Sometimes life is like a roller coaster. At times you’re riding on the top of the world looking around and watching all the people, what they are doing, and wondering if they are as happy as you are. Other times it’s like you’re riding on an out of control downward spiral. Your health and wellness are threatened by all manner of external factors:
- Children
- Agin Parents
- Sick relative or friend
But what have you done for you lately? Wellness is 95% Self Care: Don’t Forget to Take Care of You!
What is the meaning of holistic wellness?
Holistic emphasizes the importance of the whole and the interdependence of its parts. It is the recognition that what affects one part or system affects the whole body. A holistic approach to health is multi-faceted and mindful of the consequences of our habits and actions.
Six Dimensions of Wellness
- Physical – taking action to maintain health
- Social – connecting and interacting
- Intellectual – stimulating mind and mental capacity
- Spiritual – seeking spiritual centered beliefs
- Emotional – feelings, managing stress, transitioning
- Occupational – contributing, using skills/abilities
Here are some suggested behaviors for taking care of all four areas to help you be the best you can be!
Physically
Taking care of yourself physically means the ability to apply your knowledge, motivation, commitment, behavior, self-management, attitude, and skills toward achieving your personal fitness and health. You can maintain physical wellness by applying the knowledge and skills of sound nutrition, exercise, youth-extension strategies, and safety to everyday life.
Hobbies can even play a large role! Physical wellness is characterized by:
- High energy and vitality
- Freedom from or high adaptability to pain
- Dysfunction, and disability
- Strong immune system
- Body that feels light Balanced
- Strong and flexible
- Ability to meet physical challenges
- Full capacity of all five senses plus a healthy libido
Emotionally
Taking care of yourself emotionally means the ability to meet your emotional needs. It involves a positive attitude and the ability to respond resiliently to emotional states and the flow of every-day life. When you have emotional wellness, you can deal with a variety of situations realistically and learn more about yourself and how the things you do affect your feelings. You take responsibility for your own behavior and respond to challenges as opportunities.
Emotional wellness is characterized by:
- Self- acceptance
- Capacity to identify
- Experience, and accept all your feelings – painful, joyful, and everything in between
- Freedom from guilt (replaced by self-responsibility)
- Awareness of the intimate connection between your physical and emotional selves
- Ability to confront your greatest fears
- Maintaining and fulfilling your capacity to play
Message Therapy
Massage therapy can help by releasing the tension we hold in our muscles that restricts mobility in our joints, leading to uncomfortable feelings and pain. It’s also a great way for our bodies to begin the self-healing process through the release of endorphins to help calm and relax your body.
Many individuals use massage therapy as a way to help relieve stress, decrease anxiety, and improve concentration and circulation.