Six Dimensions of Wellness
Wellness
“...a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being,
and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."
(The World Health Organization)
"a conscious, self-directed and evolving process of achieving full potential."
(The National Wellness Institute)
Wellness is an active process of becoming aware of and making choices toward a healthy and
fulfilling life. It is more than being free from illness. It is the dynamic process of optimizing personal change and growth as we travel along our lives.
Why Wellness Matters
Wellness matters because every action we make and every emotion we feel relates to our
overall well-being.
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In return, our well-being directly affects our actions and emotions. It’s a cyclical interaction.
It is important for individuals to strive to achieve optimal wellness in order to subdue stress, reduce the risk of illness and ensure positive interactions. This is especially important in individuals who suffer from chronic health conditions such as chronic pain in their efforts to achieve optimal functioning.
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There are six main dimensions of wellness: physical, occupational, emotional, spiritual, social,
and intellectual. Each dimension of wellness interacts with the others. Each dimension is equally
vital in the pursuit of optimum health and wellness. One can reach an optimal level of health and wellness by understanding how to maintain and optimize each of these dimensions.
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Physical wellness relates to maintaining a healthy body and seeking care when needed.
Physical health is attained through exercise, eating well, getting enough sleep and paying
attention to the signs of illness and getting help when needed.
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Occupational wellness is about enjoying your occupational endeavors and appreciating your contributions. This dimension of wellness encourages personal satisfaction and enrichment in
one’s life through work. The choice of your profession, job satisfaction, career ambitions,
and personal performance are all important factors.
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Emotional wellness relates to understanding your feelings and coping effectively with stress.
It is important to pay attention to self-care, relaxation, stress reduction and the development
of inner resources so you can learn and grow from experiences.
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Spiritual wellness allows you to develop a set of values that help you seek meaning
and purpose. Spirituality is more than just religion and can be represented in many ways.
For example, it may include the development of a deep appreciation for the depth and
expanse of life and natural forces in the universe. Being spiritually well means knowing
which resources to use to cope with the many issues that come up in everyday life.
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The social dimension emphasizes the role of one’s interdependence with others,
our environment and our social communities. Social wellness helps one perform these roles
with ease and efficiency, and to create a strong support network. It encourages an
active role in healthy living and better communication with others.
It actively seeks ways to preserve the beauty and balance of nature and build better
living spaces and communities. This dimension of wellness allows you to not only develop
encouraging relationships with peers, but also intimate relationships with romantic partners.
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Intellectual wellness recognizes one’s creative and stimulating mental activities.
It also involves having an open mind when you encounter new ideas and continuing to
expand your knowledge. It encourages active participation in scholastic, cultural
and community activities in an effort to keep abreast of current ideas and issues.
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One of the goals of therapy at nMSK Consultants is to help
our clients achieve their own optimum wellness
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