What does Wellness Really Mean?

When I worked with someone to create my logo a few years ago, I was talking with a good friend who threw out this idea of Well-Being, Wellness, and Wealth that you see today. It just fits with what I believe I do as I coach people. But for some reason, I was thinking this week about what that really means. 

Wellness means something different to just about everyone. It goes right along with well-being but means so much more to me. Let me break down each of these areas of Wellness what I believe they mean and how they affect us each and every day.

1. Spiritual Wellness: For me, this is the foundation. It is the base on which everything is built. It starts with my foundation in Christ. I start each day with prayer and reading God's word. This is the grounding to get me started on the right foot. Now, if you are not like me, then I still believe this is a required basis. Some quiet time to start the morning, whether you do meditation or something of that sort, just to get started before jumping into the day. Regardless, our spiritual wellness is the foundation by which we need to be built.

2. Physical Wellness: This one is self-explanatory. How does your body feel? Are you able to move comfortably? That is why I start my day with exercise. It is important to get the blood flowing and the heart rate pumping. Most people who exercise will reflect on the positivity they feel from just moving a little bit each day. To be physically well, we must take care of our bodies. That includes how we eat, how we sleep, and how we exercise. If you are not taking care of these 3 areas then you cannot be physically well.  

3. Financial Wellness: Depending on where you are looking 60-70% of people identify money stress as the number one cause of stress in their lives. After all, that is why I got started down this path. Following the baby steps, taught by Ramsey, and just organizing things appropriately relieved any stress that I had around money. I have 3 boys who were all quickly approaching college, my job was on the fence and despite some generally good habits I was carrying a car payment and a regular credit card bill. All these led to stress. Once these things got organized I can tell you it changed the way I walked and the way I acted. It released a stress that I did not even realize was there. It is the reason that 60-70% of Americans identify this as a top reason for stress. Not their job, their kids, or their families, but money.  

Wellness in each of these areas makes us feel good. Obviously, I deal a lot with Financial wellness, which can lead to better decisions, but I would be lying if I did not say my spiritual wellness was the most important thing to me.  

What other areas of wellness do you connect with? Is there something I missed? Leave a comment down below or send me a note. Finding wellness in these areas frees us up to do greater things than we ever imagined. That smile on my face in July, cruising down the beach can only come from wellness in each of these areas.