What is Wellness? Explore the 7 Areas (Part 2)
We’re back with part 2 of “What is Wellness?”. If you missed out on part 1, now’s your chance to get up to speed on the first 4 areas before we dive into the final areas that make up WELCOA’s definition of wellness, in order to better support and fulfill your wellness aspirations, personally and professionally.
To kick things off, here’s a quick refresher of WELCOA’s definition of wellness: “the active pursuit to understand and fulfill your individual human needs—which allows you to reach a state where you are flourishing and able to realize your full potential in all aspects of life. Every person has wellness aspirations.”
As we go through the final 3 areas of wellness, keep note of your reflections so you can share them with other fellow readers to help inspire them on their wellness journey.
Pillar 5 – Achievement
WELCOA’s definition: Feeling you have the support, resources and autonomy to achieve your goals. Succeeding at meeting your individual goals and work aspirations.
The start of the year is again another perfect time to reflect on your milestones and achievements over the past year.
Ask yourself the following question:
“What were my 2022 individual goals and work aspirations? On a scale of 1 - 10, how do I think I did?”
Even if you fell short of some of your achievements, don’t give up! Resiliency is also another key to achieving our goals and aspirations. Now as yourself this question:
“What resources do I need to achieve my 2023 goals? Do I have the support of my friends, family, and colleagues?”
Remember to set SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound
Pillar 6 – Growth
WELCOA’s definition: Feeling like you are progressing in your career. Learning and being challenged to use and expand on your strengths.
It’s important to ensure that we don’t become stagnant and always have some type of growth, whether it be professionally (like new skills to aid in your career) or personally (like time management skills).
Again, the start of the year is a great time to reflect on your progression over the past year, both personally and professionally. Start with these 2 questions:
“What areas did I improve on in 2022?”
“What strengths did I expand on this year?”
Pillar 7 – Resiliency
WELCOA’s definition: Viewing life with optimism. Feeling grateful and expressing appreciation. Feeling validated and encouraged.
When you think about resiliency, one often thinks about the capability to withstand and recover quickly from difficult situations. But resiliency is much more than that – it’s also about optimism in life and also having the support of others to pick you up when you are down.
Now is a great time to think back to all of those who have been there for you when you needed it and helped you be resilient. Ask yourself:
“Have I expressed my appreciation for someone lately?”
“Do I receive encouragement from my friends, family, and colleagues with my personal and professional goals?”
“What am I grateful for as we start 2023?”
Reflection can be a difficult task for some. Did some things come to mind as you reflected on all 7 pillars? If so, leave a comment below and share to help others who may still be pondering.
Resources
https://www.mindtools.com/a4wo118/smart-goals
