Reviewing the six dimensions of wellness

The past few weeks, we have focused on each dimension of the Six-Dimensional Model of Wellness - physical, emotional, spiritual, social, occupational and intellectual. The reason for this is to create a platform - a foundation, if you will. From this educational base, we can only move forward into your wellness.

So, to review:

Physical wellness offers you to take a look at your everyday physical habits - exercising, eating well, avoiding excessive alcohol, and discouraging the use of tobacco and drugs. This dimension encourages cardiovascular flexibility and strength and regular physical activity.

Emotional wellness emphasizes an awareness and acceptance of one's feelings. How do you feel about life? An emotionally well person maintains satisfying relationships with others.

Spiritual wellness involves seeking meaning and purpose in human existence. Do you know what your gifts are and are you using them?

Social wellness encourages contributing to your human and physical environment to the common welfare of your community.

Occupational wellness is all about gaining personal satisfaction and finding enrichment in life, through work. Developing one's occupational wellness is related to your attitude about your work.

Intellectual wellness promotes creative, stimulation and mental activities.

Wellness is:

• A lifestyle;

• Not just eating right and exercising, even though that's a little piece to complete the wellness pie;

• Fun, positive and proactive;

• All about balance;

• Self-responsibility; (You have a choice to make, and you are the only one responsible for your wellness.)

• Personal and unique; (No one has the same wellness lifestyle as you do.)

• An active process of continual growth and learning, through which you become more aware of, and you make choices toward a more satisfying existence; and

• Adding life to your years, and years to your life.

Well people are relaxed, eating healthy foods, social, working out, calmer, active in their communities, happier, easy going, open, playful, ready and willing to learn and try new/different things, joyful, zestful (loving life), friendly and people like to be around them, and knowledgeable about what their gifts are and are using them.

If your life was a pie (flavor of your choice), can you see how each slice (aka dimension) makes up a small portion of the whole pie (aka your life)? Is it clear that if you do not take care of a certain piece of your life pie, that it will affect all the other pieces? Is there a piece of your wellness where you could improve? Do you truly want to make a choice to improve your life? Are you ready? Until next week...

• Laura Brownlee is a Carson City resident and works with the National Wellness Institute. She can be reached at editor@nevadaappeal.com.