How to increase a sense of well-being
What is wholeness? How does it relate to Our need for well-being?
According to Psychology Today, there are 5 Types of well-being, and each of them needs to be adequately functional:
Emotional Well-Being. The ability to practice stress-management techniques, be resilient, and generate the emotions that lead to good feelings.
Physical Well-Being. The ability to improve the functioning of your body through healthy eating and good exercise habits.
Social Well-Being. The ability to communicate, develop meaningful relationships with others, and maintain a support network that helps you overcome loneliness.
Workplace Well-Being. The ability to pursue your interests, values, and purpose in order to gain meaning, happiness, and enrichment professionally.
Societal Well-Being. The ability to actively participate in a thriving community, culture, and environment.
“It's important to know that building social well-being is one the best ways to build emotional well-being. When we feel socially connected, we also tend to just feel better, have more positive emotions, and we are able to cope better with challenges. This is why it's essential to build our social well-being.”
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It is important to discern your level of functioning in each of these categories in order to know where to start. Diet, exercise, quality sleep, and mindset play an enormous role in our overall well-being, which we can affect almost immediately.
Sleep
Exercise
Nutrition
Stress Reduction
It is crucial that we accept ourselves as we are, so that goals and action steps can be attained (ie: it is unlikely that we will run a marathon within the next month if we are not currently running!), so be realistic and focus on making small but consistent changes that will add up over time.
For most of us, having meaningful relationships is fundamental, so seeking opportunities to increase our sense of social connectivity and community is of utmost importance. How do we find our "tribe?" We are most able to relate with "like-minded others," so pursuing our passions in a social context is highly recommended. Which local organizations interest you? Are there clubs, classes, volunteer opportunities, or retreats which may resonate? If so, it is likely that you will meet others with similar interests.
We all need a sense of belonging and a sense of creative purpose. How can you expand yours?