- Vocational: rather than just a job, this should encapsulate passion and purpose in life. People should do what they are good at and enjoy, not just in work but in life in general. This general feeling of purpose is why so many people enjoy the idea of mission statements: we as humans want purpose, and we need to fulfill that.
- Health: this encapsulated both mental and physical health, since they are intertwined. The better you feel physically, there’s a strong chance you feel better mentally too. Exercise has had profoundly positive effects on mental health and is also crucial for physical health and general happiness. Eating healthy(ish) is part of health, as is staying in tune with your body and mind.
- Social Connection: humans crave social interaction. Being with people can often bring a calming effect, and feeling like you’re a part of a group or community has profoundly positive psychological effects. Not to mention, if you’re ever in trouble, feeling socially connected to those around you can offer up a feeling of support in more desperate times, and the general feeling that you can trust your neighbors is one of the top reasons why citizens of Scandinavian countries say they are happy.
- Stability-Change balance: While change can be good and productive, there needs to be a balance met between constant change and feeling stable enough to grow. For example, some people enjoy moving to see other parts of the country or world, but if that change is a result in wildly fluctuating income, it might instead be a stressor rather than a positive change. People’s basic needs need to be met, which is part of stability, but the feeling o changing and growing is important for people to realize their goals, which ties directly back into the vocational dimension.
Above are the dimensions of wellness as I define them, based on the definition I found from UC Davis’ health and counseling services: “Wellness is an active process of becoming aware of and making choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life.” It’s a combination of health and happiness and what I appreciated most about this definition is the emphasis on action. Wellness is not something that falls into most people’s laps–you have to actively try and achieve it, which I think is captured well by the vocational dimension.