The www. of Wellness
In this week’s (more information-based, and definitely more dry!) blog I’m offering an explanation of Wellness, because I feel like it is a term that is used often but means different things for different people. In the coming weeks we will be doing some deeper (and funnier!) dives into topics that affect your Wellness, and are affected by your Wellness. Stay tuned, but in the meantime…try to make it to the end of this one.
1) Who is Wellness suitable for?
Literally, everyone. ‘Wellness’ is something that we can all strive for, to live our lives more deeply, fully and in optimum health. I’d like you to think of an athlete that you like…got one in mind? Now - what words come to mind when you think of this individual? Strong, fit, hard-working, disciplined, resilient, mentally aware, driven, connected, powerful, balanced? Pretty inspiring, right. Well, what if I told you that Wellness is the everyday way to turn up for yourself, each and every day, so that you can start to live an inspired – and inspiring – life. I struggled with Wellness when I stopped living the life of an athlete. I didn’t feel inspired, healthy, disciplined or balanced. Making the choice to live a life of Wellness, which I coach in Mindfully, Vicki, has brought me back to my roots and means everyday I choose to live a life of mental, physical, and spiritual fulfilment.
2) What is Wellness?
‘Wellness’ might seem like one of those buzz words at the moment. You know, the kind that you’re not totally sure of the meaning, but it sounds like something that might be good to know some more about, especially at a time when being well is so front of mind. Well (pun alert!), you’re right.
I’m a firm believer in alignment of the body, mind and spirit, which is why I created the Power Pyramid at the bottom of the text. The pillars of the Pyramid are inextricably linked and dependant on one another. What aspects of your wellbeing would you put into each of the pillars?
For body, perhaps you’d put in food, exercise, strength and rest. For mind, perhaps career, mindset, emotions, resilience and maybe even finances? For spirit, perhaps you’d include purpose, connection, letting go, or even relationships?
3) So, Why does Wellness matter?
Since we’re currently fighting a global health pandemic, it’s never been more important to try to be healthy. But Wellness was important before the pandemic -- and it will be vital long after. Wellness tries to get to the root of whatever challenge you might be facing, rather than treating the challenge in isolation. Together, we try to understand the cause of the challenge in terms of your wellbeing, and the effect of the challenge on your wellbeing. For example, if you are struggling with stress levels, we would try to understand why we’re feeling stressed, and how this affecting our wellbeing. The cause of stress could be a job, a health problem, or a state of mind, so prescribing something to fix the stress will only target stress in isolation -- it won’t fix the overall problem. Secondly, we consider what other aspects of your life the stress might be affecting (e.g., a relationship, quality of sleep) to make sure these aspects of your wellbeing can get back into alignment, to Power up your Pyramid again.
Working to improve your Wellness and get your Power Pyramid back into balance is one of the most effective natural healing methods out there. With its holistic approach, Wellness addresses the whole of you, not just an aspect of you, in an effort to get the whole of you well and thriving. We are well when body, mind and spirit are in harmony, and well is powerful.
Have a little think about the Wellness of your body, mind and spirit pillars - and how powerful you feel right now.
I’m off to Power up my Pyramid. Until next time!
Mindfully, Vicki xx
