What is the Wellness Wheel?

Emotional: This segment encompasses awareness and acceptance of thoughts and feelings. Emotional wellness is about possessing a secure self-identity and a positive sense of self-regard. It is also about the ability to cope with and/or improve unpleasant mood states as well as feeling positive and enthusiastic about life. The emotionally well person:

• Maintains a positive attitude.
• Is sensitive to his/her own feelings and the feelings of others.
• Is able to cope with stress.
• Deals with personal and financial issues realistically.
• Views challenges as opportunities rather than obstacles.
• Expresses emotions in a healthy way.
• Maintains satisfying relationships with others.
• Asks for help in handling emotions.
• Practices effective stress management skills.

Intellectual: On the path to intellectual wellness, you begin to see problems and challenges as projects, not stumbling blocks but rather, stepping stones. The intellectually well person:

• Encourages life-long learning.
• Uses their creativity constructively.
• Participates in problem solving.
• Observes what is around them.
• Encourages self motivation.

Occupational: Occupational wellness is one’s attitude about work. It is best to be involved in a career which is consistent with your personal values, interests, and beliefs and that will be gratifying to you. Your work can be paid or unpaid volunteer activities and should provide personal satisfaction and life enrichment. The occupationally well person:

• Is adaptable to recent job changes.
• Is constantly developing new skills.
• Is a responsible member of a team.

Physical: Physical wellness is a balancing act between exercise, flexibility, and eating a nutritious diet. In short, physical wellness is about taking care of your body. It entails taking responsibility and caring for minor illnesses, including knowing when to seek medical attention. A physically well person:

• Maintains an active lifestyle.
• Eats a balanced diet.
• Gets enough sleep.
• Chooses healthy lifestyle habits.
• Addresses weight control challenges.

Social: Social wellness is the perception of having support available from family, friends, and/or co-workers in times of need and the perception of being a valued support provider. The socially well person:

• Is comfortable with and likes them self as a person.
• Interacts easily with people of diversified ages, backgrounds, lifestyles, and races.
• Develops friendships.
• Recognizes the need to have fun in their life.
• Budgets time to include a balance between responsibilities and enjoyable activities.

Spiritual: Spiritual wellness means feeling connected to a greater good and assessing one’s values and ethics. Taking time to self-reflect allows you to gain perspective in life. This dimension in wellness does not necessarily have a connection with church, but some people find their spiritual connection through religion. Ways to strive for spiritual wellness include:

• Being able to define what you value in life.
• Taking time for self-reflection.
• Participating in programs such as Jin Shin Jyutsu® and yoga which allow you to reconnect spiritually.
• Caring about others’ welfare and acting on that feeling of concern.