THE word wellness is an inclusive umbrella covering several interrelated dimensions that are beneficial to health: physical, emotional, intellectual, social, environmental, spiritual and occupational. One dimension frequently affects the others.

For example, a person who is emotionally down often has no desire to exercise, study, socialize with friends or even attend church service.

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In the late 1950s, Dr. Halbert Dunn used the term wellness in his writings about the pursuit of optimal well-being. He talked about “health” as a reasonably passive state of existence- in contrast to “wellness” which he described as an ever changing process of growth toward an elevated state of superb well-being.

Looking at the dimensions of wellness, it clearly goes beyond the absence of disease. Wellness incorporates factors such as adequate fitness, proper nutrition, stress management, disease prevention, spirituality, not smoking or abusing drugs, personal safety, regular physical examination, health education and environmental support.

Today, wellness is defined as an integrated and full of life level of functioning oriented toward maximizing potentials, dependent upon self-responsibility. Wellness involves not only preventive health behaviors but a shift in thinking and attitude. Wellness is a mind-set of lifelong growth and achievement in physical, emotional, intellectual, social, environmental, spiritual and occupational dimensions. It means a lifetime of striving toward higher levels of performance.

Wellness is a way of living in which growth and improvements are sought. It involves a lifestyle of deliberate choices and self-responsibility requiring conscientious management and planning. It also involves much more than curing sickness, measuring body fat, jogging, exercising among others. It is a mind-set of personal empowerment. It means approaching life with optimism, confidence, energy and good health. Wellness is a lifelong quest toward optimal functioning in which you take charge.

In a school sports competition, for example, wellness is the crucial aspect of the game. “It is not a matter of losing and winning the game, it is an issue of showing good health and safety among the competitors”. Wellness philosophy states that “athletes safety and health first, winning second”.

Wellness mind-set involves accepting the changes in life while seeking the positive payoffs of change. This quest has rewards of high self-esteem, commitment to excellence, positive health, productivity, and zest for living. Individuals who strive for wellness have an exceptional openness to experience.

Rather than fearing new experiences and lifelong changes, a wellness mind-set welcomes ideas as a way to grow which can result in adaptation and a return to a balanced level of functioning.

A wellness mind-set does not allow prejudices or stereotypes to distort his/her experiences. He/she takes control of his/her life and face with creativity and freshness for increasing longevity.

As Donald Ardel said, “Wellness is not a goal to be attained but a process to be maintained.”