Personal health and wellness goes beyond an absence of major mental illnesses or psychological disorders. Personal wellness involves resiliency, the ability to enjoy life, and balance. Here's how positive psychology works in daily life.
The Picture of Mental Health is Evolving
Emotional wellness was once viewed as black-or-white: you cried all day and showed other signs of depression or you didn't. You were treated by a psychiatrist or you weren't. You talked to aliens from outer space and played with winged cats or you didn't.
Now, however, there's a more holistic approach to mental health and personal wellness. It involves positive psychology, which includes wellness programs. Positive psychology treats your whole mind, body, and soul.
How Positive Psychology Works
Dr. Martin Seligman, psychology professor at the University of Pennsylvania, has coined the term "positive psychology" to encompass a holistic approach to mental wellness. The shift is leaning away from disease to health, which could change how we define and treat psychological disorders.
Positive psychology focuses on positive emotions, strengths, and good mental health. Happiness, meaning of life, and life satisfaction are part of this branch of psychology – which is gaining popularity. Personal wellness involves your whole life, not just treatment of a psychological disorder.
3 Characteristics of Mental Health
Think of your last problem. How did you cope? Did it knock you down for days or weeks, or were you able to solve it with relative ease and move on? Don't compare yourself to your sister, partner, or neighbor: your coping strategies are unique. They depend on your own personality, skills, and mental profile. Your coping strategies or resilience are a measure of your personal wellness.
If by your own estimation you didn't cope well with your most recent problems, think about these characteristics of mental health and personal wellness.
1. Ability to enjoy life. Do you like your life, friends, and job? Can you enjoy the present moment without worrying excessively about the past or future? Would you call yourself a happy person? This is how positive psychology works, and are also indications of personal wellness.
2. Balance. Are you striking a healthy balance between recreation, rest, work, play, family time, and hobbies? Have you chosen a few aspects of life in which to dig deep – or are you trying to do it all? Do you feel frazzled and frantic? Balance indicates good mental health.
3. Resiliency. How well do you bounce back after an obstacle or blow? This is resilience and it affects personal wellness. Can you deal with stress without becoming bitter, pessimistic, angry, or defeated? Are you like the energizer bunny who keeps on ticking (which means you're resilient), or a popped balloon that never regains its fullness or vitality? Positive psychology includes certain steps to resiliency.
Personal health and wellness also includes figuring out who you are and what you want out of life.
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Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen - Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen is a full-time writer and blogger in Vancouver, BC, and the creator of the Quips and Tips blog series.
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