New Year’s Resolution: Tackle All 7 Dimensions of Your Well-Being

Achieve a Full Mind-Body-Spirit Renewal

Last week we addressed the most popular New Year’s Resolution—losing weight—and provided you with the information you need to kickstart weight loss with the healthiest, most nutritious & energetic detox available. Losing weight is an excellent health goal to set for yourself, as it will allow you to feel lighter, clearer and generally more vibrant. Let’s not forget the massive health benefits. For instance, being overweight is known to increase the risk of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and cancers. This week, we want to challenge you again, but this time to explore all the other important elements of your well-being. Your health is not just your physical being. In the same way you feed your body with nutrients, you also need to nourish your mind, heart and spirit. We all have different lives, circumstances and goals, but let the 7 Dimensions of Wellness help guide you as you consider your New Year’s Resolution for 2015. We encourage you to start a daily routine and incorporate a positive change from each of these 7 dimensions.

THE 7 DIMENSIONS OF WELLNESS

Social Wellness “Social Wellness is the ability to relate to and connect with other people in our world. Our ability to establish and maintain positive relationships with family, friends and co-workers contributes to our Social Wellness.” Sample New Year’s Resolution: “I will invite a friend or relative to my home every week and make them a healthy lunch.” Tips:

• Given our busy schedules and numerous responsibilities, hosting a friend every week might not be as feasible for some of us. But you can always send a thoughtful email or pick up the phone to catch up with a friend. Every week.
• Make a friend your pen pal. When was the last time you handwrote a note on a sheet of paper? You’ll both be excited to receive something in the mail other than a bill!
• Take a trip down memory lane and think of people with whom you’ve lost touch. Find them and see what they’re up to.
• Find a volunteer opportunity at your local church, community center or school. Social wellness involves meeting new people as well, and there’s no better way to connect than through the act of giving.

Emotional Wellness “Emotional Wellness is the ability to understand ourselves and cope with the challenges life can bring. The ability to acknowledge and share feelings of anger, fear, sadness or stress; hope, love, joy and happiness in a productive manner contributes to our Emotional Wellness.” Possible New Year’s Resolution: “I will begin and end each day with a moment of gratitude, identifying and reflecting on a specific blessing in my life.” Tips:

• Start a gratitude journal. It actually makes you happier.
• Email or text someone you know and tell them how meaningful they are to you. Doing this has the same happiness effect as does practicing gratitude alone.
• Develop a personal habit that works for you in times of anger and sadness. Breathe deeply, allow yourself to feel your emotions, and ask yourself how you can make the situation better. Pray. Introspect. Accept yourself. Remind yourself how lucky you are.

Spiritual Wellness “Spiritual Wellness is the ability to establish a close connection with our creator. The ability to develop congruency between values and actions contributes to our Spiritual Wellness.” Possible New Year’s Resolution: “I will be more engaged with my faith.”

• Explore your spiritual core. By exploring your spiritual core, you are simply asking yourself questions where you came from and why you are on this earth. Ask yourself: Who am I? What is my purpose? What do I value most? Do I have a personal relationship with my creator?
• Identify a time of day, every day, to pray—usually mid-day, or mid-work—and commit to praying, even for just a few minutes
• Commit to attending church every Sunday morning or another service of your choice. During service, take notes and reread them before bedtime. It’s easy to forget the messages we receive and, even more, reflect on them and apply them. This will help.
• Commit to being more open about your beliefs to those who don’t share the same. Make it a goal to have positive, encouraging conversations, even with those who might not hold the same faith and values as you do.

Environmental Wellness “Environmental Wellness is the ability to recognize our own responsibility for the quality of the air, the water and the land that surrounds us. The ability to make a positive impact on the quality of our environment, be it our homes, our communities or our planet contributes to our Environmental Wellness.” Possible New Year’s Resolution: “Every week, I will find one way to help our environment, starting from my own home. I will see that these small changes will add up over the year.” Tips:

• Unplug all electronics when you leave your home.
• Create a recycle and compost bin if you haven’t already.
• Use safe and reusable containers to store (and gift) foods.
• Eliminate meat consumption.
• Conserve water by taking shorter showers, fix leaking faucets and never leaving the water on when it’s not in use.

Occupational Wellness “Occupational Wellness is the ability to get personal fulfillment from our jobs or our chosen career fields while still maintaining balance in our lives. Our desire to contribute in our careers to make a positive impact on the organizations we work in and to society as a whole leads to Occupational Wellness.” Possible New Year’s Resolution: “I will reevaluate my career goals—goals that will make me feel more happy, fulfilled and challenged—and set defined, achievable objectives to reach for.” Tips:

• Ask yourself if there’s something you want to change in your career or specific job responsibilities. Write them down in one column, and what you can do to achieve it in another column.
• Set up coffee or a phone chat with your supervisor and/or colleagues and discuss what you can do to further your goals and help the organization at the same time.
• We all have passions for causes outside of our jobs. Find an organization you want to help out and seek out volunteer opportunities.

Intellectual Wellness “Intellectual Wellness is the ability to open our minds to new ideas and experiences that can be applied to personal decisions, group interaction and community betterment. The desire to learn new concepts, improve skills and seek challenges in pursuit of lifelong learning contributes to our Intellectual Wellness.” Possible New Year’s Resolution: “I will read a new book I wouldn’t usually pick up to open my mind to new thoughts and ideas.” Tips:

• If you’re a fan of fiction, head over to the Sociology or History section. If you’re a non-fiction reader, pick up a piece of classic literature.
• Purchase an online tutoring class or download Duolingo.
• Learn how to play a musical instrument.
• Write a book, even if you don’t intend to publish or share it.

Physical Wellness “Physical Wellness is the ability to maintain a healthy quality of life that allows us to get through our daily activities without undue fatigue or physical stress. The ability to recognize that our behaviors have a significant impact on our wellness and adopting healthful habits (routine check ups, a balanced diet, exercise, etc.) while avoiding destructive habits (tobacco, drugs, alcohol, etc.) will lead to optimal Physical Wellness.” Possible New Year’s Resolution: “I will eat healthy and make sure to move every day—even if it’s raining or when I’m feeling unmotivated.” Tips:

• Take small steps. Start with a short walk if you’re not accustomed to exercising.
• Sign up for a community dance class or another activity you think you’ll enjoy.
• Eat locally grown organic plants, while decreasing or eliminating consumption of meat and dairy.
• Start with a beginning-of-year DETOX to kickstart a full-body cleanse and feel super-inspired.

You may find it difficult at the beginning to remember every element in your daily routine, but once you overcome the hurdle of acclimation you’ll see that your whole self will emerge greater, better and happier. Remember: “When it comes to learning success, action is your school, and failure your teacher.” ― Majid Kazmi Good luck and Happy & Blessed New Year From Our Family to Yours!