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In today's information age, wellness has many,
many different meanings. It all depends on who is promoting what product
or whatever service for the benefit of "wellness".
Historically, the concept of wellness had its
origin in the 1800's alongside the modern industrial revolution.
Prosperity made possible by the industrial revolution allowed people more time
to pursue self interests. More industrialization led to more prosperity,
and then again more time to pursue individual choices related to wellness.
Today we are a nation and a world of many choices. Essentially, most would agree that is good.
However the territory of "many available choices" has inevitably led to a plethora of "possible wrong choices
". So today, wellness is often thought of in the context of countering the wrong choices that affluence has blessed
us with.
Modern day wellness evolved in the 1970's with the definition of high level wellness by
Halbert
L. Dunn. Dunn defined wellness as "an integrated method of functioning which is oriented toward maximizing the potential of which the individual is capable. It requires
that the individual maintain a continuum of balance and purposeful direction within the environment where he is functioning." He also stated that "wellness
is a direction in progress toward an ever-higher potential of functioning" . Source:
Wikipedia.
So in summary, we could say that wellness is many things. Wellness is freedom from critical disease; wellness is a
productive body (person); wellness is a calm and satisfied mind; wellness is being at peace with your creator, and more. Essentially, wellness is
"the
intentional pursuit of a healthy, happy, productive life through continuous
lifestyle change".
Freedom from disease is a component of wellness! One could be totally free of disease and still not meet the definition of
wellness because an emotional or spiritual component of wellness is absent. Even if we are free from disease, we can not be certain how "well' we are at
times, because it is difficult, as individuals, to assess the impact of other elements of wellness
on our physical being.
Possibly the words "intentional pursuit" are key to achieving wellness. We must be intentional about what we put in our
bodies. We must be educated about what will sabotage our wellness. We must be intentional about
exercising regularly. We must be informed
enough to know whether or not we are preparing our bodies to deal with the emotional, spiritual, or other challenges life throws at us.
The CHIP program is program of lifestyle change that puts you on a path to wellness. Or if you are already walking that
path to wellness, helps you walk the path a little bit straighter and lot more effortlessly. It's your toolkit to wellness!
Contact CHIP to learn more.
"Be Healthy by Choice, Not by Chance!". |
