Wellness
What I mean by wellness is physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Physical health is fairly easy to assess, but the last three can be difficult to monitor. I am a firm believer that all four aspects have a strong impact on each other, but I have to admit that I spend more time on some than others.
Physical Health
Though not necessarily a passion of mine, I do like to get to the gym as often as possible. The physical benefits of working out (both practically and aesthetically) are obvious, but physical fitness will also help in the following ways:
- increased endurance for every day living
- increased self-esteem – both for your appearance and the feeling of accomplishment
- better mood on account of increased endorphins in your system
- burning off anxious energy from the adrenaline brought on by life stress
And that’s just to name a few.
As for eating habits, I think there are many different approaches to keeping a healthy diet. Over the years I’ve come to the conclusion that we all have a pretty good idea whether or not what we’re eating is good or bad for us. Scientific studies only complicate the issues, since different findings often contradict each other. The bottom line to find what is true for you, and not to let yourself get bogged down with food details – which adds to your stress levels.
Mental Health
Anxiety has been an issue for me on and off for quite some time. A little anxiety can be productive, i.e. anxiousness before a test will help motivate one to study; but too much anxiety is negative, i.e. anxiousness causing one to pass out before a test.
Anxiety Links:
I believe much of the stress we experience is brought on by our knowledge – we know too much. I’m not referring to a knowledge of self, or the universe, but rather knowledge of facts and, more significantly, disturbing facts. City water is full of lead, plastic water bottles cause cancer… Disinfectants help keep us clear of germs but have also left us without an immunity to them… Who was caught trying to bomb what yesterday?… It never ends.
So, my advice – don’t watch the news. If there’s anything that’s going to have any impact on you in the near future, you’ll hear about it soon enough – that’s what the emergency broadcast systems are for. Also, don’t search for disturbing topics on the Internet… don’t search for symptoms of certain diseases unless you’re in a significant amount of discomfort and you cannot get to see a professional. I’ve convinced myself I’ve had every disease out there simply by reading the symptoms lists.
Emotional Health
It almost sounds like mental health, but in my mind they’re different – though they are closely linked. In my world, emotional health refers to the idea of being in touch with your feelings. If you’re angry, then make the effort to understand why you’re angry. Is it because you’re hurt? Frustrated?
Emotions would be the bridge between the mind and spirit or soul.
Spiritual Health
I cannot address the level of peace experienced by the atheist, but from my perspective spiritual awareness is a necessity for giving me any kind of peace-of-mind.
I happen to have been raised in a Christian household (Protestant, specifically Pentecostal), but I have learned to challenge my beliefs and in the process have found many of my own. Though my faith remains fairly closely linked to what I was raised on, I have learned to value other beliefs and even incorporate them into mine. The old adage ‘if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything’ seems to promote closed-mindedness, and can leave one believing things without knowing why.
