As a Finn, even though I have lived abroad for almost two decades, I still struggle with English small talk. Finns don’t really do small talk. So, when a person greets me with “How are you?” I tend to hear a true question and respond in-depth about how I am really doing… Often this takes the other person off-guard when, after all, they were just politely greeting me.
Rating Your Own Wellness
Today I am asking you as a coach: “How are you, really?”
Do not give me “I’m fine thank you…” but the honest, straight-forward truth. Think about a scale – the non-digital, old-fashioned kind where we are seeking to balance both sides – and rate your overall wellbeing between one and ten. One means that your wellness totally suck and ten means it’s fantastic and couldn’t be any better. For a balanced life and overall wellbeing, I whole-heartedly wish that your score be eight or above most of the time.
Adaptation to Change
The year 2020 has been a major shock and has brought massive change to all of our lives. As part of the adaptation process, many of us might be scoring fairly low on the scale depending on where we are in the process. Maybe you are taking the ‘deep dive’ only now. Perhaps you are on your way up towards the ‘average wellness’ on a wave-like movement with its associated ups and downs. Or maybe you have already adapted to the new normal and are back to your ‘normal positive self’.
If your score is on the lower end, do not panic. Wellness tends to fluctuate. The pandemic has introduced a roller coaster with regular slumps and backslides. It is normal not to be at your optimal wellness. In general, a good life includes both ups and downs.
Different Aspects of Wellness
The concept of wellness is broad and includes the following aspects:
- physical;
- social;
- emotional;
- spiritual;
- intellectual;
- occupational; and
- financial.
So – How are you doing, really?
The tip here is to assess your own situation. What aspects of wellness are you doing well? Which aspects concern you?
I am inviting you to first of all celebrate the aspects of wellness that are in good shape. Then take note of the ones which require improvement. Be gentle on yourself. Choose one thing to focus on and take just one step forward, one day at a time. Prioritise your wellness.
Stay close by. I shall be sharing more about the different aspects of wellness in the forthcoming blogs.
Pauliina Mapatha has twenty years of experience in both the government and non-profit sectors and is a certified life coach. She established her own consultancy company in 2006 and has found her passion for supporting individuals and organisations with change, transformation and wellness.
To contact coach Pauliina click here.
