us to “ebb and flow” with our internal dance, never in a state of static perfection.
In this exercise, plot the following in your life that matters most:
1.
2.
3.
and so on around the circle. Connect the dots and colors in the circle.
Now, ask yourself the following question and plot them on the wellness wheel.
On a scale of 1-10 (1=least, 7 =most), how satisfied am I?
Connect the dots and color in the second circle to visualize the following areas to focus on.
My primary area of focus for the near future is:
1.
2.
3.
This will help create much-needed stability and focus in a chaotic and challenging time. What you can control and what is not in your control is a transparent overlay. For example, we can control what we eat and how we take care of our bodies, alleviating the stress of what is out of our control during the current pandemic and unsettling times.
Thoughts on Wellness
Wellness is a spectrum, a continuum of the physical: what you do and don’t do
Psychological: state of mind
Perspectives: emotions and awareness
Relationships: to self, others, work, nature
In the pursuit of wellness, I leave you with the act of being present in it. We can plan out our days yet still feel connected to our physical, mental, and social well-being in our everyday lives and know we are well enough. Health is measured not just by a number on a scale, but if or what other people are doing. Health is measured in the harmony of these 10 concepts, and I hope you may connect and remember them throughout your life. One more note, remember to be kind to yourself every step of the way. In doing so we can then be kind and compassionate to all.
SOURCES
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1757975913486684
https://efchealth.com/salutogenesis-vs-pathogenesis-what-they-are-why-they-matter-for-your-health/
