What does it really mean to be healthy? A quick must-read about achieving ultimate wellness

“Health is a state of body. Wellness is a state of being.”
-J. Stanford
 
If I had a nickel for every time I heard someone say that their goal was to “get healthy” or to “get in shape”, or to “get fit”…what does this really mean? Does it mean you’ll be thinner? Bulk up? Have more energy? Be able to sleep better? Run faster? Be happier? Eat better? See where I’m going with this?
 
When we say we are going to “get healthy”, it’s akin to saying we are going “out for a drive’”. It’s vague, there’s no real destination in mind and we aren’t even really sure which route we’ll take. It could mean all sorts of things and we could end up in all sorts of places, all over the map if you will. But there is a way to let the wind just carry us and to be more mindful of our journey at the same time. The way to do this is to take a look at our map, our bigger picture. And then decide which places we need to spend a bit more time in.

What is health?
The World Health Organization defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Wellness goes one step beyond describing our state of being. Wellness is about thriving. It’s about the pursuit of well-being. It’s a lifestyle. Wellness is about the holistic integration of body, mind and spirit.
 
When we hear someone say they are getting healthy, we’re usually thinking they’re losing weight, drinking smoothies, eating dark leafy greens all day or that they’re striving for 6-pack abs. But would you ever think that someone who’s trying to get healthy is seeking their life purpose? Or that they’re looking for an enriching job that provides them with personal satisfaction? Believe it or not, once you’ve embarked on a wellness journey, these pursuits are just as important as hitting the gym or eating your fruits and veggies.
 
Let’s look at it this way…think about how much harder it is to avoid your favorite comfort foods when you’re working in a stressful and unfulfilling job. Think about how unmotivated you are to exercise when you don’t have a strong social network to support and encourage you. Think about how your physical health takes a backseat when your wallet is empty. Think about where physical health stands in your list of priorities when you’re living in an environment that isn’t at all conducive to a healthy lifestyle. Think about how impossible it can be motivate yourself when you don’t really see any purpose to life.
 
As we can see, there’s far more to getting healthy than just diet and exercise.  Our physical health does not exist in a vacuum. All aspects of our lives are deeply intertwined. In addition to physical health, I’d like to share 7 other dimensions of wellness that must be considered on any wellness journey. While reading through, ask yourself whether you are paying adequate attention to each.
 
A quick Google search can also offer a plethora of quizzes and self-assessments to help answer this question. In your research you may find that there appears to be a range of between 5 and 12 different dimensions of wellness. The number of dimensions depends on how others have broken the categories down. But from my research, this list of 8 dimensions seems to be comprehensive and quite relatable to most people.

8 Dimensions of wellness

• Emotional

Emotional wellness is about understanding and being in tune with your feelings and the feelings of others. Have a healthy outlet for your feelings and don’t try to suppress them. Manage emotions so they don’t reach a point where they become overwhelming. Choose optimism over pessimism. Believe that at the end of the day, things will work out for you.  

• Spiritual

Spiritual health does not necessarily refer to organized religion. It’s about fostering a belief that your life has purpose. It’s a conviction that you hold, one that confirms that there is meaning to your life. It’s about being connected with nature and all living beings. It’s about believing in something bigger than yourself. And finally, it’s about honoring your belief system and your values.

• Intellectual

An environment that fosters intellectual health is one that offers adequate mental stimulation and growth. Identifying as a lifelong learner is one way to promote intellectual health. Be curious about the world. Remember how curious we were as children? How we always asked “why?” Keep that alive into adulthood. There’s an endless amount to learn in this world. We’re not just finished learning once we’re adults and out of school.
 
A brainy friend once shared with me that he never realized how little he knew about a particular subject until he actually started learning more about that subject. We simply don’t know how much we don’t know. Never stop acquiring new skills and knowledge and never stop asking questions.

• Physical

With regards to health, this is a dimension we are probably most familiar with. Physical health refers to caring for your body. It’s about following a healthy diet, one that nourishes your cells. It’s about getting regular exercise and engaging in frequent, purposeful movement. It’s about feeling good physically. It’s about feeling energetic, vibrant and alive.

• Environmental

Your surroundings have a strong impact on your general well-being. Our habits and tendencies have a lot to do with our immediate environments. I’m a firm believer in first transforming your space before trying to transform any other part of your life. Personally, I use my home as my gym, my office, my recreation area and most importantly, my sanctuary. My living setup supports its various uses in my everyday life. It also offers safety, security, comfort, and even some connection with nature. Make your surroundings support your overall well-being.

• Financial

We’ve all heard before that money can’t buy happiness. But a certain amount of money is needed in order to maintain a degree of wellness. One of our most basic human needs is safety and security. A stable, reliable income is an important means to achieving this. Financial wellness is about having financial security.
 
You may have achieved financial wellness if you have the freedom of choice to consume or to save, depending on your needs and desires. Financial wellness can be achieved by understanding how to best manage you finances and resources. I may identify as a minimalist but I still need enough resources to meet my most basic needs. It’s well known that financial stressors can cause a whole host of physical ailments. It also determines our access to higher quality foods, exercise gear, healthcare and safer neighborhoods.

• Occupational

Ikigai….You may have heard this buzz word recently. Ikigai is Japanese for “a reason for being”. It’s linked to longevity. The concept comes from Okinawa, an island in Japan also known to be a Blue Zone. Okinawans live longer than average. One explanation for their longevity is that they believe in having lifelong purpose. They devote themselves to being useful to society, not just until they retire but until their final day on earth.
 
Ikigai is the union of vocation, passion, profession and mission. In other words, it’s combining what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs and what people are willing to pay you to do. Find something that combines all 4 and you are well on your way to occupational wellness!

• Social

Loneliness can cause a whole host of health problems. Having social wellness means forming strong bonds and deep connections with others. It’s about nurturing friendships and maintaining healthy relationships. When you have social wellness, you usually also feel a strong sense of belonging in your community. You have a support network. You possess effective communication skills and you are capable of having intimacy with others. You can have six-pack abs and follow the healthiest diet in the world. But without social wellness, your overall health will suffer.

Defining what "healthy" means to you
Each person has a unique balance of this integration of wellness. We each have varying levels of focus on each dimension. I may, for example, spend more time on my spiritual health while you may spend more time on your physical health. Neither is better than the other. The right balance depends on the individual. Regardless, in an ideal life, no dimension would be entirely neglected. Dimensions of wellness are interconnected. This means that neglecting one can adversely affect another.
 
Takeaway
One big mistake that we make when we try to “get healthy” is that we think that there’s some end goal. We think once we’ve met some arbitrary health markers, we’ve “made it”. We think that once we’ve arrived, we are now officially “healthy” and we can ease up on the pedal. But getting healthy has no end goal. Our health is dynamic. It evolves over time. Striving to be healthy and achieving optimal wellness is a lifelong, ongoing process. There are various dimensions beyond just physical health and they are all inextricably linked. There’s more to life than health markers. So if you want to “get healthy”, find the balance of attention to each dimension that works best for you. Keep your eye on the bigger picture. Only then can you sit back and enjoy the ride along the way.