REAL Wellness

The term wellness has many definitions, is applied differently in varied settings, and remains unfamiliar to most people. First popularized by Halbert L. Dunn, M.D. some fifty years ago, this word has been adopted and advanced by many individuals and organizations. In the latter category, the most promoter institution has been the National Wellness Institute (NWI), an educational non-profit based in Stevens Point, WI. The NWI has, among many activities, sponsored weeklong annual conferences for over 30 years. These gatherings have spread interest in wellness programs, but have not done much to develop, solidify or advance wellness concepts and principles associated with the term. That important function has been neglected.

The term wellness has also been promoted in books, newsletters, social media, worksite educational initiatives, videos, websites like ID wellness and many other ways. A diverse cast of wellness advocates, including physicians, nurses, health practitioners, fitness trainers, coaches and other individuals and institutions have contributed to a growing but still modest public awareness of the term. Unfortunately, so too have advertisers of products and dubious promoters of healing remedies, but these efforts have been exploitations of the word. Wellness has been used to help sell dog food, quack remedies and no end of foolishness along these lines. The commercial cast of wellness distortion artists has not added value, only confusion, to public understanding of the term’s meaning. To date, there has been little standardization; wellness means what anyone says it means—at least to that person.

There is no regulatory organization that monitors or guides how wellness is defined, applied, understood or promoted. If a TV evangelist wants to call his program “The Wellness Hour of Power,” nothing stands in the way, save common sense. If a Republican presidential hopeful wants to anoint his campaign for eliminating social programs, lowering taxes for billionaires (i.e., “job creators”) and a transition from a secular Republic to a Christian theocracy as a “national wellness agenda,” he/she is free to do so. Only a few wellness experts will realize that such attempts are a far cry from the wellness that Dunn and other early promoters of wellness meant by the term.

So, you might wonder, “What shall we conclude about the 40-year wellness movement, as we so often refer to the spread of wellness programming?” Well, in a free country where “buyer beware” is the watchword for wise consumers, two observations seem clear: 1) It is up to each of us to decide what the word means at it’s best; and 2) We should, if involved in wellness promotion, promote what we believe is the best use of the term.

In this spirit, to paraphrase Richard Nixon, let me be perfectly clear: In my opinion, wellness is a philosophy, mindset or a lifestyle, consciously chosen, to pursue and realize optimal health and life satisfaction.

Let me mention here that I do not intend this sentence as a definition, just a brief and partial explanation. I think the word wellness, as a stand-alone term, has lost its value. It needs a modifier. For years, I have used two words for expressing my ideas about “a philosophy, mindset or a lifestyle, consciously chosen to pursue and realize optimal health and life satisfaction.” Those words are REAL wellness.

As visitors to this site know well, REAL stands for reason, exuberance, athleticism and liberty. These, I believe, are the most important and possibly most overlooked dimensions needed for seekers of a good and healthy life in order to secure the highest possible quality of existence in modern times.

Good wishes and be well.

Most people don’t recognize the nature or benefits of a healthy lifestyle. Wellness is an unfamiliar term and even among those familiar with it, the nature of the wellness concept is poorly understood. Such a disciplined way of living that wellness represents has never been widely practiced throughout human history.

For most humans since we got off the branch with the apes, we have been simply working out ways to get by, to survive long enough to find a mate and keep a few of the kids alive into adulthood so they could try to do likewise. Finding food, shelter, and safety from predators (beastly and otherwise) defined life’s daily focus and purpose.

Thus, if you are able somehow to manage in a manner even remotely akin to the wellness ideal—s lifestyle focused on securing a high quality of life, you are a rare bird, indeed. Be grateful for your good fortune.

And consider fine-tuning your act.

What I have sketched about the lifestyle sophistication of our species through time and even at present is not a pretty picture. However, it should lead you to a new level of appreciation for your good fortune. You are lucky to live in times and in places conducive to the luxury of wellness. Yes, that’s what a wellness philosophy, mindset and lifestyle amounts to—a great luxury, even though you have to work at it every day.

If it were easy, everyone would be living this way today. Obviously, that is most definitely not the case.

There are prerequisites for wellness, as my sketch of human experience suggests. These include liberty, freedom from want, a sound education, and support from family and friends. Not the kind of thing most historians associate with the long, brutal period of pre-history, the centuries of the Roman Empire, the Crusades, endless wars, the Middle Ages or the Industrial Revolution.

All this might tempt you to conclude that those of us who DO get to fantasize and otherwise plan varied ways to live life to the fullest are fortunate beyond words. I believe this to be the case. Given this amazing good luck, let’s make the most of it

Concerning living in a manner associated with a wellness lifestyle, I’m not talking about running marathons, being a yoga master, eating plant-based organic foods and no oils, meditating every day or other heroically disciplined functioning. These may be part of your unique approach to a healthy lifestyle, but let’s not lose sight of the fundamentals. As I see it, the basics of wellness are quite simple. Anyone could do well following these ten things. I recommend all of them before racing off at the first sign of stress, pain or anxiety to take pills, call a nurse or have your head examined.

1. Declare that you are in charge for the direction of what’s left of your life. Time to stop trying to please, sacrificing unduly, being a martyr, delaying gratification or postponing any longer the search for fulfilling meaning and exuberance. Your choices are key—your choices will most affect the quality of your health and life. Personal responsibility overcomes the temptations of mediocrity.
2. Do what you love and, quite possibly, in time someone is probably going to want to buy it. One of the highest forms of exuberance comes from expressing your talents and being appreciated for those gifts. Set the bar high. See if you can’t connect your passion with your profession and make a living out of both. And consider this—just appreciating your own talent is a form of valued tender.
3. Embrace change, however frustrating it usually is at first. Coming to terms with the fact that change is inevitable and happens at a faster pace than before will help you adapt and manage. Nothing stays the same. Welcome the opportunity to try some new directions.
4. Consider nurses, pills and doctors overrated, save for emergencies and special situations. Your lifestyle choices, including selected attitudes, beliefs, emotional responses and actions have more impact on your health than medical experts, medications, the economy, your income level, gods, devils, UFOs, your age, your friends/enemies, your employer or your luck.
5. Fun times must be taken seriously. Wellness is too important to be pursued grimly. Whatever your choices, make sure you’re enjoying them and that you are getting your DBRU equivalents. (If you don’t know what DBRU equivalents are, make sure you check out the link.
6. Modern medicine’s a wonderful thing but there are two problems: people expect too much of it and too little of themselves. Reverse this formula. Expect more of yourself and you won’t be disappointed.
7. Balance to some modest extent on occasions is OK but this state is overrated. Most of the time, it’s best to put it aside in order to pursue passions, strenuous activity, saving damsels or other heroic quests.
8. Don’t give up things. Instead add positive elements and if there are negatives you wish to unload, they will fall by the wayside soon enough. It is better to take up healthy practices than to give up unhealthy habits, at least initially when trying to enhance the quality of your lifestyle. For example, you are better advised to take up a satisfying activity like vigorous walking before you attempt to quit smoking.
9. Exuberance and other elements of REAL wellness are choices, not accidents or the results of good luck. Lifestyle quality or an advanced state of well-being is deliberate—make a choice to live and work this way.
10. There’s plenty of time. It’s rarely too late to start a wellness lifestyle. Think of it this way: “Live well and wisely every day until you die and then, for the first time in your life, it won’t matter