2.6 What Is Wellbeing?
The ways health, wellness, and wellbeing have been described and defined have shifted and expanded over time and within different contexts. These words can be applied both in reference to individuals and to populations as a whole. Wellness is being in or working toward a state of good health. Building upon this concept, wellbeing includes more aspects of living a meaningful, purpose-filled life.
The University of Minnesota’s Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing (CSH) defines wellbeing as a state of balance or alignment in body, mind, and spirit. In this state, individuals feel content, connected, energized, resilient, and safe (2016).
| Wellness | Wellbeing | Health |
|---|---|---|
| Being in or working toward a state of good health | A state of balance or alignment in body, mind, and spirit. In this state, individuals feel content, connected, energized, resilient, and safe | Absence of disease; is commonly used to describe a person’s body and mind with regard to whether or not they are experiencing illness or disease |
The CSH model identifies six dimensions that contribute to wellbeing:
Health
Health is affected by diet, activity, sleep, and how you manage emotions and stress.
Relationships
Relationships include friends, family, and other personal connections that provide support and buffer the negative effects of stress and loneliness.
Security
Security includes feeling safe, coping with threats and anxiety, financial wellbeing, and experiences of being the target of ongoing prejudice, discrimination, and violence, all of which influence feelings of fear.
Purpose
Purpose is about your values, passions, and abilities, and may include how you express and practice your spirituality.
Community
Community includes our social connections and networks, as well as public services and resources.
Environment
Environment starts in your home and extends out to the whole planet, and includes ways in which environments—whether natural or built—support the health of individuals and communities.
These dimensions are interrelated and may affect one another. They take into account the connections we have with those around us, including friends, families, and communities, as well as the local and global environment we live in. The dimensions of wellbeing also highlight the importance of purpose in our lives: what motivates and inspires us. Our individual wellbeing not only affects us on a personal level, but also affects the groups to which we belong. When we find balance across the six dimensions, we feel physically healthy, connected to others, and live with a sense of purpose. When these dimensions are out of balance or lacking, we might feel unwell, stressed, or aimless.
Improving wellbeing will be different for everyone and starts with a simple question: what can I do to feel content and balanced? You could start by reflecting on your own wellbeing using the CSH’s 13-question wellbeing assessment (OPTIONAL).
Self-Assess Your Understanding
- How are the six dimensions of wellbeing interrelated and affect each other in your life?
