Last year, I quit one of the best jobs I’ve ever had because of a unexpected hospitalization. I remember, crying the day I quit, because I loved the job, but I simply did not have the physical or mental capacity to endure it.
I knew had to find a way to provide for myself, but I also knew I did not have the capacity to work another stressful, blue-collar job while I completed my degree.
So, I asked God for direction.
Although, I expected God to respond with a job opportunity, a business model, or another source of income, He answered with something completely different.
He said, “Focus on your wellness.”
In the moment, I was a bit puzzled, I thought, “God, how is this going to help me pay the bills?” But then, I thought about my last few jobs and why I couldn’t keep them – it was because of my health and wellness. No matter how good I was in the position, I was never mentally, emotionally, or even physically strong enough to endure the ups and downs or stress the position brought.
As God began to reveal more, I realized that my wellness, not only impacted my work, but it also was largely impacting my relationships.
This light bulb moment was my catalyst for change.
I knew if I wanted to truly live by best life, and be my best self, I had to heal and pursue holistic wellness.
As a counseling student, I began to do my research not just for myself, but also my future clients. And as I began scavenging books, resources, and the internet, I noticed a pattern.
I noted that there are different categories of wellness. There is physical wellness, mental wellness, emotional wellness, spiritual wellness, social wellness, and finally, sexual wellness. Understanding each category of wellness and identifying which categories you may need to pay more attention to is the key to attaining total wellness.
So, let’s begin defining and understanding each category.
Physical wellness
Physical wellness is typically the first category of wellness that we think of, when we think of health. A lot of times, men especially tend to prioritize physical wellness and neglect the other components of wellness.
Physical wellness, by definition, is a state of health and well-being that gives us the ability to perform occupations, daily activities, exercise, and sports. This category of wellness is generally achieved through proper nutrition, physical exercise, and sufficient rest.
Mental Wellness
Mental wellness is another major category of wellness. Mental wellness is a state of health and well-being that gives us the ability to cope with the daily stressors of life. A few components of mental wellness include our outlook on life (negative or positive), mindsets, and thought patterns.
Emotional Wellness
Moreover, there is emotional wellness. Emotional wellness is a state of health and well-being that gives us the ability to cope with our complex emotions in a healthy way. It is essentially our emotional agility to cope with life events and manage our own emotions as well as acknowledge the emotions of others.
Social Wellness
Social wellness is a state of health and well-being that allows us to build and maintain healthy relationships. Social wellness involves building healthy, nurturing, and supportive relationships as well as fostering a genuine connection with those around you.
Spiritual Wellness
Spiritual wellness is our ability to engage in spiritual activities in a healthy way. It involves our outlook on God and other aspects of faith. Spiritual wellness also gives us the ability to discard harmful ideologies and theologies. Spiritual wellness typically leads us to feeling empowered by our spiritual lives’ vs burdened by it.
Sexual Wellness
Sexual wellness is our ability to have a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences. This also includes our ability to maintain and control our sexual desires and have a positive outlook on our own sexuality and sexual expressions.
Prioritizing these aspects of wellness was my first practical step toward total healing. As a millennial, I had to recognize the hustle culture as toxic. I had to learn that it is not God’s desire for us to feel burned out and constantly tired all the time. Feeling good should be your mind and body’s norm. And if you consistently do not feel good, it may be time to check in with yourself. It may be your body and mind trying to tell you that something is “off” and in need of your attention.
I’m learning to listen to my mind and body. I often ask myself questions like: “How are you feeling today? How is your energy? How are you mentally? Have you drank water today?” These little questions and new habits have created an intentional path to holistic wellness. And they may seem like baby steps, but baby steps lead to big leaps. Wellness is self-care at its core, and happiness is a product of wellness. Our well-being (mentally, physically & spiritually) is the foundation of authentic and meaningful progress towards purpose and God’s will for our lives.
So, as you pursue your purpose and Jesus, remember to prioritize your wellness because you matter.
Remember God loves you like crazy,
Xoxo,
Tori
Check out this amazing Ted Talk by one of my new faves Chloe Hakim- Moore on Wellness:
And stay tuned for Part 2 on Holistic Wellness!