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Your Full Dimension of Personal Wellness

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Our physical body is the vehicle we use to accomplish our goals. The comparison to an automobile is quite apt. Some people drive a fuel-efficient and low-cost car; some drive an “environmentally-friendly” car; some choose a luxury sedan; some drive a truck. The automobile we drive depends on a variety of factors: what we can afford, what image we want to project; what jobs we may want to do; how many family members in our household, etc. We want our car to run well. If the lights on the dashboard are flaring up, if it rattles, if the car stalls or lurches, we take it to a mechanic. We also keep an eye on the fuel gauge lest we become stranded on the highway, miles from a gas station. Our body is a vehicle that allows us to enjoy life, accomplish our goals and contribute to society. While it is not as easy to change our physique as it is to buy and support a car, there is much we can do to alter our body. Some things we can change may allow us to feel light and strong so we can go about fulfilling our roles and responsibilities; some may be purely for the image we want to project. A male model’s success may depend upon him having a chiseled body with 5% body fat, but this may not make him healthier than someone who has a less muscular body with 10% body fat, but, the chiseled body may be essential for the model’s wellness. In addition to our physical health we need mental and emotional wellness. Consider reflecting upon these questions  regarding your own wellness.

Personal Wellness What is physical wellness for me? Here are some factors you may want to consider:

Visible Wellness: a. Do I want to have a certain weight? Is my desire for a certain weight influenced by the culture I live in, or is it based on what makes me physically healthy? b. Do I want certain measurements? Why? c. Do I want a muscular look? Why? d. Do I want a certain look in my body (the way my muscles are balanced, how I hold my shoulders, etc.)? e. Do I want a certain degree of flexibility and balance?

Wellness Within: a. How is my ability to sleep and wake up rested? b. Am I pain-free when I sit, stand, walk, run? c. Do I have good digestion and feel light? d. Can I handle physical stresses not normal in my day to day life (e.g., can I help my friend move furniture, go on a hike, long bike ride, …)? e. Can I climb stairs with becoming out of breath? f. Do I enjoy sex and can perform to my satisfaction? g. Can I play spontaneously without worrying about hurting myself?

Medical Wellness a. Do I have a healthy heart? How is my cholesterol? b. Do I have blood pressure that is within acceptable range? c. Is my blood healthy? d. Is my immune system resilient? Maintaining physical wellness is a continuous challenge. Even the most gifted athlete can succumb to Nature’s desire to create saggy bodies. To stay fit and physically well, we need to pay the price of exercise, nutrition and rest. Most people can have a very fit physique only by spending an hour or so everyday on their physical wellness.

Mental (Intellectual) Wellness As human lifespan edges towards and even exceeds the Century mark, intellectual wellness becomes increasingly important. Illnesses like dementia and Alzheimers will inevitable acquire as much importance as diseases of the body (heart disease, blood pressure, diabetes, etc.). Keeping the brain intellectually challenged is critical. Learning new subjects and new coping skills by engaging in courses through Universities or on-line colleges, participating in discussion groups, etc., is essential. Having social interactions and intelligent conversations is becoming as important as going to the gym. Ponder these questions:

• Can I understand and solve complex problems I face in my daily life? These may be related to the new technologies I need to master. They may have to do with understanding financial issues in my life.

• Can I question authority figures? Do I feel capable and confident to question my banker, doctor, auto mechanic; home builder… Or do I feel I need to just accept what is told to me?

• Can I distinguish between reality and fantasy?

• Can I recollect well?

Emotional Wellness While physical wellness is easy to gauge by looking at few signals (musculature, grip strength, heart and blood condition) emotional wellness is difficult to sense. A sense of optimism and desire to participate and contribute to society is critical to wellness. Of course, physical and mental and emotional wellness are also linked.

• Do I feel joyful?

• Do I feel I have a purpose to my work?

• Can I create play and involve others in my play?

• Do I feel empathy towards others? Can I see other people’s viewpoint?

• If someone says things to me that seem rude or inconsiderate how long does it take me to regain my equilibrium?

• Do I hold grudges for days or even years or do I let things pass?

Social Wellness Increasingly research is showing the benefits of social wellness to an individual’s wellness. Friends and strangers can contribute immensely to our wellness. Of course, being connected to Nature, animals can also enhance social wellness.

• Do I feel I belong and have loving relations?

• Can I keep my promises to others and not find excuses?

• Do I enjoy helping others and value kindness?

• Do annoyance and rudeness cause me to get upset? Or can I stay calm and let things pass?

Spiritual Wellness Spiritual wellness allows us to see ourselves in others. Our joy is enhanced and our difficulties are mitigated. Spiritual wellness is important when we are in good health and even more so when we are unwell. Even the person who has done everything possible for his/her wellness will eventually succumb to Nature’s laws. Spiritual wellness is essential to accept Nature’s laws of life and death.

• Do I value and respect all Creation? Do I feel connected to the Universe?

• Do I enjoy being in Nature?

• Can I enjoy other’s successes and happiness?

Exerpt from Karma Wealth and Wellness: Mindful Wellness Tools for the Age of Science and Technology, by Jasprit Singh, due in full publication Spring 2013.


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