Dr. Monica Eimunjeze
Wellness according to the World Health Organization (WHO) is “the optimal state of health of individuals and groups”.
Halbert L. Dunn, an American physician who is considered to be the father of the modern wellness movement, defined wellness as “an integrated method of functioning which is oriented toward maximizing the potential of which the individual is capable, within the environment where he is functioning”.
According to the United States based National Wellness Institute, “Wellness is an active process through which people become aware of, and make choices toward, a more successfull existence”.
There are some key words and phrases in the definition that really stand out to me, and are worth pondering over.
If Wellness is an” Active process” then it means we must engage, participate and undertake certain activities.
These result in one becoming aware, intentional and more deliberate in making choices that lead to better health outcomes.
This wellness therefore, is relevant and implicated when we think about our health.
The WHO defines Health thus:
“Health is the state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease, or infirmity.”
In order to attain this state of health as defined above, we must think more holistically and incorporate a Wellness culture.
A Wellness culture will require that we are active, conscious, more self aware, and able to make informed choices.
To help attain this and Elevate Wellness, it is necessary to Embrace Selfcare.
Selfcare is defined by the WHO as the ability
of individuals, families and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a health worker.
There are seven(7) pillars of Selfcare as advanced by the International Selfcare Foundation; Knowledge and health literacy, mental wellbeing, physical activities, healthy eating, risk avoidance, good hygiene, rational use of products and services. These seven pillars must be in check as we strive to embrace selfcare.
Embracing Selfcare requires that we have the ability to promote and maintain health, prevent disease and cope with an illness or disability.
We are all at different places on the journey to Wellness. Wellness is in fact a marathon and not a sprint, requiring consistent and sustained effort.
We will need to take a look at where we are as we embark on this journey, a Wellness audit of sorts and begin to set goals to help drive us to the desired destination.
Note that the destination is to be healthy, which is complete; physical, mental and social wellbeing.
It is important that we all pay a lot more attention to wellness and become active champions and advocates of selfcare.
As we embrace selfcare, we need to seek to gain understanding and knowledge and be more mindful of a healthy lifestyle which is all encompassing and holistic in approach.
