Focus on Well-Being and Feel More In Control
I just stumbled upon some news that set off a series of fire alarms in my mind…🚒🔥⏰
It was a jolting awareness that the state of ‘well-being’ is on a downward spiral, especially in the U.S. 😳
Before I get too worked up in worry about this article, let’s dig into what ‘well-being’ encompasses.
I mean…I think my well-being is on solid ground, but what if it’s not? (GASP!)
Well-being includes many positive attributes - like happiness, health, social connections, and purpose.
As described by Tchiki Davis, Ph.D. well-being is the union of health, happiness, and prosperity. It’s about maintaining good mental health, experiencing high life satisfaction, finding a meaning or purpose, and having the ability to manage stress. Essentially, it’s just feeling well.
Sounds like something we want more of, right? Then why are so many veering away from this path when it’s what we all crave in life?
As I reflect on my life, there WERE times when this vision of well-being was nothing like what I was experiencing. Sure, I had moments of happiness even in hard times, but overall, there were phases where I felt unaligned, disconnected, and without purpose.
Ah, the rollercoaster of life’s ups and downs…🎢
We’ve all experienced those moments when it feels like everything is going off the tracks. 🚂 Yet, when we power through these challenging times, we find areas of resilience within ourselves that propel us forward toward brighter times.
They say with age comes wisdom. Let’s grasp this saying and use our previous hard times as lessons to guide us forward to a sustaining healthy level of well-being. May it transform us beginning with today and beyond!
Overcoming Challenges and Discovering Strength
At the tender age of 7, I found myself grappling with self-consciousness about my weight—a heavy burden for a child, I know.
With both of my parents working, We were fortunate to have a neighbor family welcome me to their home after school to play with their children until my parents were home. We created a lot of fun memories playing together, making it a convenient after-school solution.
One day after school, Mrs. ‘T”, told me I was getting ‘too fat’ and so I wouldn’t be getting an after-school treat with the other kids. I was mortified! And so was my mom when I told her that evening.
Being one of those kids who didn’t grow steadily but rather in sudden bursts, I often found my pants embarrassingly too short after what felt like an overnight growth spurt. 😂
Looking back, it's clear that my body was storing up weight in anticipation of those growth spurts.
My mom is the nurturing type who wanted to protect me from the ugliness the world can reveal at times, but she lacked an alternative solution for my after-school care. So, we devised a plan for me to come home, change clothes, and have a snack before heading over to Mrs. T’s house.
Mrs. T. wasn’t a cruel person; perhaps she just had one of those days where her words didn’t come out quite right. Unfortunately, once spoken, I couldn’t un-hear what was said.
Years later, during my teenage years, I became intimately familiar with diabetes through two close family members. Witnessing their struggles with dietary restrictions, I resolved to strive for healthy habits to combat this for me.
From these life experiences, I developed a deep appreciation for movement, exercise, and sweating! It became my antidote to the negative self-image I retained from my childhood and my defense against the prospect of developing diabetes.
Though some lessons were learned through less-than-ideal circumstances, I have no regrets for the impact they had on my future well-being. They instilled in me a love for the outdoors, a curiosity for new activities, and a lifelong habit of daily exercising.
…and I want this for you, friend!
Reflect on adverse situations in your past that brought you strength. These are your Superhero moments - lean into your strengths for a greater sense of well-being.
I’m addicted to an athletic lifestyle not only because it invigorates me but because it keeps me feeling alive and healthy. Our minds are the key to transforming adverse circumstances into opportunities for resilience and determination, steering us towards positive outcomes in life.
After reflecting on my journey, I recognized how I began prioritizing my well-being from a young age. This motivated me to dig deeper into the topic of well-being, and I’m excited to share my discoveries with you. What I uncovered are 5 essential pillars of well-being:
5 Key Types of Well-Being:
1. Emotional Well-Being
Managing stress, promoting positivity, and practicing mindfulness are keys to nurturing emotional wellness.
Currently, I’m engrossed in Shannon Lee’s Be Water My Friend, where she explores her father, Bruce Lee’s, philosophy of resilience and adaptability. It's intriguing and full of wisdom related to emotional well-being.
The book title suggests being flexible in both mind and body. Shannon Lee emphasizes the importance of avoiding being rigid or stubborn in our beliefs and practices, advocating instead for open-mindedness and the ability to change and adapt to circumstances.
My key takeaways from reading this book so far are twofold:
Be agile like water - don’t let obstacles hinder growth and be ready to keep flowing even if you need to forge a new path.
Empty my cup (brain) - to grow and learn, one must embrace new experiences and let go of preconceived ideas to stay flexible and adaptable to face transformative change.
Check out the book by clicking on my Amazon Affiliate link above. 📚
2. Physical Well-Being
Healthy eating, regular exercise, and detoxifying the body are fundamental to physical health.
Despite our inherent tendency to resist regular exercise and healthy eating habits initially, once we embrace these changes, we begin to reap the rewards of our efforts. The transition from reluctance to commitment is transformative. After engaging in a daily workout or eating a nutritious meal, I’m guessing most of us would admit a higher sense of well-being and take pride in our new dedication to nurturing healthy habits.
Go ahead…start releasing those endorphins for your well-being!
Fun Run 2023!
3. Social Well-Being
Building gratitude, nurturing relationships, and even using technology - safely - to gain connections are vital for combating loneliness.
In an era where journaling has become hip, writing down the things you are grateful for in a journal is a healthy habit-forming practice and one way to elevate your social well-being category.
Did you miss last week's blog on the benefits of evolving friendships? Click here to explore invaluable insights on expanding your social circle.
4. Workplace Well-Being
Maintaining work-life balance and aligning with personal values increase workplace satisfaction and fulfillment.
This one is personal to me. For years, I placed a higher value on what others needed from me and suppressed the inner desire to explore more about what was in alignment with my soul and doing what was best for me.
It’s imperative to prioritize our well-being by honoring personal time and blocking time in calendars to allow for activities that rejuvenate and align with our purpose. 🧘
5. Societal Well-Being
Contributing to the community and spreading kindness builds a sense of belonging and purpose.
When we do things to help others, it enriches not only the lives of others but even our lives. This can be as simple as smiling and saying hello to people you pass throughout the day, or as generous as helping a neighbor with a chore - they all have the power to uplift spirits and even restore one’s hope…
…or saying ‘thank you with a decadent surprise treat!
Now that we've learned something more about well-being, doesn't it make you wonder how we can elevate our own levels of joy and fulfillment?
It's like having a roadmap to navigate life's ups and downs with a compass pointed toward happiness.
This delightful map is shining a light on how we can gain more joy in our lives. It reconfirms beliefs I hold dear about creating supportive healthy habits making the goal of getting to a new place, much easier. Habits, aligned with our well-being goals will truly help us transform our lives!
Imagine unlocking the secrets to managing stress better, building deeper connections, and finding greater purpose in our daily ventures.
This journey isn't just about understanding well-being; it's about actively embracing practices that enrich our lives today and into our future!
Take a moment to reflect on the five pillars of well-being we've explored together.
Which area resonates with you the most?
What small commitment can you make today in one area that could cause a positive transformation in that aspect of your life?
Together, let's take steps towards a more fulfilling and joyful journey of well-being.
Embrace the power of small, consistent steps in prioritizing your well-being, believing in your capacity to feel better each day. 👠
To Your Well-Being!