Wellness Is Not One Size Fits All

 

Wellness- “a state of being in good health; a lifestyle that is actively pursued” – Dictionary.com

If I had a dollar for every time someone believed I was well, because of my physique, I would be rolling in MONEY ahah! Although I am not rolling in money, I am constantly conjuring up new thoughts in my mind. Many of which I desire to share with you. Over the next few weeks, I intend to center my blog posts around topics of “wellness”. I hope to provide you with things to consider on your wellness journey. Additionally, I hope you will take this dialogue into consideration as you seek to respect and understand the wellness journey of others.

People often equate wellness to a certain size or diet. However, it is important to note that “well” looks different on everyone. Wellness is truly tailormade as no one on earth is exactly alike. While it is true that we all have common needs, the way in which we meet them may be different. Think about the quote “there is more than one way to cook an egg”.  Now apply that thought to wellness. There is more than one way to wellness. This thought originally popped in my mind as I found myself overwhelmed with a list of “things” I thought I needed to do in order to be “well”. I was literally trying to figure out which store to go to so I could make an acai bowl. Even though I DO NOT like acai! Talk about ridiculous.  It was at that moment and a couple others (let’s be honest) I realized I was being influenced by popular wellness culture. I genuinely had to take a step back and define what “wellness” meant to me and what it would look like in my life.

I am someone who constantly participates in introspection. So, it was only natural I decipher my actions through journaling and self-observation. This took some time and is an ongoing practice but for ME it is well worth the investment. Through introspection I re-examined my values and actions which led me to discover how I would go about my wellness journey. No longer would I force things into being. Instead, I would open myself up to the idea of letting things flow naturally. Meaning I would gravitate towards foods, activities, practices and people that truly spoke to my spirit as opposed to what popular culture deemed “healthy”. I had to remind myself that I am an individual first while every other identity (family member, team member, etc.)  falls second. This may seem like a no brainer but in a society where images, ideas, and trends are constantly thrown at us it is easy to get lost in the sauce.

Taking a step back and taking agency over my journey has been enlightening to say the least. I have a better understanding of what I need. I have a better appreciation for my unique methods to obtain wellness.

Every day on your wellness journey you will gain a deeper understanding of what you need and an appreciation for all that you have done so far to get to this point. I want you to remember that you are fully in charge of your life. You decide how you will show up in this world. You decide what you want for yourself and how you will obtain it. You decide what your wellness journey looks like.

It is my hope that you show up for yourself. It is my hope that you show up honest. It is my hope that you show up well.

Peace, Love and Joy

-Shalanda