Introduction
Wellness and health are terms which many terms are used interchangeably; health can be described as a quality of life where spiritual, social, emotional, biological, mental fitness which arises as a result of environmental factors (Donatelle, 2010). Wellness is used to explain the degree of health in each level of health. The ‘Wellness Continuum’ is a scale where there are both positive and negative indicators of health are present; it is recommended that one moves progressively higher on the wellness indicators (Donatelle, 2010). There are six dimensions which are normally used to determine the wellness level. These include: physical; social; intellectual; emotional; environmental; and spiritual health.
Dimensions of Health
I feel that I am strongest in the social, physical, and intellectual dimensions. I rate myself well in the physical level because I am able to perform all my daily activities with no restrictions (Agron et al., 2010). In addition, I am 66 years old and have taken time and effort to maintain my health status. For example, I ensure that I eat healthy foods which include carbohydrates, proteins, and vegetables. I have also guarded myself against engaging in unhealthy activities like drinking and smoking to cut down the risk of developing ailments related to these habits. Moreover, I have recently lost sixteen pounds which has improved my physical health. I also have no genetic predisposition to any illness as there are histories of illnesses in my family line.
I also rank myself highly in social health because I have been able to successfully maintain my social relationships. Over the years, I have formed many friendships, some of which are several decades old. I have a great relationship with most of my family members; we enjoy various holidays together and help each other out when it is necessary. I certainly cannot claim not to have any bad relationships, unfortunately; however, I am generally successful socially. I am also intellectually healthy because I am able to conceptualize abstract ideas while also able to critically analyze situations. I am a fast learner and I am able to learn from my failings. I also think critically before I make any decision and take responsibility for my actions.
I feel that I could do much more to improve my spiritual health. Many times I feel a bit disconnected from my inner core and this causes me to feel unsettled. During such times I question my purpose in life, and my achievements. I would very much like to achieve a balance in life, where I do not experience episodes of imbalance. I believe that if I take more interest in being more involved in my religious affiliation, or maybe take yoga lessons, I would be able to achieve the balance which I crave. I could also make major improvements on my emotional health. Sometimes, I have problems managing my anger, though I am not violent. I do get upset quite easily and sometimes I feel that I am oversensitive to certain issues. I have considered attending anger management sessions, but I have never quite mastered the courage to go there. I do notice that sometimes my family members and friends are extra careful about what they say around me, and this does make me feel bad. I want my friends and family to be comfortable around me and I think that going for therapy in anger management will help.
I also could improve my environmental health. While I do respect and understand environmental conservation efforts, I certainly could take a more active role in environmental preservation. To achieve this, I will consider joining my local environmental rights group, so that I can participate more in environmental efforts, and gain a deeper understanding of issues surrounding it.
Changing behavior is a difficult process which requires strategy and time. There certain techniques which can be used to assist in behavior modification. These include: reinforcement; shaping; visualization; modeling; situation control; problem solving; and change of self-talk (Donatelle, 2010). I will have to employ several of these techniques in my modification program. For example, to be able to adopt and stick to my exercise regimen, I will use the shaping technique. This means that I will slowly integrate exercise into my daily activities, by taking setting goals which I will work towards. To be able to become more environmental healthy, I will employ modeling; I will observe the behaviors of the members of the environmental rights group which I plan to join. Whenever I feel emotional, I will try positive self-talk in addition to the therapy which I will receive; I will remind myself that I am in control of my emotions.
Conclusion
It is possible to achieve wellness and health both as an individual and as a society. While some factors, for example, genetic predisposition may be beyond individual control, it is important that every person makes efforts to achieve the highest degree of health and wellness. This can be achieved by an honest assessment of individual lifestyle, so as to identify what health dimension requires improvement and dedicated efforts towards improvement.
References
Agron, P., Berends, V., Ellis, K., & Gonzalez, M. (2010). School wellness policies: Perceptions, barriers, and needs among school leaders and wellness advocates. Journal of School Health, 80(11), 527-535. doi:10.1111/j.1746-1561.2010.00538.x
Donatelle R. (2010). Access to health, Green edition. New York: Benjamin Cummings
