The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity (illness)  and defines wellness as “the optimal state of health of individuals and groups, which may be expressed as “a positive approach to living. The National Wellness Institute , explains wellness as “an active process through which people become aware of, and make choices toward, a more successful existence.

The National Wellness Institute states that there is general agreement that:

  1. Wellness is considered a conscious, self-directed and evolving process of achieving full potential.
  2. Wellness is multidimensional and holistic, encompassing lifestyle, mental and spiritual well-being, and the environment.
  3. Wellness is positive and affirming.

The primary difference between health and wellness is that health is your state of being, or a goal to achieve, and wellness is the active process of achieving it through growth and change.  Through wellness we hope to reach our fullest potential of health and well-being.

The Nine Dimensions of Wellness include: Physical, Emotional, Social, Environmental, Financial, Intellectual, Occupational, Spiritual, and Cultural.  These dimensions of wellness are not isolated, but rather are interconnected.  Problems or challenges in one dimension can impact the other, while the opposite can also be true, that by improving your health and wellness in one area can help to improve other dimensions. For example, your emotional wellness can be positively impacted through exercise (physical wellness) but negatively impacted by financial struggles that often lead to high stress.

Attribution: "Chapter 1: Intro to Health, Wellness, and Change" by kfalcone is licensed under CC BY 4.0

पिछ्ला सुधार: सोमवार, 25 अगस्त 2025, 10:48 PM