don's report archive

by Donald B. Ardell, Ph. D.

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

A new focus on a global scale for REAL wellness in the years to come invites an agenda that promotes broader values, goals, ways of thinking, outcomes and purposes. The following list is not exhaustive, only suggestive of areas of involvement for REAL global wellness. It does hint at where REAL international wellness could go. Why settle for a less inspiring or consequential vision for our expanding profession? 

• Independent thinking to diminish the toxic influence of superstitions, extremism, fundamentalism and other dysfunctional forces which are obviously harmful to the quality of lives and universal human rights.
  
  
• Support science and reason, democracy, the arts, philosophy, tolerance and pluralism as clearly related to quality of life and thus the wellness agenda.
  
  
• Address the most pressing issues of the day, including global warming.
  
  
• Support in all cultures the separation of church and state, freedom of conscience and the secularization of ethical values. States should be neutral about religion, allowing freedom of conscience and diversity of opinion, including the right to believe or not believe. (In this country, most Protestant denominations defend separation, as do secular Jews, liberal Roman Catholics, Unitarians and most other denominations.)
  
  
• Promote inspiration but emphasize forms of inspiration drawn from science, reason, philosophy, literature and the arts - rather than exclusive reliance upon ancient religious dogma founded on revelation, faith and the like.
  
  
• Encourage exposure of children to many systems of thought, learning, skepticism and discoveries. 
  
  
• Encourage scientific advances, including genetic research while resisting attacks on science, such as seen in pressures to teach alternatives to evolution in biology or other science courses.
  
  
• Encourage a critical analysis of paranormal and pseudoscientific issues (e.g., ghosts, miracles, paranormal phenomena, etc.) 

It is said that, "the heroes of our history are the scientists and thinkers who explored new horizons and thus improved our understanding of humanity. Darwin's evolutionary principles changed forever our perception of the human species and the nature of life." (Source: The Center for Inquiry Transnational, E-mail invitation to Darwin Day, February 9, 2008.) Are the agenda issues noted above not "new horizons" left for today's international wellness leaders to explore? Can contemporary wellness promoters contribute to an improved understanding of the nature of a higher standard of quality of life? Can they guide or otherwise facilitate major increases in the number of people across the globe who realize better lives in measurable terms?

In a paradoxical fashion, might the current low points of functioning (e.g., unprecedented chronic diseases, obesity, global warming, economic dysfunctions, disquiet, etc.) render more likely such a breakthrough in the evolution of the wellness mindset? The latter might be possible because of a greater openness to change in norms and customs, expectations and ambitions than in more satisfying, less restive times.

Wellness advocates can put forward a view of humanity that is based on science, reason and evidence. They can seek to better understand and explain why we are as we are and how we can become better at humanity, gain more control of our fates, take better care of ourselves and each other. Such evolutionary possibilities added to the wellness agenda will lead attention not only to matters of better physical health, but more consequentially, greater exuberance in living, improved life satisfactions, better stewardship of the environments and more.

REAL wellness leadership throughout many nations might bring about major changes for the good in terms of who we think we are and seek to become. The mediocrity of lifestyles seen today may be occasioned by our outdated and inadequate view of human nature, which after all has not been consciously shaped for such benevolent, coherent and positive purposes in the past. Why not in the future? The present challenges and opportunities invite nothing less. 

(Note: This essay will be filed in the archives in the MEANING DOMAIN under the skill area of applied wellness. 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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