In our pragmatic, results-oriented culture, wellness is typically described as getting enough exercise, eating nutritious food, and losing a few pounds. Sometimes we throw in bits and pieces like getting more sleep, coping with stress, and taking our meds.
The first step in working with a wellness coach is to develop a vision of the ideal future: Where do I want to be a year or five years from now? That exercise is also, by definition, results-oriented. On the other hand, as we look forward and begin to describe our ideal lives, we are often pulled from within toward images beyond miles run, pounds lost, or servings of fruits and veggies per day. As we envision optimal well-being, we find ourselves describing such qualities as peace of mind, sustained high energy, and an expanded capacity to enjoy our lives, our work, and our relationships.
One version of wellness is a mitigation plan for life: keeping our bodies reasonably healthy while absorbing or resisting the barrage of impacts that assault us from sources outside our control. Another version of wellbeing arises from within, taking responsibility for who we are and how we interact with life, seeing health as an integrated whole composed of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions.
I find that wellness journeys can become more powerful and transformative than we expect at first. We can dream, design, and ultimately live with more inner alignment and outer richness than we imagined before embarking. The destination may include a smaller waist or dress size, a faster or longer race, and better “numbers” on our health screenings. In addition, the journey itself can be enriched by infusions of peace, love, and joy as we take charge of who we are and who we want to become.
Until the next time, go well.
Pam
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