Definition of wellness
How can we translate wellness into a verb?
Is wellness really a place we get to and stop working at it? I don’t think so, I think it is a constant and concerted effort to be, and stay well. I also believe It is more than just a physical state of being, it encompasses many different dimensions as illustrated here.
If we look at this wheel, we can see that somethings may be easier to move toward wellness, but others maybe more challenging. We are uniquely made and so our challenges will be different. I want to focus this article on lifestyle, because that is where we begin to take the noun wellness, and make it a verb.
Lifestyle
When it comes to lifestyle having to do with wellness, I don’t think of lifestyle as where you live, where you work, how much money you have etc…but more, are you active vs inactive? Do you eat in a health focused way or indulgently? Do you get enough rest, do you drink enough water? I am also not talking about anything other than you right now! (I believe it is important to live a lifestyle that helps others, but that is a subject on its own.)
We are born with certain genetic markers. Some positive ones, like my Grandparents on one side lived into their 100’s! Maybe you’re family have some “not so great” markers, like a history of high blood pressure, diabetes or heart failure. Does my genetics mean that I will live to be over 100 years old, or does yours mean you will have diabetes or a heart attack? Absolutely not! I can just as easily live a lifestyle that could over take my strong genetics and become sick, and you can do the same to live a longer healthier life than those that came before you!
Genetics is like a boat
I think of our genetics as a boat we are sailing in, we didn’t get to choose the boat and our boat may have some small holes or cracks, it may be smaller than other boats or maybe bigger…. but your lifestyle is the sail (the energy we put in), and the rudder is the direction we decide to take our boat. If we put up a sail and steer the boat in the right direction we can have some influence on where we end up! Our lifestyle directly effects the outcome of genetic predispositions, just like the sail and the rudder steer the boat, we can make decisions that move us toward health and away from sickness.
This article in the National library of medicine states:
That means 75% of our lifespan has to do with our lifestyle! Wow! What are you going to do with your 75%?
A few simple steps to start a healthier lifestyle
Get enough sleep, eat your veggies,take a probiotic, drink mostly water (at least 1/2 your weight in ounces) move for at least 30 min without stopping a day, strength train, limit indulgences, limit sugar, find something that you enjoy that is good for your mind, body and soul and do it regularly! I truly believe that this is how we can begin making wellness a verb! Once we start moving toward a healthier lifestyle, we can begin to work on other components of wellness.
