The Wellness Wheel

What is the Wellness Wheel?

Truth be told, the essence of who we are is much like the spokes on a wheel.  There are many spokes that comprise the wheel, giving it motion.  Each spoke plays an instrumental role in the proper functioning of the wheel, too.  Should anything happen to those spokes – such as rust, damage, or breakage – it can affect how the wheel moves, causing a bumpy ride.  We are similar to that wheel, with each spoke representing a part of us.  It’s known as the Wellness Wheel.  The Wellness Wheel is comprised of seven key areas:

• Physical
• Mental
• Spiritual
• Social
• Emotional
• Intellectual
• Occupational

When there is something broken in one aspect our our lives, it affects the whole of us.  For example, we lose our job, it affects us emotionally, occupationally, mentally, and physically.  It may also affect us in other areas as well, but the initial impact can be felt more sharply in those four.  Compartmentalizing things would be ideal, but unfortunately we are not designed that way.  What happens to us has the ability to affect every aspect of our lives, whether we want it to or not.

Looking at our lives like that of spokes on a wheel can help us see how connected things are, how one thing can affect another, and how balance improves the whole.  In the Physical realm, staying active, maintaining an ideal weight, eating a healthy diet, and exercising has a tremendous impact on the other six areas of our life.  Our mood is elevated, we feel better about ourselves, clears our mind, plus allows us to socialize with others.  Choosing to omit that Physical spoke from our daily lives has a ripple effect that, in time, we will no longer be able to ignore.  Sooner or later injury, a doctor’s visit, a friend’s comment, or simple frustration will cause us to make the decision to change.

Maintaining balance in our Wellness Wheel requires discipline and continuous effort.  It also requires self love and the investment of time.  Healthy aging doesn’t just happen for the majority of us.  While there might be those out there that inherited fantastic genes, or sheer luck, the rest of us need to be aware that our choices today affect our lives tomorrow.

Take a look at how you measure up to the Wellness Wheel.  Has it been a smooth ride or have there been some bumps in the road?  If there are bumps, are you addressing what is causing them?  A little self-inventory will go a long way in helping you live the best version of yourself.