​The concept of wellness has been around for eons, from ancient civilizations through the foundational philosophy and codes of contemporary counselling, allied mental health and medical faculties. Our society is starting to wake up to the value of looking after ourselves in a way that we haven’t in a long time.  As a culture within the clients I see, the people I associate with, follow and observe there is an even bigger push to get real and change.
 
As practitioners we are being driven by consumer demand, resulting in embracing a holistic, wellness-oriented approach. This is in contrast with traditional medical/illness models, and many of our theoretical approaches have adopted health-enhancing, prevention-oriented protocols. People in a position of influence including Medical, Allied Health, Coaches, Mentors and employers will with time need to incorporate elements of wellness promotion in their model of engagement as appropriate to the relationship they have with whom they are caring for. Thankfully, many professionals and workplaces are already integrating wellness-based practices environments they influence.

Wellness is a perception of how one feels at any given moment, encapsulating the various facets or segments of life creating a synergistic effect. Medicine, well-meaning allied health professionals and friends’ seem to support popular media’s prescriptive model, which also focuses on the objective, KPI changes.  The idea of “I must,” suggests people must do specific things and achieve certain outcome markers to be considered healthy. For example, we ‘must’

• Get eight hours of sleep per night
• Drink eight glasses of water per day.
• Complete weight training, cardiovascular exercise,
• Achieve a specific body mass index and
• Frequent, real social interactions to attain health and wellness.  

 
Yes, these are important facets of wellbeing, but to focusing on the physical aspects of health, with limited or an avoidance of the social, emotional and the mental aspects of wellbeing, to do everything ‘right’ as prescribed is unreasonable, quite impossible for many individuals, and potentially detrimental to some people’s mental health. In my opinion mental and emotional health, healthy self-perception is as, if not more important.  It is after all, our body chemistry that changes our health and so our emotions, 

What do these words have in common, besides being the new buzz words?  They all have Hope attached to them.  Hope I think, because we all would like to have wellness, and a sense of wellbeing as well as happiness.  Considering the definition of words we give them actually create our perspective, they also define your choices.  When I ask you what these words mean to you and how do you define or describe them, what is the answer?  Are they just an illusion that is being portrayed within the happy community, similar to the love movement of the 70’s?  Do they have any relevance to you and your place in life?   Maybe, they just represent an evolutionary movement of humanity representing something we are actually searching for - peace, contentment and connectedness.
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I dare say as an individual in the Western Society, we are collectively searching for meaning in the vastness of turmoil the world appears to be in. I don’t think many would dispute there is an increasing dis-chord between what we innately know to be truth and what we have been lead to believe via popular press, marketing, capitalism and that money is the saving force to our woes.  I challenge you to question this.  What if, by questioning your current perspective, you can have more happiness, more wellness and a sense of freedom? A different appreciation for your life is available if you are able to make conscious and informed choices of how you choose to live it.
What if you could create a different life, enjoying it more while living in the manner you like simply by encouraging you to own your power to choose?  What if, all you needed to do is be grateful, to see the better parts of people, to let go of your expectations to avoid disappointment?

How then, do we define wishes, hopes and desires, when parts of society is encouraging us to dream big,  to work smart, to play hard?   The answer may just be by responding and not reacting to the environments you are in.  Working with the things you can influence and allowing the rest to be as they are. As Stephen Covey explains in his book “7 Habits of Highly Effective People". 

Is the reality that you see, that you feel and that surrounds you is negative, predominately irritation or frustration towards being stuck in a work just to pay for the house, car or the children’s education?  I want to challenge this thought because it is social illusion; one that was born from the concepts of the have and have nots, with the need to keep up appearances, with the Jones and with everyone else in between.

I think that it is possible to incorporate ambition and contentedness into our psyche.  By combining snippets of materialistic ideologies, we can encourage and support the dream big theory.  It is possible to take every day actions that supports transition into what we dream to have and be.

• For instance, by taking 5 minutes to sit and watch the birds and bees fly around, accompanied by deep breaths to calm the mind and lift the spirits.
• By looking at great artwork, whether it is the children’s finger painting or the Picasso in the office. 
• By taking time to sit and be thankful that you have the opportunity to make clear and informed choices.