How to Use Your Wellness Compass

🔙 Return to the newsletter

(Tapping wellness compass) Is this thing on?

Fair warning, I’m still talking about resolutions… I know, I know! Bear with me…

I learned a new word last week (thanks, Jeff!): velleity. Have you heard of it? It means a wish or inclination not strong enough to lead to action.

Mic drop.

Are new year’s resolutions not the epitome of velleity?

We yearn to be living our best life, but frankly, life gets in the way when you’re a mom. Your time is not your own, your body is not your own, you’re constantly making sacrifices for your family.

Then, you wake up one morning in your forties and don’t recognize the woman staring back at you in the toothpaste-smeared bathroom mirror.

Look into her eyes. See within them the woman behind the mom. She’s still in there, I promise! Renew in her a sense of purpose; reignite a fire inside of her that defies velleity and leads to action!

Use your wellness compass to guide her and remind her to give herself grace! After all, she’s Future You, ya know?

Oh, and if you can’t locate your wellness compass (stop looking in the bottom of your purse, it’s not in there), it’s your collective state of being determined by the 8 Dimensions of Wellness. 

The 8 Dimensions of Wellness defined*

Emotional wellness relates to understanding your feelings and coping effectively with stress. 

Occupational wellness is about enjoying your occupational endeavors and appreciating your contributions. 

Intellectual wellness involves having an open mind when you encounter new ideas and continuing to expand your knowledge.

Environmental wellness inspires us to live a lifestyle that is respectful of our surroundings.

Financial Wellness involves the process of learning how to successfully manage financial expenses.

Social wellness helps you perform social roles effectively and comfortably, and create a support network.

Spiritual wellness allows you to develop a set of values that help you seek meaning and purpose.

Physical wellness relates to maintaining a healthy body and seeking care when needed.

(*by lifeofwellness.ca)

Take this assessment to get your wellness score in each dimension and discover your wellness compass.

According to jflowershealth.com, “The important takeaways about wellness are that it is important to nourish and focus on all 8 dimensions of health: emotional, spiritual, intellectual, physical, environmental, financial, occupational, and social. 

All of the aspects of your wellness are connected and impact each other. When one dimension suffers, others suffer too. When you thrive in one area, other areas will thrive too. To be healthy, happy, and fulfilled, it is important to identify your wellness needs and work towards making sure that they are fulfilled.”

You now know where you are. It’s time to determine where you are going! 

Use your knowledge of the 8 Wellness Dimensions, along with your score on the assessment, to set your wellness compass. 

Use your wellness compass to bring attention to the areas that could use improvement. Chances are there is some overlap between these areas and your new year’s resolutions. Take the opportunity to implement them with a life-long approach that optimizes self-improvement… and not with velleity! 

Finally, remember grace! 

Having awareness of the 8 Dimensions of Wellness is a huge step in the right direction, but we can’t ignore the elephant in the room… we still have mom-life to contend with. So how do we take these great ideas and apply them to real life?

The answer is, one day at a time; with help. That’s grace!

Get in community with other moms!

Our Insightful Video this week breaks down the dilemma of why it’s so hard to make healthy decisions… It’s a recurring theme for moms because we constantly sacrifice our wellness for the greater good (our families). We should stop that! It doesn’t have to be all or nothing!. 

Furthermore, you don’t have to go it alone. Join us in our online community (our private Facebook group) where we invite you to share your insights, ask questions, and get support and/or accountability as you embark on your wellness journey in the midst of mom-life. 

If you’re killing it in some of the wellness dimensions, share the love. If you’ve been failing miserably in some, chances are, someone in the group has been there and can offer insight (or at least direct you to something on Netflix that will take your mind off of it for a minute).

We’re stronger together and no mom should be on this journey alone. So grab your compass, join us and be well!

---