don's report archive
Wellness in the Headlines
(Don's Report to the World)
Wednesday February 4, 2009
REAL wellness, like regular wellness, is whatever anyone wants it to be and says it is. Since the concept is so new, those who apply it inappropriately (e.g., to advertise a medical practice) usually are unchallenged. Thus, over time, even more promoters of one thing or another use the term wellness as they please, to label a service, remedy, product or point of view. For these reasons, I invented REAL wellness to describe what wellness was intended to represent in the first place, going all the way back to Halbert L. Dunn's work with the concept in the mid-20th century.
The modifier REAL is intended to convey a deliberate mindset or philosophy inspired by reason, exuberance and liberty. The purpose of wellness is to achieve, maintain and fine-tune a high quality of life. That is not a complicated notion, but it sets REAL wellness apart from wellness vitamins, wellness chiropractic, wellness veterinary services and all corporate risk reduction and medical management wellness. None of the examples just provided have the REAL elements characterized by reason, exuberance and liberty in service of a better quality of life.
REAL wellness education, materials or programs do not dwell on risk reduction strategies or varied ways to manage illness and/or disease, though these are important aspects of broader health promotion. The key areas of REAL wellness are global awareness/environmental sensitivity (a green consciousness), the quest for added meaning and purpose, ethical awareness and fine-tuning, understanding the dynamics of happiness (and experiencing more of it) and thinking critically using reason, skepticism and doubt. Of course, much more is involved, such as the foundation lifestyle areas of focus (exercise and fitness, management of stress and sound dietary habits, among other positive skill areas).
When you encounter the term wellness, insist on the real McCoy, the real thing or, in this case, REAL wellness.
Be well and always 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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