The Six Dimensions of Wellness

Wellness is not just being healthy and free from disease. It's a state of being, it's a mindset, and it's an overall expanded version of health that includes being physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually well. Wellness is a way of life-day to day actions that you take to live a vital and meaningful life.

What are the six dimensions of wellness?

There are six dimensions of wellness each of which is interactive and all of which go hand in hand. No two wellness dimensions are alike yet they all play off one another and influence each other on a continuous basis to create what is known as wellness or well being.

The six dimensions of wellness consist of physical wellness, emotional wellness, spiritual wellness, social wellness, environmental wellness and intellectual wellness. Together, each of these six dimensions of wellness can be influenced by one another by the everyday decisions that you make to create an optimal well being experience.

Physical Wellness

Physical wellness is a dimension of wellness which includes knowing how to care for minor illness and also recognizing when it is necessary to seek the advice or treatment of a health care provider. Physical wellness requires an understanding of the way the human body functions and also the roles that nutrition play in one's health.

Emotional Wellness

The second of the six dimensions of wellness is called emotional wellness and it includes being aware of and accepting feelings that you have as well as those that other individuals experience. It's the ability to freely express one's feelings and to use those feelings for decision making in a cognitive manner. Emotional wellness also encompasses flexibility and openness to personal development of the individual.

Spiritual Wellness

Spiritual wellness is the ability to question your purpose in life, the life purpose of other indivuals, and the ability to question the ordinary. It's a search for universal values that can be understood from the physical realm and beyond. Spiritual wellness involves a wide range of feelings from happiness and pleasure all the way to doubt and disappointment.

Social Wellness

Social wellness is similar to Utilitarianism in that it encourages the welfare of the community-the greatest good for the greatest number. A socially well person will make contributions to both the environment and one's self in order to maximize the wellness of the community. Socially well individuals live in harmony with others and seek respect and cooperation in a mutual aspect within the community and others.

Environmental Wellness

The fifth of the six dimensions of wellness is environmental wellness. This interactive dimension of wellness includes one's appreciation of the environment and his or her dedication to preservation and improvement of the external environment. An environmentally well individual will seek to protect the conditions in which we live to keep the environment clean and healthy.

Intellectual Wellness

Intellectual wellness can be demonstrated by a desire to learn and to continue learning throughout one's life. Intellectually well individuals will focus on everyday achievement by implementing critical thinking skills, creativity, and self-development. Intellectual wellness is the final of the six dimensions of wellness and may be one of the most vital in terms of mentality.