If your intention is optimal wellbeing, it is paramount to understand the holistic nature of the term and visualize what this could personally look and feel like for you.
There is consensus on what wellbeing is from leading organizations. For instance, the U.S. Surgeon General recently released a Framework entitled “The 5Essentials for Workplace Mental Health & Wellbeing” which encompasses 1)Protection from Harm, 2) Connection & Community, 3) Work-Life Harmony, 4) Mattering at Work, and 5) Opportunity for Growth. [1] According to the World Health Organization "Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” [2]
At Front Goose, we support both definitions with a simple framework to understand holistic wellbeing; wellness in, and the synergy of, the mind, body, and spirit. We find people thrive when these three facets of life experience are honored and nourished. In fact, it is only when all three facets are attended to consistently that we achieve optimal wellbeing.
The “Mind” is our cognition and thought processes, and includes intuition, awareness, creativity, and impulse control. Within wellness of the mind we seek optimal clarity, presence, mindfulness, and the ability to regulate emotions.
With wellness of “Spirit” we are in touch with our true nature and soul-essence. Spirit provides us with connection to that which is greater, deep and meaningful connection to other beings, and includes our life-purpose, and being of service to others. Spirit naturally propels us forward in constant growth and development. Spirit is the most subtle aspect of our being, and yet there is plenty of research that speaks to the need for connection to others, and living a meaningful, purposeful life because of the impact spirit has on mind and body.
“Body” is the complete manifestation of the whole person. Every aspect of us is present in the material body because the body houses mind and spirit. Within wellness of the body, we seek optimal physical health through body awareness, movement / exercise, nutrition, sleep / rest, and breathwork. However, the body’s optimal state is dependent on the wellbeing of the mind and spirit. The interaction of these three facets, when attended to equally, creates increased wellbeing.
In our Western, modern cultures, we tend to focus more of our attention on the physical body because we can see it and feel it. It appears to be the most “real” aspect of ourselves. It’s also very human to focus more of our attention at any time on one facet (mind, body, spirit) at the negligence of the other two. We tend to separate the concept of mind and spirit/soul from the body. We can see this division clearly within our western approach to health care. We have a doctor(s) for the body and a different doctor for the mind. And perhaps a different figure as a spiritual guide. However, this segregation often leaves us with a feeling of imbalance and general discontent. For instance, we may place strong attention on our physical bodies and perhaps some of us prioritize going for a run or some other form of exercise multiple times per week. This physical exercise likely leaves us feeling upbeat, as the endorphins pump through our bodies and give us increased confidence & even moments of clarity. However, some of us might notice other aspects of our lives are out of whack to varying degrees. Perhaps we aren’t as connected with others as we’d like to be, or we are searching for deeper meaning in our lives. Chances are we could benefit from developing practices and habits that fine tune our mental clarity and spiritual connection.
If we think of wellbeing as another task we must add to our already full to-do list, we might think of it as a burden. But thankfully, as we start to live in a way that addresses the health and wellness of the mind, body, and spirit, an intrinsic momentum and integration occurs that supports and reinforces the methods and the process. When we truly address well-being, as Front Goose defines it, we allow ourselves to experience our whole being, becoming not only the leader of our own life, but expanding the energy of well-being to those around us.
You might ask where to start?
That’s what we are here for. Welcome to Front Goose.
Learn more about our RISE Executive Leadership Course HERE.
[1] U.S. Surgeon Generals Framework for Workplace Mental Health & Wellbeing, 2022. https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/five-essentials-workplace-mental-health-well-being.pdf
[2]World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/about/governance/constitution
