How to grow and develop within your own wellness
The growth and development we feel and observe within ourselves will always differ from person to person. For the sake of this topic, growth will be categorized as a physical measurement, while development will be categorized as something that is measured through experience. Growth is defined as the development of a person in weight, age, size, and habits. Whereas development is defined as the process in a person’s growth being visible in relation to the physical, environmental, and social factors which they may face. For example, if I want to see growth financially, receiving more money than I spend should suffice. If I’d like to see a financial development within this same bank account, saving and creating a budget would help maintain the goals that I had originally set out to obtain. Ultimately, our goals may be similar in this upcoming season of challenges and opportunities, however our growth and development (our journey) will be unique to the person going through the experience at hand.
On just about a daily basis, I receive some form of acknowledgement on the way I navigate life with a positive lens. It simply takes a conscious effort; you must understand and work that muscle so that it can be developed. A quote that stuck with me as a reminder of these efforts, “You will always be placed in a situation where you have the choice to be miserable or come out stronger, however, the amount of work is the same.” With development comes a level of increased maturity in our conceptual way of thinking. Your emotional, mental, physical season that you are in will dictate how you may grow and develop into the person you want and need to be. In our own overall wellness, how are we growing and developing?
The umbrella term, “Wellness,” can be broken down using the 8 Dimensions of Wellness: (1) Emotional; (2) Environmental; (3) Financial; (4) Intellectual; (5) Occupational; (6) Physical; (7) Social; and (8) Spiritual. How we grow and develop within each of these areas has to align with your own goals, and what’s needed from us at that stage of life (or season) that we are in. First and foremost, nobody is perfect. Once we are able to acknowledge that, we can now set realistic expectations for ourselves in cultivating the right environment that we need to be in for us to progress the most.
For me, personally, I spend a great deal of time working on interpersonal relationships which helps me overall have a positive outlook on life due to the fact the I value my emotional, environmental, and social areas of my overall wellness. This may not be the same for where you may be in life. You may value your financial and occupational areas of wellness a bit more because that is what’s needed from you. Despite which area is needed from us, I will leave you with a few essential outlined points which you can refer to, to help propel you in the right direction of your goals this season.
Emotional—Coping effectively with life and creating satisfying relationships
- Practice contacting someone that’s been on your mind
- Follow through with your promises/to do list
- Schedule weekly coffee/tea dates with loved one
Environmental—Good health by occupying pleasant, stimulating environments that support well-being
- Creating a clean/organized workplace
- Having your favorite candle scents nearby
- Being around friendly, welcoming people
- Occupying areas with great walkability
Financial—Satisfaction with current and future financial situations
- Create a feasible budget
- Educating yourself on financial literacy
- Set aside a percentage of your paycheck for emergencies
Intellectual—Recognizing creative abilities and finding ways to expand knowledge and skills
- Try something new as often as possible
- Read one new book a month
- Work your creative muscle: draw/paint/write/etc.
Occupational—Personal satisfaction and enrichment from one’s work
- Don’t settle, keep yourself motivated
- Find the benefits and positives in your current job
- Create connections with your co-workers
Physical—Recognizing the need for physical activity, healthy foods, and sleep
- Commit to a healthy diet
- Move more; take the stairs when possible
- Set an alarm to start to wind down at night prior to sleeping
Social—Developing a sense of connection, belonging, and a well-developed support system
- Recognize how other people influence you
- Share your feeling honestly
- Listen to others without judgement or blame
Spiritual—Expanding a sense of purpose and meaning in life
- Practice meditation/self-reflection time daily
- Volunteer to help others
- Keep a journal
