I've done a lot of work over the years teaching, training, and being part of many discussions around mental health literacy. One of the reasons that this literacy is important is that there's a lot of stigma around mental illness. One of the ways to reduce the stigma around mental illness is to change the conversation to talking about wellness. Not only changing the conversation to include mental wellness but let's expand the dialogue and discussion to incorporate overall wellness. A specific challenge that comes with this discussion around wellness is that much of the focus is limited to only discussing physical wellness. There has been some progress in many spaces to include mental wellness in this conversation and dialogue. However, the perspective of wellness should be even more expansive.
I would like to expand the conversation for wellness to include the eight dimensions of wellness as referenced by “The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) which is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA's mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities”, according to the SAMHSA.gov website, (https://www.samhsa.gov/about-us).
The 8 dimensions are spiritual, intellectual, emotional, financial, physical, social, occupational, and environmental. Here’s a brief definition of each to reference
For additional information on the 8 dimensions of wellness, you can follow up on the SAMHSA website. https://store.samhsa.gov/product/What-You-Need-to-Know-About-National-Wellness-Week/sma16-4952.
By incorporating the 8 dimensions of wellness in our conversations not only can we reduce the stigma around mental illness, but we can help others to focus on better care and self-care practices by understanding their overall wellness holistically. Can we agree that wellness impacts and affects the overall quality of life? Many people’s journey to wellness is in response to illness. Therefore, it becomes what one must achieve to no longer be ill or sick. This mindset and perspective make wellness a destination instead of an intentional process. Wellness is now something to be acquired or achieved outside of ourselves instead of something we create and shape internally and intentionally.
What are the challenges with changing the conversation around wellness is first defining what wellness is? Wellness may look different to different people so it's probably helpful to first identify a definition of wellness. In looking at many definitions the one that I think captures the essence of wellness comes from the National Wellness Institute. “Wellness is a process of becoming aware of making choices toward a more successful existence”-National Wellness Institute. My goal for this blog is to invite a different discussion and consideration around wellness in such a way that it empowers, educates, and enlightens you and others to recognize the importance of intentionally improving your wellness. By understanding and taking control of the creative process for determining your wellness outcomes and results not from the achievements space but from the space of being a powerful and intentional creator of the wellness you desire. Taking the approach that your wellness is a choice, commitment, and responsible of the individual (Arloski, 2014, p.39). The challenge and opportunity are to raise the conscious awareness of what choices, commitments, and responsibilities look like for each person.
I wanted to impress upon you a different or new awareness and the importance of shifting your perceptions to creating wellness. What if wellness is a choice you make to improve without limits or predetermined by others, situations, or circumstances? Does this change how you approach life or how well you live? Wellness is not something achieved but it is a process for individuals to become aware and make choices intentionally toward a more successful and optimal existence in various areas of their life. This process would allow for individuals like you to no longer be subject to circumstances, situations, or others for wellness results or outcomes. It puts control back to where it belongs in your hands! Are you going to achieve or create your wellness?
I think wellness should be a strategic and intentional part of your personal, professional, leadership, and organizational development. In my personal, professional, leadership, and organizational practices I have included wellness as a focal point of education, development, and training. How does creating wellness in any one of the eight dimensions impact my personal life? My resilience? My success? How does creating wellness in any one of the eight dimensions impact my professional life? My resilience? My success? How does creating wellness in any one of the eight dimensions impact my leadership? My resilience? My success? How does creating wellness in any one of the eight dimensions impact my organization? Organizational resilience? Culture? Success?
I would like to expand the conversation for wellness to include the eight dimensions of wellness as referenced by “The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) which is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA's mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities”, according to the SAMHSA.gov website, (https://www.samhsa.gov/about-us).
The 8 dimensions are spiritual, intellectual, emotional, financial, physical, social, occupational, and environmental. Here’s a brief definition of each to reference
1. Spiritual: spiritual fulfillment/purpose/meaning/identity not necessarily religion
2. Intellectual: using your mental and intellectual capabilities to create, expand, and think in healthy ways
3. Emotional: awareness, recognition, and ability to positively shift emotionally
4. Financial: financial literacy, awareness, and freedom
5. Physical: exercise/activity, health, nutrition, and fitness
6. Social: healthy, happy, fulfilling relationships, and interactions
7. Occupational: fulfillment, purpose, work that brings skills, satisfaction, and empowerment
8. Environmental: physical and mental environments conducive to providing, safety, support, and stimulation
For additional information on the 8 dimensions of wellness, you can follow up on the SAMHSA website. https://store.samhsa.gov/product/What-You-Need-to-Know-About-National-Wellness-Week/sma16-4952.
By incorporating the 8 dimensions of wellness in our conversations not only can we reduce the stigma around mental illness, but we can help others to focus on better care and self-care practices by understanding their overall wellness holistically. Can we agree that wellness impacts and affects the overall quality of life? Many people’s journey to wellness is in response to illness. Therefore, it becomes what one must achieve to no longer be ill or sick. This mindset and perspective make wellness a destination instead of an intentional process. Wellness is now something to be acquired or achieved outside of ourselves instead of something we create and shape internally and intentionally.
What are the challenges with changing the conversation around wellness is first defining what wellness is? Wellness may look different to different people so it's probably helpful to first identify a definition of wellness. In looking at many definitions the one that I think captures the essence of wellness comes from the National Wellness Institute. “Wellness is a process of becoming aware of making choices toward a more successful existence”-National Wellness Institute. My goal for this blog is to invite a different discussion and consideration around wellness in such a way that it empowers, educates, and enlightens you and others to recognize the importance of intentionally improving your wellness. By understanding and taking control of the creative process for determining your wellness outcomes and results not from the achievements space but from the space of being a powerful and intentional creator of the wellness you desire. Taking the approach that your wellness is a choice, commitment, and responsible of the individual (Arloski, 2014, p.39). The challenge and opportunity are to raise the conscious awareness of what choices, commitments, and responsibilities look like for each person.
I wanted to impress upon you a different or new awareness and the importance of shifting your perceptions to creating wellness. What if wellness is a choice you make to improve without limits or predetermined by others, situations, or circumstances? Does this change how you approach life or how well you live? Wellness is not something achieved but it is a process for individuals to become aware and make choices intentionally toward a more successful and optimal existence in various areas of their life. This process would allow for individuals like you to no longer be subject to circumstances, situations, or others for wellness results or outcomes. It puts control back to where it belongs in your hands! Are you going to achieve or create your wellness?
I think wellness should be a strategic and intentional part of your personal, professional, leadership, and organizational development. In my personal, professional, leadership, and organizational practices I have included wellness as a focal point of education, development, and training. How does creating wellness in any one of the eight dimensions impact my personal life? My resilience? My success? How does creating wellness in any one of the eight dimensions impact my professional life? My resilience? My success? How does creating wellness in any one of the eight dimensions impact my leadership? My resilience? My success? How does creating wellness in any one of the eight dimensions impact my organization? Organizational resilience? Culture? Success?
This interested me so much that I created a course entitled, Wellness Creation- https://globalsolutionseducationandtrainingacademy.learnworlds.com/course/wellness-creation. Why? Because I started noticing that wellness as a practice changed the outcomes for myself, the folks I coached, and trained, and the organizations that I worked with. Learning how you can create wellness, and the tools needed to take inspired action produced outcomes and results that were intentional and strategic. It helps guide and facilitate the process of what people wanted to be, do, and have and the steps to create from the inside-out instead of achieving on the outside with little regard to the power within. From my work in NLP-(Neuro-Linguistic Programming), Mindfulness, and Hypnotherapy there is tremendous power and ability within you to create. Wellness creation is about your awareness of it and tapping into it to create your desired wellness dimensionally and holistically! Is wellness created or achieved? You decide.
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