Wellness- It's History and Development

'Wellness' has a complex past! Some of the ideas of wellness have their origins in the ancient European & American religious and cultural movements.

The term "Wellness" though was defined in the 1950s. It then focussed on active health promotion through lifestyle change. 

It was the 1970s that witnessed the "Wellness Movement".

Since the term wellness is very broad, it is extremely difficult to define precisely what is meant by it, and therefore to correctly trace its origins. It is a contextual word, where it is possible to define the term within a specific context.

When talking along the lines of Holistic Health & Wellness, the six-dimensional model of Wellness developed by Bill Hettler of the National Wellness Institute helps one understand Wellness better.

The 6 dimensions include –

• Social,
• Occupational,
• Spiritual,
• Physical,
• Intellectual &
• Emotional

 These include the following precepts:

Social:

·         It is better to contribute to the common welfare of our community than to think only of ourselves.

·         It is better to live in harmony with others and our environment than to live in conflict with them.

Occupational:

·         It is better to choose a career which is consistent with our personal values interests and beliefs than to select one that is unrewarding to us.

·         It is better to develop functional, transferable skills through structured involvement opportunities than to remain inactive and uninvolved.

Spiritual:

·         It is better to ponder the meaning of life for ourselves and to be tolerant of the beliefs of others than to close our minds and become intolerant.

·         It is better to live each day in a way that is consistent with our values and beliefs than to do otherwise and feel untrue to ourselves.

Physical:

·         It is better to consume foods and beverages that enhance good health rather than those which impair it.

·         It is better to be physically fit than out of shape.

Intellectual:

·         It is better to stretch and challenge our minds with intellectual and creative pursuits than to become self-satisfied and unproductive.

·         It is better to identify potential problems and choose appropriate courses of action based on available information than to wait, worry and contend with major concerns later.

Emotional:

·         It is better to be aware of and accept our feelings than to deny them.

·         It is better to be optimistic in our approach to life than pessimistic