4AM Wellness Crew

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8 Keys to Unlocking Your Wellness Wealth

Greetings 4am Fitness Crew.

Are we way too audacious to assert our right to abundant hope, health, and happiness? Or should we save our sanity from the illusive promise of happiness and instead settle for sporadic visits of laughter, conquest, and pleasure?

Let us be candid, on days of bliss, we know happiness is our forever friend, then on days of irritation, pushback and simply no answers, our malaise often pulls the oxygen on our hope and happiness – leaving us in a vacuum of purpose.

These are consequential questions that should not be ignored or minimized (Is happiness a realistic state of being or should we (just) settle or manage?.  Our emotional and mental health … indeed our physiological health and well-being rest on our philosophy of happiness.  This is not some esoteric argument – this debate has real life consequences (Source: PubMed: Happiness and Health). We simply cannot hide behind an insightful one-liner or some profound quote to this enigmatic philosophical dilemma. Our socio-cultural enclaves might hold some answers to how we interact with the above conundrum.  

I am pretty confident (that) the most recent “Happiness Dilemma” in Western society can be divided into two periods: Before the Covid-19 pandemic and after the Covid-19 pandemic. Maybe we can reference a similar socio-psychological dynamic with the stock market crash of 1929 and the residual (on the American psyche) of the 1930s.

Before Covid-19

This period is very much defined by a “Happiness-Strong,” Optimist-Success,” “Positive thinking equals Positive Outcomes,” narrative that puts the onus for emotional, mental, physical, and financial wellness on the individual. Individual strength – “I believe in me” – trumps structural barriers and other glaring realities. The bottom line here is, those (The Individual) who succeed have a more positive and optimistic approach to life – i.e., are stronger emotionally and mentally. You can see the very dark path where such myopic thinking leads ... racism, misogyny, classism, nationalism, lack of empathy and community; and policies that favor the “strong” (the rich and well-connected).

While most of us frowned at such a warped version of strength, success and indeed a happy and fulfilling life (think info-commercials and commercials), we with almost robotic vacuousness marched faithfully and fatefully into its embrace. Researchers found very little resistance to this way of thinking, with a troubling eighty (80) percent of people living in the West “suffering” from an emotional malady referred to as optimism bias – which means we embrace and process successful and positive experiences while intentionally ignoring and diminishing the life lessons of failures and negative experiences. Source: The Negative Side of Positive Psychology.

After Covid-19 Pandemic                                                                                                

The Covid-19 Pandemic mercilessly shredded the intellectually fraudulent construct of hyper-positive individualism in a matter of weeks.  Our optimism bias - “Happiness-Strong,” Optimist-Success,” “Positive thinking equals Positive Outcomes” totally ill prepared us for the emotional thud of Covid-19. The frailty of our emotional and physical strength – even our (macro and micro) financial security was embarrassingly exposed by the cruel randomness of this disease.

Obvious Fear, uncertainty and vulnerability was now our human commonality. Source: PubMed Central: Emotional, Behavioral, and Psychological Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The trauma inflicted by Covid-19 forced us to take a second critical look at individualism and (some aspects of) positive psychology and our “little” philosophical happy debate.

So …

I audaciously assert we can live lives infused with Hope, Health, and Happiness!

Why from our first cry to our last breath do we yearn and seek and embrace the state of joyful living? The joy of birth and the sorrow of a funeral. The ecstasy of success and the agony of failure. The pleasure of love found, and the pain of love lost. Paradoxical? Maybe. Life? Surely! And to all these spaces a mindful, intentional, and consistent approach to wellness has the potential to maintain, restore, and refuel our balance, our happiness, our well-being.

A workable definition of both well-being and happiness is necessary towards embracing the viewpoint that the state of happiness is indeed a realistic human expectation; an expectation more proficiently embraced through executing these eight wellness dimensions. Wellness then is the continuous act of intentionally unlocking, practicing, promoting, and protecting our holistic happiness and well-being.  While happiness is that state of being anchored by gratitude, and nourished by contentment - where purpose, peace, and joy hydrate our well-being.

Here are your keys! Unlock your abundance!

Key #1: Spiritual Wellness

Whether you call it meditation or prayer. Whether it is lifting up your hands, bowing your head, or prostrating your body. Whether you adhere to an organized belief system or not. Or you are simply sitting in tranquil surety - sipping on your preferred morning brew, you are warmly welcome in this space. And while these eight wellness dimensions are interconnected, the spiritual wellness dimension is a necessary space to start. A space that unlocks the soul’s reluctance to receive. Deservingly receive.   This is a space of stillness. No phone. No social media. The morning paper can wait. This is a space of authenticity. This is a space where you hear your voice unfiltered. This is the space where the universe affirms your acceptance, purpose, and value. This is the space where you celebrate acceptance, purpose, and value. Use this key to unlock the power of serenity.

p.s. This is your Sanctuary of Serenity. You may choose to decorate this space with poetry, reading a holy book, uplifting music, or repeating affirmations quietly. 

Key #2: Emotional Wellness

In this space of stillness, serenity, and acceptance you can now confidently unlock the Emotional Wellness space. Emotional wellness is not about avoiding our failures, weaknesses, and vulnerabilities, while only celebrating our strengths and successes. It is embracing all of you. It is about being grateful for your success, mourning your losses and being intentional about managing your stresses and setbacks.  To this space you must mindfully bring gratitude, humility, forgiveness, honesty, and patience.

It is inevitable, situations will arise that knock you off your emotional equilibrium and leave you inadequate to manage this space proficiently. When this occurs, please seek out a trusted friend, a mentor, and a license mental health professional. 

Unlock your emotional wellness and celebrate you. All of you.

Key #3: Financial Wellness

If only financial wellness were as simple as not purchasing your favorite cup of coffee every morning. The frustration most of us must deal with is the impactful financial issues that confront us – interest rates, mortgage rates, wages, inflation, and housing availability and affordability - we are mere bystanders constantly reacting. That is stressful! In fact, it is stressful for 90% of us, according to a CNBC survey (Source: 90% of Americans say money impacts their stress level, according to survey. CNBC).

But we are NOT powerless in this scenario. Remember, our Spiritual Key affirmed us. Our Emotional Key empowered us. Our Financial Key is about to open doors of opportunity for us.

My mantra in the Financial Wellness space is control to the maximum what you can. A lot of the macro-economic stuff is out of our control – but we can take significant actions in our personal financial space to boost our financial wellness and in so doing positively impact our health and well-being.

  • Create a budget. Stick to your budget.

  • Have a discipline Savings and Investment Strategy

  • Get a Financial Mentor

  • Utilize financial literacy tools from your financial institutions

  • Attend free financial workshops hosted by your county, community college or non-profits. These forums offer invaluable information and resources.

  • Be on the same page with your partner

For more useful information check out our blog “7 Tips to Boost your Wellbeing this Spring” under the section “Budget Prudently.” Also, at the end of the blog – “7 Tips to Boost your Wellbeing this Spring” we have some helpful financial tools.

Use your Financial Wellness Key to unlock the benefits of discipline saving, prudent investing and the power of ownership.

Key #4: Social Wellness

Humans are social beings and strong social relationships are necessary, encouraging, comforting, uplifting, and positively feed our holistic health and well-being. Our social circle is that space where we feel safe to be ourselves; to laugh, to cry and even the occasional profanity without being judged. These are the people you expect to encourage you when you need encouragement and dissuade you when you seem intent on embarking on a self-destructive journey.

It is also socially healthy to venture out of our comfort zone to participate in community forums and events that foster discussion, understanding and collective upliftment.

Use your Social Wellness Key to bravely unlock the wealth this space affords.  Volunteer, mentor, coach sports teams. Give back to the community that has given so much to you.

p.s. Friendships should not be toxic or one-sided. Do not hesitate to do a friendship audit.

Key #5: Environmental Wellness

Environmental wellness refers to that collective physical space that we all share. That space where we raise our kids, grow our food, shop, exercise, worship. That space where we work, play, celebrate and mourn. That space where we breathe. Community. We are called to promote this collective wealth – our environment with a similar vigor as the health and balance of our spiritual and emotional spaces. It would be an absurdity to be busy building physical, emotional, social, and financial wellness while paying scant attention to our environment.

Clean water, clean air, green and open spaces, are necessary for our health and well-being. Easy access to fresh and affordable food, easy access to quality affordable health, are necessary for our health and well-being.

Working to promote communities free from the toxicity of disparities, bigotries and barriers is necessary for our health and well-being.

Use your Environmental Wellness Key to build a thriving, clean, safe, exciting, and inviting environment for all - today and for future generations.

Key #6: Physical Wellness

What better way to celebrate your wellness wealth than by participating in fun physical activities: gardening, biking, swimming, dancing, hiking, join a rec team, etc., there are so many fun options that elevate your heart rate, build muscle, burn calories and is great for your emotional wellness – you always feel better at the end of a workout session. Endorphins!

Add nutritional mindfulness and consistency to your physical fitness regimen. To be candid, you might just be undermining all that effort you consistently put into your exercise program if you ignore a healthy and balanced approach to nutrition. Like your fun exercise sessions, eating healthy should also be fun and exciting. Fill your drinking glass with lots of water, and your plate with fruits, veggies, legumes, wholegrains, healthy proteins, and fats. Our blog on Clean Eating is a very informative and motivational resource.  

Use your Physical Wellness Key to unlock the joys of fun physical activities and nutritious and delicious foods. Use your Physical Wellness Key to lock out unhealthy habits such as inadequate sleep, smoking and the abuse of alcohol and other harmful substances that undermine our health and well-being.

Key #7: Occupational Wellness

According to some estimates most people spend one-third of their adult life at work. Our occupational space therefore has an oversize impact on our other wellness spaces. And it appears this impact has not been very positive of late. This headline from fortune magazine caught my attention recently: “American workers hate their jobs so much that nearly half of them wouldn’t wish it on their worst enemy.” Whoa … Depending on the survey, anywhere between 50% to 85% of people hate their jobs. And yes, there are people who absolutely love their jobs, and still others for who it is, “just a job.” Whether you self-define as “Love my job,” Hate my job,” or “It’s just a job,” work-life balance is important to your health and well-being.

You can foster and enrich this space in the following ways:

  • Purpose: One of the gifts conferred on you in your Spiritual Wellness space was purpose. You have purpose, you have value, you have gifts, use them in whatever occupational space you are in.

  • Patience: Be patient with yourself and the environment you are in. Enjoy the journey, learn from the journey, build on the journey. This is not about complacency, but rather contentment. Finding contentment and peace and growth at that moment in time.

  • Seek growth opportunities: Keep your head up. Keep your eyes open. There are always opportunities for growth – formally and informally. Some of these opportunities might involve financial renumeration – some might not – but seize them. You are building your attitude, your confidence, your experience, your skillset for the next opportunity. For that breakthrough opportunity.

  • Get a Life: If you can take a long walk or some form of exercise during your lunch break or after work. Get other colleagues involved. During this time do not talk about work. Keep it light and fun. Stress free environment. Have cut-off time to shut down work – both functionally and mentally. Do not leave work, then get on the phone and talk about work for the next hour. Not healthy.

Your Occupational Wellness Key has the power to unlock purpose, opportunity, creativity, and prosperity whether you are an employer, employee, or entrepreneur. This space can also be toxic, and its toxicity can leak lethally into the other Wellness Dimensions. Be mindful to create a work-life balance that best serves your health and well-being.

Key # 8: Intellectual Wellness

“The Mind is Just Like

A Muscle – The More

You Exercise It,

The Stronger It Gets

And the More it

Can Expand.” ~ Idowu Koyenikan

This wellness dimension involves purposeful involvement in mental activities that are stimulating, fun and fulfilling. These activities often take you out of your comfort zone, like taking up art or learning a new language.  Other activities promote problem-solving, and creativity. You might decide to resume your interest in chess by joining a chess club or return to school to take some non-credit classes at your community college.

Intellectual Wellness is fun, exciting, and mind-boosting, and you never run out of challenging things to do. Use Key #8 to unlock your whole new world.

Concluding Thoughts

What a space of wellness privilege and wealth you find yourself in this morning. It is not some utopian space; your purpose will be challenged, your value and values will be called into question, people and even policies and laws might be resistant to accepting you – but remember, you have these invaluable keys. Use them!

Intentionally, mindfully, and with a sense of reverence unlock these eight dimensions every day in your early morning oasis. You are not unlocking perfection, you are unlocking a journey, a balanced wellness journey where happiness is not the destination – but rather a state of being; a state of being anchored by gratitude and nourished by contentment, where purpose, peace, and joy hydrate our well-being. A space accessible to EVERYONE.

 


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