The 7 Dimensions of Wellness

Exploring What It Really Means to Nurture The Whole You

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What Does Wellness Mean to You?

When you hear the word "wellness", what's the first thing that comes to mind? A morning jog or run? A protein smoothie? Maybe nourishing meals prepped for the week that meet all the food groups that should be on your plate?

There are several dimensions of wellness, and each one plays a role in how we feel. Miss one ... something starts to feel off. Lean into all of them, and you start to feel more whole.

Let's take a look at each one together.

Physical Wellness.

This is the one we hear about most often. It's movement, nutrition, rest, and so much more. It's not a one-size-fits-all. It's about finding what works for your body and building sustainable habits.

That may be a 30-minute walk three days a week, increasing your water intake, and mindfully eating ... meaning taking your time to chew between bites, enjoying your meal without rushing.

Also, in addition to the weekly walks and gym sessions ... slowing down to care for the garden, parking a farther distance at the store to get those steps in, taking the flight of steps, if possible, are all part of good physical wellness. If you can't do any of these, whatever you can do is good enough.

Emotional Wellness.

Emotional wellness goes beyond being happy. It's about understanding your feelings, sitting with them, and allowing every moment to organically heighten who you've always been. It's being able to look in the mirror and honestly assess the truth of who you are. It's being able to be kind and show grace to others, even if some don't reciprocate.

Think about the last time you felt overwhelmed. How did you handle that moment? Did you take a few deep breaths, maybe choose a nervous system regulating exercise to bring you back to yourself in that moment? That's emotional wellness in action. So is journaling and opening up to someone close, knowing they'll help you to feel better. I always feel lighter talking to my husband, Kendrick. It’s surrounding yourself with those who genuinely love you, those who contribute to your light, those who protect that light. If watching the daily news becomes too much, only take in the happenings you can handle to avoid consuming what makes you feel weighed down.

Intellectual Wellness.

Our brains need to be fed as well. Intellectual wellness is about staying curious - reading something new, picking up a skill, and asking questions. My daughter, Kyla always has a question about something new all the time. I always answer the questions and let her know how beautiful that is, and to stay curious. She can turn a scarf, bubble wrap, or anything into a fashionable piece in a matter of minutes. My son, Kenny was humming tunes at 10 months old. He loves instruments. We can make or play a beat, and he'll catch the rhythm right away. He's curious about a lot of other things as well. I love when we lean into his curiosity together.

My daughter, Kiley has had the talent, gift of drawing since the age of two. When she's painting, it's detailed because she observes textures, colors, and the details of even the way a fruit sits.

They all have gifts that I believe are sparked by their beautiful curiosity.

Has there been a book you've been wanting to read? Or maybe you would like to read or write more, or sign up for a fun dance class to both get some movement in and learn something new ... this is all a part of intellectual wellness.

Spiritual Wellness.

We have free will to choose what Spiritual wellness means to us. Your Faith, living with purpose and meaning, letting it guide you - you can insert your definition of what that means to you.

Some examples of moments throughout the day or week that are in addition to one's meaning that can contribute to our inner calm are meditation, walks, hiking, some form of art, caring for a garden, becoming connected to the Earth, and sitting quietly in the morning before the day begins, before the sun rises.

Social Wellness.

Our connections should be freeing and uplifting. Meaningful relationships with family and friends make us happy. One should not consider this optional - not for your close circle. This is research. This is science. You should be free to be yourself, and you should feel lighter. I love phone calls with my mother-in-love.

Expressing love, showing up for one another, and genuinely applauding each other's light and amazing qualities are a part of how to have a healthy circle of support, as well as how to be a healthy support. I have amazing friends as well.

Those who have access to you - directly and indirectly, meaning they have the ability to communicate with you via friends you both know, should contribute to your feeling lighter, and you should offer that same lightness as well.

Environmental Wellness.

Our surroundings matter. Our home, how we take care of and view the Earth. You can't create a space of wellness if your environment doesn't align with or complement it.

Do you have papers stacking up on your desk? Declutter. Buy plants, even if it's starting with herbs on your kitchen counter. Spend time outside connecting with the planet. Your space shapes your state of mind.

Occupational Wellness.

Occupational wellness isn't about what you do as your job, career, hobby, or things you enjoy doing; it's about how you feel about what you do.

What are your intentions behind it? Is it authentic to you? Does what you're doing really excite you, or is it draining? Was there another motive behind it? If so, why? And what can you do to get back to the center of your beautiful purpose?

What we do doesn't have to be for productivity. It can be simply for joy. We don't all have the same goals. That's the beauty of what makes us all different. There are plenty of names you may have never heard of that are heroes in their own right. How one succeeds does not set the standard for what success looks like and how it's measured, as long as it's fulfilling and done with good intentions.

Wellness.

Many times, financial wellness is considered part of one of the dimensions. It's not always listed as a pillar of wellness; however, I do think it's an important dimension to consider.

I think it's not only wise to spend within your means and budget wisely - it's important to teach our children about the subject of money.

Wellness, overall, is a practice of paying attention to our whole selves.

My Love, Jane community - log in, meet me in the forum, and let's share our thoughts on what this letter means to us.