What "Wellness" Is To Me And Why I Made This Category

I think when most people see the word wellness they automatically connect it with the physical. I know for the longest time I was one of those people. Yes, wellness has a lot to do with the physical but it also goes beyond the physical. Total wellness to me is the wellness of body, mind, heart, and soul. All of them are connected which means if one is off in some way it shows up in the others as well.

Personally when I am under a lot of mental stress or emotional distress it manifests in my body. Sometimes it means I get headaches, I don't sleep, or I don't eat because I don't have much of an apatite. When it's larger scale and often for an extended period of time it actually manifests in my body as an illness. My immune system becomes compromised and I catch a cold or a virus or a stomach bug. We are much more connected within ourselves than we realize most of the time. When one part of us is unwell the rest are affected by it in a big way. We are the only ones who truly know if we are fully well or unwell.

If you're not really sure about the state of your wellness in full, ask yourself these questions:

- When I'm mentally stressed do I feel physical symptoms like headaches, fatigue, upset stomach?

- When I'm emotionally distressed do I lose my apatite or binge eat?

- Do I feel physically ill to the point of vomiting when I am riddled with anxiety?

- When I am Physically ill are my emotions all over the place?

- When I am spiritually unwell do I disconnect from my emotions and hide from the world?

- When I am in physical pain for extended periods of time do I become resentful and angry?

- When I am in emotional pain does it break my spirit and sense of self?

Oxford Dictionaries defines wellness as, "the state of being in good health, especially as an actively pursued goal."

Webster defines wellness as, "the quality or state of being in good health especially as an actively sought out goal lifestyles that promote wellness."

How interesting that they both include that wellness is a consistently pursued lifestyle or goal!

Wellness is one of those all encompassing words in my opinion. It can be used to represent so many parts of our existence including, but not exclusively, the physical. I created this category because I wanted to share on topics that I feel fall under this category. Topics like: therapy, food, physical activity, mental health, emotional awareness, spiritual wellness and anything else I feel falls into this in my own life!

I am a firm believer that wellness should be well-rounded. It is not something constrained to only the physical or the mental. It is all encompassing and it's incredibly important to understand what it means to us in our own lives if we expect to live in our fullness!

Are you actively pursuing a life of wellness?

It's a process that looks different for everyone! I encourage you not to compare your wellness journey to others around you but rather to be inspired by their journeys and incorporate what speaks to you -- remembering to go at your own pace and practice patience and grace over your process.

Currently my wellness journey is dance therapy! 💃🏽 This has been something I have incorporated in my life since I was a little girl but now I am doing it with deeper understanding and intention. Stay tuned for a blog post about my current dance therapy journey and in the meantime see my Instagram posts on, "The Sultry Saint" Instagram page for a glimpse. 😇

What's your take on wellness?

Has reading this broadened your view on the subject?

Wishing you all wellness 💋