Physical well-being encompasses a variety of healthy behaviors, such as adequate exercise, proper nutrition, and abstaining from harmful habits such as drug use and alcohol abuse. It means learning about and identifying the symptoms of the disease, getting regular medical checkups, and protecting yourself from injury and harm. Over time and across cultures, the term “well-being” has been defined and applied in many ways. This includes recognizing your sense of purpose in human existence, as well as developing your appreciation for your place in the universe.
Of the six dimensions of well-being (social, physical, spiritual, vocational, emotional and intellectual), physical well-being is the dimension that comes first to mind when thinking about general well-being. As you learn more about the different dimensions of well-being, your symbiotic nature will become more evident. The goal of this dimension is to ensure that your brain is active and constantly expands your perspective. Historically, less emphasis has been placed on emotional well-being compared to physical well-being, but it's just as important.
You can't control your co-workers or supervisors, but practicing good emotional well-being can help you better manage situations that arise. Don't be fooled into thinking that emotional well-being boils down to having a psychological disorder or being normal. As a path to optimal living, well-being is now being activated in a variety of associated fields, such as health promotion, holistic health, clinical care and multiple “helping” professions, such as training, counseling, consulting, training and instruction. By actively expressing your feelings in healthy ways and seeking help when needed, you're demonstrating emotional well-being.
The physical dimension of well-being involves encouraging regular activities that generate endurance, flexibility and strength, in addition to encouraging knowledge about food and nutrition and discouraging the use of tobacco, drugs and excessive alcohol consumption. Bill Hettler, co-founder of the National Institute of Welfare (NWI), this interdependent model of the six dimensions of well-being provides the categories from which the NWI obtains its resources and services. A society that truly applies a wellness approach as a path to optimal living is, by nature, inclusive and multicultural. Environmental well-being refers to a sense of security, comfort, and connection to the physical environment.
