So… what even is ‘Wellness’?

This is a question I still don’t completely understand myself. I’m not going to lie – before I started meditating (posts on that later) I was v e r y sceptical about wellness and mindfulness and other ‘buzzwords’ – I’m guilty of using them as such myself.

Yet behind all the stereotypes I cannot (well, I am trying to) put into words the effect that mindful thinking and mental wellness had had on me.

Though you’re better off asking your local Buddhist centre what they think about wellness (and I wholly recommend you do!!), here are my thoughts on it. I think that it means different things to different people. When I began my meditative journey you could call it, I stumbled upon this quote from Miles J Stanford: “Health is a state of body. Wellness is a state of being.” (1). Admittedly I haven’t read the work that it came from so I may be missing some context, but I think that these “state[s] of being” and “body” are often intertwined.

When I practice mindful attention or meditate not only does my mind feel at ease (when the practice is going well) but I: sit up taller, am relieved of muscle tension etc. My “state of being” effects my “state of body” – a symbiotic relationship if you will.

But perhaps this is also the very point that Stanford is making. By saying “Wellness is a state of being” Stanford marks the distinction in that Wellness comes from the mind – and is an active form that can encompass your health. May that be choosing to do exercise or have a piece of fruit in the conventional sense of “health” or by choosing to take a moment to breathe and be aware of your surroundings in the mindful sense.

Definitions and debate aside, after my time at the Buddhist centre and meditating this year I’ve come to one conclusion – the idea of wellness or mindfulness is good.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments below

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SOURCES:

(1) Joyfullivingblog.net. “Health is a state of body. Wellness is a state of being“. [Online] [Accessed 3rd September 2019]. Available from: http://www.joyfullivingblog.net/healthieryou/health-is-a-state-of-body-wellness-is-a-state-of-being/