Three Core Areas of Wellness and The Eight Key Factors
The Three Core Areas of Wellness are the MIND, the BODY, and the SPIRIT.
In my own wellness journey, I didn’t see this until I scaled what I would call my “first mountain”, which simply (and not so simply at all), involved getting to a place where I had created new habits in my life that support my mental, physical and spiritual well-being.
My idea of Full Circle Wellness is a variation on the “Pie of Life” that includes Eight Key Factors, that each fit into one of the Three Core Areas of Wellness. These Eight Key Factors are: Mental Health, Physical Fitness, Nutrition, Finances (yes, really), Purpose, Personal Development, Joy/Leisure, and Faith or Spirituality.
Mental Health Being : Introspection, internal work, meditation, journaling, working with a therapist, EMDR, IFS, somatic practices
Physical Fitness Being: Exercise. How are you moving your body in ways that feel good to you? Exercise should be enjoyable, not a punishment. Do you walk? Do you lift weights? Cycle? Dance? Swim? Find something you enjoy, or several things that you enjoy, that you can and will do consistently. Exercising consistently supports a good mood, your mindset, the function of your brain and your body’s function as a whole.
Nutrition Being: What do you consume? Real, Whole, Food. Nutrients. Nourishment. Supplements. Protein. Food is fuel. Food is medicine. What are you watching? Reading? Scrolling through? Nutrition, what you consume, is everything from what you feed your body, to what you feed your mind.
Finances Being: Money. Debt to income ratio. Investments. Savings. Budgeting. Why is this included? Because when your finances are screwed, you are more likely to experience higher levels of stress and shame, even anxiety or panic attacks. I know from experience. Getting your financial ducks in a row brings you peace of mind.
Purpose Being: The work you do, what you put out into the world, how you show up in service of others? Do you like what you do for a living? If not, where and how can you take action to make a change?
Personal Development Being: What are you learning? What are you reading? Are you taking a course, are you doing school work? How are you leveling up in what you know, and investing in yourself? Are you taking on a physical fitness challenge? How are you pushing yourself to be just 1% better, on a consistent basis?
Joy/Leisure Being: Fun, leisure activities with no goal other than to be in joy doing it. Hobbies, time spent with friends, vacationing, whatever it is that you like to do FOR YOU, and FOR FUN, with no ulterior motive. In my life this looks like painting, drawing, cooking, dancing, going out with friends for a meal, reading, embroidery, and traveling.
Spirituality/Faith Being: A Higher Power of your own understanding. Maybe you’re Christian, or witchy and Pagan, or non-denominational, or something else. It doesn’t matter. None of it is wrong. What’s important is that you believe in being a part of something larger than yourself. The Universe. Source. God. The Force. It doesn’t matter. I used to be an atheist. Before that I was brought up Catholic. My Faith now leans Pagan/non-denominational. I believe in God, The Universe, Nature as the single source of our ONENESS. Believe what YOU want to believe in, and keep the Faith. Make practicing your Faith a part of your daily life.
You will notice that I don’t include things here like “family” and “friends”, or even your marriage or relationship, because Full Circle Wellness is about YOU. When YOU are fully well, your relationships with others should, and will, fall right into place. Because if YOU are fully well, you will step away from something toxic, and if YOU are fully well, you will lean into worthwhile connections, joy, and understanding in healthy and fulfilling relationships, whether they be with a partner, friends or family. Full Circle Wellness is about cleaning up your side of the street. Getting right, and well with YOURSELF, so that you can show up for others in a powerful way. We can easily forget that in order to pour into the cups of others, our cups must first be full.
