6.1 Health and Wellness
The terms Health and Wellness are often used interchangeably. What do they mean to you? The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity (illness)” and defines wellness as “the optimal state of health of individuals and groups” (Smith et al., 2006) which may be expressed as “a positive approach to living.” The National Wellness Institute (n.d.) explains wellness as “an active process through which people become aware of, and make choices toward, a more successful existence.”
The National Wellness Institute states that there is general agreement that:
- Wellness is considered a conscious, self-directed and evolving process of achieving full potential.
- Wellness is multidimensional and holistic, encompassing lifestyle, mental and spiritual well-being, and the environment.
- Wellness is positive and affirming.
The primary difference between health and wellness is that health is your state of being or a goal to achieve, and wellness is the active process of attaining it through growth and change. Through wellness, we hope to reach our fullest potential for health and well-being.
Why Study Wellness?
As most college students do, you have probably set goals. Your goals differ from those of your classmates, but everyone’s goals share one common attribute: their intention to improve individual well-being. However, there are as many ideas about how to do that as there are individuals. Do your goals involve making more money, achieving better health, and improving your relationships? Holistic wellness involves all those aspects of life and more. This chapter explains the importance of overall wellness, which is more than being physically and mentally healthy, free from illness and disease. The study of wellness incorporates all aspects of life. Achieving overall wellness means living actively and fully. People in this state exude confidence, optimism, and self-efficacy; they have the energy reserves to do what needs to be done today and to plan for a better tomorrow. The most effective and transformative goals are those designed to achieve the highest level of personal wellness.
“Chapter 1: Intro to Health, Wellness, and Change” from Introduction to Health (OER) Copyright © by kfalcone is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.—Modifications: Used section What does health and wellness mean?; edited, removed activity.
“Why Study Wellness” from Fitness for Paramedics: A Guide for Students at Cambrian College Copyright © 2019 by Dawn Markell and Diane Peterson is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.
