Defining Health:
The American Heritage Dictionary defines health as—"the overall condition of an
organism at a given time."
The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines health as "the condition of being sound
in body, mind, or spirit; especially freedom from physical disease or pain."
The World Health Organization (WHO) defined health as "a state of complete
physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and
infirmity." This still widely-used definition is broader and more positive than simply
defining health as the absence of illness or disability.
Expanding on the WHO definition of health and the commonly understood idea of wellbeing, the concept of wellness is defined as "an active process of becoming aware of
and making choices toward a more successful existence." Wellness encompasses how
people feel about various aspects of their lives. Six interrelated aspects of human life
comprise wellness:
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Emotional wellness refers to awareness, sensitivity, and acceptance of feelings
and the ability to successfully express and manage one's feelings. Emotional
wellness enables people to cope with stress, maintain satisfying relationships
with family and friends, and assume responsibility for their actions.
Intellectual wellness emphasizes knowledge, learning, creativity, problemsolving, and lifelong interest in new ideas.
Occupational wellness relates to preparing for and pursuing work that is
meaningful, satisfying, and consistent with one's interests, aptitudes, and
personal beliefs.
Physical wellness is more than simply freedom from disease. The physical
dimension of wellness concentrates on prevention of illness and encourages
exercise; healthy diet; and knowledgeable, appropriate use of the health care
system. Physical wellness requires individuals to take personal responsibility for
actions and choices that affect their health. Examples of healthy choices include
wearing a seatbelt in automobiles, wearing a helmet when bicycling, and avoiding
tobacco and illegal drugs.
Social wellness is acting in harmony with nature, family, and others in the
community. The pursuit of social wellness may involve actions to protect or
preserve the environment or contribute to the health and well-being of the
community by performing volunteer work.
Spiritual wellness involves finding meaning in life and acting purposefully in
a manner that is consistent with one's deeply held values and beliefs.