Well-Being
What is Well-Being?
Well-being is a term we hear all too often but do we actually know what it means, and more importantly, do we know how to friggin´ achieve it? It is a term that is so alluring, yet so elusive to many, but the good news is that wellbeing is something tangible that we can all incorporate into our lives, on a day by day basis! Woohoooo It is something that we can determine and define all for ourselves, so you, and only you get to decide what works for you! How empowering is that concept, alone?!
Now, more than ever, we are constantly being pulled outside of ourselves every second of the day, whether we want to admit it or not, we are absolute slaves to our mobile phones, social media and the ominous pressures of our everyday lives. If one actually dared to tally up the amount of hours wasted on scrolling the internet, in a blaze of endless comparisons, longing and loathing, the harsh reality would surely hit home.
Can Well-Being HELP You?
Instead of engaging in these acts of self-sabotage, imagine if we would just STOP and put down the phone for just one second (literally, that´s all it takes) to read a book and get out in the glorious fresh air, or, dare I say, have a few quite meditative moments to ourselves? Imagine if we made little tweaks to our daily routines, and slowly began to check in with ourselves to see what really served us best in that very moment? I can assure you we would start to make very different decisions that would, in fact enhance our lives a whole lot more.
Well-being comes back to self-care and self-love with a good old dollop of self-awareness. Well-being is achieved by attending to your own unique needs first and making your own happiness a priority in your life. Sounds pretty straight forward, right?…Yet, you would be amazed at how difficult it is for people to put themselves first and listen to themselves, when there is so much going on in the outside world. It is about doing what you need to do, so that you are a happy and whole person. For some people it could mean a few quiet moments in the morning or evening, for others, it could be committing to their weekly dance class, or it could simply be about having that coffee with your BFF each week, in your fave café, or it could very well be a combination of all those things! It is very subjective and there is no right or wrong way to achieve wellbeing, but it does take conscious action, as well as discovering what actually works for you and what doesn´t, too!
Getting HELP – Counselling Supports
American psychologist, Seligman recognised that there are 5 Pillars of Well-being. He believed that, in order to attain wholeness and happiness in life, we, as humans need to address the following areas of our lives:
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Mental
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Emotional
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Physical
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Spiritual
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Social
So, in essence, we need to fill up each of these areas with actions and/or activities that contribute towards growth in that specific area of our lives. Again, it is up to you to decide, define and determine what exactly works for you, and that is where the fun is! It is like getting to know yourself a little more, you may very well surprise yourself, as you embark on your well-being journey!
When it comes to spiritually, for example, you may dedicate 5 minutes at the start of each day to a little guided meditation, or you could just decide to go out into nature and hug trees on Tuesdays! I mean, no judgement here, if that is part of your well-being plan and contributes to your well-being, then….Go. For. It!
Now, it is worth mentioning that, for those of us in the LGBTQI community, mental health can be something that most of us have had struggles with along the way. In 2018 alone, it was stated that 90 percent of young people within the LGBTQI community faced mental health issues, which is an extremely worrying statistic. With this in mind, it is so important for us to prioritise our mental health, and not neglect it, when it comes to well-being. We cannot omit or replace one area, for another, we really do have have to be all-inclusive, as uncomfortable or alien, as it may seem, at first.
Remember, it is all about exploring what works for you, when it comes to each of the five areas of well-being, so, what are you waiting for?
“Family support is very important, what struck me at Pride last summer was all the young kids who were there with their families, that is really important.”
What does it mean for the LGBT+ community?
It is time to take your well-being seriously, and be the badass that you know you already are.
Here are some ideas to get you started on your Well-being Journey:
- Mental – Mindfulness, Getting out in nature, Colouring, Hiking
- Emotional – Talking, Seeking support groups, Journaling, Counselling
- Physical – Exercising, Dancing, Painting, Cycling, Swimming, Pilates
- Spiritual – Meditations, Mantras, Affirmations, Retreats, Yoga
- Social – Joining a hobby group, Volunteering, Doing a course
PS: If you have any tips, suggestions, then we would love to hear from you, guys!
Good luck and Namaste, friends! #YouGotThis
For COVID:
- Be Compassionate, Be Patient, Be Kind with yourself, even more so.
- Have that chocolate bar
- Meditate
- Prepare a morning and evening routine that works for you
- Exercise
- Make that call, stay close to your people
- Watch your fave movie series
And most importantly, talk, communicate and share your experiences with others. They, too could be struggling and by speaking out, you could be helping someone on their well-being journey
We all have to take care, now, more than ever. Make well-being a priority in your day, start with small changes and go from there.
Ironically, by giving yourself time, you can free up time, prioritise, focus, be more productive and happy