This was originally posted in 2016 after a very bad car accident in 2014. In earlier posts in The Wellness Lifeline Blog, I talked about physical, spiritual, intellectual, social, & occupational wellness. This week we will revisit emotional wellness. I chose emotional wellness because holidays and election results can be especially emotional at times. Dr. Bill Hettler, co-founder of the National Wellness Institute (NWI), states that “The emotional dimension recognizes awareness and acceptance of one’s feelings.” It includes the amount of positive feelings we have about ourselves and our life.
In 2015, due to the car accident, I had to work at my emotional wellness and I find that it is a continual work in progress. I was positive about still being alive, but had trouble being enthusiastic about each day in my life or my future as it was very unsure. Many of us have days and years like that, but how do we manage to stay emotionally well during those times. What is our capacity to manage our feelings or behaviors during times that are tough? We have to be able to realistically assess our limitations and cope effectively with stress for the sake of emotional wellness. That means we have to be able to assess where we are emotionally. Dr. Hettler states that “the well person maintains satisfying relationships with others…and an awareness of, and acceptance of a wide range of feelings in yourself.” This is essential to wellness.
Wellness Path
On the path to wellness, we grow in our ability to express and manage our feelings effectively, even when we face challenging and uncertain times like those following a major election. It’s about learning to navigate our emotional landscape with awareness and acceptance. By cultivating this skill, we can make more thoughtful decisions, relying on a synthesis of our feelings, critical thinking, thoughts, and ideas. It’s a holistic process that allows us to respond to situations in ways that honor both our emotional truths and our logical assessments, thus promoting emotional wellness.
Emotional Wellness with Social Wellness
Emotional wellness doesn’t exist in isolation; it intersects closely with social wellness. While many of us value our independence and often pride ourselves on managing things alone, true wellness involves recognizing the importance of seeking and accepting the help of others. This is a lesson I continue to learn myself. I’ve always viewed myself as the one who gives help, not the one who needs it. But the truth is, none of us are entirely self-sufficient. The belief that we must handle everything on our own can lead to unnecessary stress, exhaustion, and even risky choices.
Take today, for instance. Instead of asking for help, I climbed up a ladder to fix my beeping smoke alarms. While I managed to get the job done without incident, it was a reminder of my struggle to lean on others when I need to. In the moment, it felt like an accomplishment, but in hindsight, I realized that I put myself in a potentially dangerous situation rather than making a simple phone call for help. This pattern of behavior—choosing self-reliance over seeking support—is something I’m actively working on to improve my emotional wellness.
It’s OK to Ask For Help
If you find yourself in a similar place, know that you’re not alone. It’s okay to ask for help, even if it feels uncomfortable or unfamiliar. It’s a sign of strength, not weakness, to recognize when we need support. Whether we’re navigating the complex emotions of a post-election climate or dealing with everyday challenges, reaching out to others can be a powerful step toward true emotional wellness. By allowing ourselves to be supported, we create deeper connections, reduce stress, and take better care of our overall well-being.
It is important to form interdependent relationships with others based on a mutual commitment, trust and respect. Conflict and challenges should be recognized as being a healthy part of life. Change will happen and it actually takes more energy to resist than to accept it and work through it. Life is an exciting, positive, hopeful adventure and if you are emotionally healthy this is how you will see it. One of the little things that keeps me on track is “Notes from the Universe” from tut.com. When you sign up for them, in a magical way, they always make sense for where you are right then. They are uplifting and give a hopeful start to my day. Sometimes they give me a laugh when I realize how very true that particular note is.
According to Dr. Hettler, “Emotional wellness follows these tenets:
• It is better to be aware of and accept our feelings than to deny them.
• It is better to be optimistic in our approach to life than pessimistic.”
Making Goals
A few things to work on and think about. Have realistic goals and work through them daily. This is something I talked about before in my earlier posts. My goals and dreams have kept me going through my difficult times. Release your anger and resentments as they are poisonous. Keep positive thoughts, that brings positive energy and good things to us. Learn to let yesterday go and enjoy today, which supports emotional wellness. And I always find something funny in every day as laughter is such good medicine.
Remember our dimensions of wellness. Eat a healthy diet, get good exercise and enough sleep (another one I work on constantly, although I do take naps) and ask a friend for help if you feel emotionally at risk. Don’t allow words like can’t! The Huffington Post blog suggests 5 great habits for emotional health: Protect your self-esteem, Take control after a failure, Distract yourself from brooding thoughts, Find meaning after a loss, Recover self-worth after a rejection.
What are your questions about Emotional Wellness and where are you in your emotional wellness? What do you do to stay emotionally healthy? Share with me!
Please take the time to look at my new book, Promises Kept.
Safe journeys until next week :).
Susie
