My ideas about wellness developed gradually along with what I heard about this concept. Most of all, I associate it with health, physical and mental, but with more profound reflection, I include other aspects. Thus, wellness is a state in which an individual feels good physically, spiritually, and emotionally and has the strength to pursue goals, the achievement of which will support personal well-being while coping with various challenges. This definition correlates with the ideas that Haybron (2013) and Kirkland (2014) presented. In particular, in the article by Kirkland (2014), it is noticeable that the modern understanding of wellness is often associated with the health and state of optimal human functioning. Haybron (2013), in turn, considers the development of the concept of well-being and concludes that, in the modern sense, it is associated with the subjective interests of people and things they value, which can make a new contribution to well-being. Such different views and accents in studying the concept emphasize its complexity and comprehensiveness.
Wellness affects personal and professional life in several ways. Feeling well, I find meaning and purpose and feel empowered for communication, help, self-development, and other actions. In the chosen professional direction of healthcare administration, I will also need to constantly monitor my wellness and employees’ and patients’ well-being to maintain motivation for work and improvements. Moreover, well-being in a given profession is both objective and an instrument for achieving better health outcomes. I use my understanding of wellness when I make certain decisions, assessing how their effects affect my well-being or my loved ones. Feeling tired or burned out, I strive to understand what is missing for my wellness and seek to fill the necessary gaps to regain strength and cope with problems.
References
Haybron, D. M. (2013). Happiness: A very short introduction. Oxford University Press.
Kirkland, A. (2014). What is wellness now? Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law, 39(5), 957-970. Web.