don's report archive

by Donald B. Ardell, Ph. D.

Wellness in the Headlines
(Don's Report to the World)

I have been giving speeches about wellness lifestyles for a quarter of a century. There are dozens of ideas, principles, theories and perspectives to cover, in fact, there are hundreds, maybe thousands of possible issues to discuss, recommendations to offer and so on. After all, the subject entails three dimensions, fifteen skill areas and the very nature of a good and purposeful existence. I suppose if I were more imaginative and had the time, I could address TENS OF thousands of ideas! Just the same, the managers of organizations that bring me in to speak almost always ask for a list of just five or so key ideas. This list is used to drum up business, that is, to interest employees, members, patients and other desirables to show up to listen to me. Therefore, the list better be good (sound interesting, in other words) or nobody will show up!

Last week, I spoke at University Community Hospital in Tampa, Florida. I was invited to address a collection of doctors, administrators, nurses and patients, as well as community folks active in the hospital's "Relay for Life" fund-raising project for cancer research. Asked to identify the highlights of my presentation (to list main ideas I would cover), I selected seven key topics:

1. The nature of the wellness concept -- and how it is different from and much more appealing than holistic health, prevention or health education.
2. Twelve simple perspectives you can adapt that will prove to be effective antidotes to middle age, none of which has adverse side-effects.
3. Why being normal is a health hazard.
4. Why moderation should be avoided.
5. Why it is in your interest to introduce, rather than avoid, the three "forbidden" topics (religion, sex and politics) at polite dinner conversations!
6. The meaning of life and wellness: Why you should consider the issues of existential philosophy.
7. Three things you might do in the next 24 hours to improve the chances that you will be able to SUSTAIN good intentions to become "weller" and happier.

If you are a regular visitor to the Wellness Center at SeekWellness, you probably have a good sense for the material covered in these areas, with the possible exception of numbers five and seven. So, in case you are curious, here are the basics covered under each section. First number five -- why I urged regular discussion of the "forbidden" topics.

1. They are the most interesting topics -- people care about all three.
2. They present the best opportunities to practice critical qualities needed for wellness, namely, tolerance, humor, critical thinking, and compassion for others.
3. You may get a few good ideas.
4. You are guaranteed to hear really weird and goofy ideas. Keep a poker face.

My three suggestions under item seven, what someone might do in the next 24 hours, were:

1. Ask yourself, then write out, what initiatives you could take that would boost your quality of life -- and your well-being. An hour later (or sooner), check those initiatives you WILL undertake. Write a few sentences on how you'll go about doing so, when, with whom, benchmarks and rewards for success.
2. Meet with co-workers and brainstorm ways, under ideal conditions, to make the worksite a key part of your quest for lifestyle artistry. Assume enthusiasm and full commitment from management. Develop a sketch plan. Present it.
3. Visit the Wellness Center at SeekWellness.com. Click on the Archives. Scan the list of essays in 15 different categories or skill areas under the physical, mental and M&P dimensions -- and select one from each skill area to read within one week. Comment on these essays to others at work. (If nice things are said about one or more of the selected essays, share your enthusiasm with me!)

Well, what do you think? Does it sound like it might have been a good speech? I hope so -- I plan to continue doing these talks for at least another quarter century or until everyone adopts and sustains a wellness lifestyle, whichever comes first.

Be well. Look on the bright side of life.

(Note: This essay will be filed in the archives in the MENTAL DOMAIN under the skill area of factual knowledge. Additional articles related to this theme may be found there.)

(Ed. Note: Views expressed in this and other columns are those of the author and not necessarily those of the SeekWellness Editorial Board.)

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