Today, people want to live healthy, active, and vibrant lives. A sixty year old today doesn’t look or feel anything like their grandparents when they were the same age. As well, thirty year olds are spending a good deal of their personal time in gyms and weight rooms while researching and taking great interest in what goes into their food.
In general, in the new millennium, people want to look good; feel good; keep their minds sharp; and more importantly, they want to and are living longer mobile lives. In order to achieve the ultimate, that is live longer, individuals are taking personal responsibility for their health and wellness empowering themselves.
The term wellness can easily be divided into seven categories or dimensions; however, for the sake of this piece, we will concentrate on what I believe to be the top four.
Emotional Wellness: Being able to understand oneself and cope with life’s challenges and its transitions without breaking down is emotional wellness. But it does not end there. It is the ability to share feelings in a productive manner. It’s not just handling or managing stress, but involves being connected to your thoughts, feelings and behaviors. And while many individuals have no disconnect with physical wellness, recognizing and understanding your true state of emotional wellness is still a delicate and unapproachable subject for many. However, in order to achieve optimum health, the state of your emotions must be explored and embraced.
Intellectual Wellness: Intellectual Wellness or mind wellness does not mean you are incredibly smart or free from psychosis or mental illness, but incorporates the desire to learn new ideas, experiences and concepts. It pursues lifelong learning not just about the outside world, but learning about yourself digging deep, if necessary, and connecting. Mind wellness invites you to explore and stretch. It challenges you to become mentally alert receiving all the signs sent by the Universe. It demands being opened: stimulated by teachers, mentors, and personal guides. It is understanding and knowing the mind is where the God-consciousness dwells. While this area of wellness is the least popular, individuals are moving toward mindfulness theories finding their personal power.
Spiritual Wellness: There is an awakening happening throughout the world. People are understanding there is a shift occurring-a slow conscious shift toward understanding our planet and our surroundings. We are realizing there is something we all long and want to fulfill. Baby boomers, especially, are realizing a healthy soul equals a healthy body; the two are not separate. When you are spiritually awakened realizing you are one with God; you are in complete control of your life; and comprehend being the only authority in your life, you’ll be willing to transcend questioning your true purpose, passion, and calling in life.
Physical Wellness: This dimension of wellness is the easiest to comprehend and more easily embraced. Physical wellness is the ability to maintain a healthy quality of life allowing you to get through your daily activities without undue fatigue or physical stress. It is taking responsibility for your physical duress. This may be accomplished by minor exercise or by pushing your body to physical extremes.
It includes building muscular strength and endurance, cardiovascular strength, flexibility, endurance and spiritual awakening. Optimal physical wellness is developed through the combination of physical activity, and a healthy lifestyle. And, yes, that includes spirituality.
Interesting enough when you embrace the three dimensions of wellness mentioned previously, the physical stuff is easy. You’ll have a strong desire to take personal responsibility for your healthcare understanding your body, knowing exactly what good health is for you. Mentally alert and attuned, you’ll know when serious medical attention is necessary, and you’ll be comfortable in taking the appropriate action and making the right decision for yourself.
A Plan of Action Will Yield Positive Results
Why not make a plan today for taking charge of your personal wellness. It’s self-fulfilling and the effects are invaluable. You’ll feel empowered, physically stronger, as well as mentally and spiritually sharper. The result: a happier, empowered, and impassioned you leading to a longer life.
Author: Ix Chel
Ix Chel is a health enthusiast and certified coach who lives with her family half the year in Yucatan, MX. Her company Yucatan Wellness, a spiritual health organization, provides workshops and retreats to those who are looking to find natural tools to help maximize their health. Ix Chel follows and uses the ancient Mayan path to natural healing incorporating spiritual and magical adventure into the healing experience. The result is a life-changing, holistic healing experience for her clients: healing the mind, body and soul. Learn more about Yucatan Wellness and its workshops and retreats today at www.yucatanwellness.com
