Health Found in All Areas of Life

Many of us may think of health in a singular way, but there are many applications of this word. For instance, health used to be thought of as merely the absence of disease and still is by many. On the other hand, a deeper analysis on health reveals it encompasses so much more.

Health has several facets and can intertwine with nearly any area of our lives. This is good because changing times and a more complex age should require a more sophisticated definition of health. As this article proceeds we’ll be investigating six facets of health, and the term “wellness” will be used interchangeably with health. Of course, most naturally, wellness consists of a physical component. Fitness has five components:

Cardiovascular endurance

Muscular endurance

Muscular strength

Body composition

Flexibility.

Each of these areas measures a specific integral element of fitness. Here are the definitions of each from the textbook Core Concepts in Health.

Cardiovascular endurance is the body’s ability to perform prolonged, large muscle, dynamic exercises as moderate-to-high levels of intensity. Muscular endurance is the ability of a muscle or group of muscles to remain contracted or to contract repeatedly for a long period of time compared with muscular strength, which is the amount of force a muscle can produce with a single maximum effort. Body composition is the proportion of fat and fat free mass in the body. Finally, flexibility is the range of motion in a joint or group of joints. All of these may be improved with various forms of exercise, but physical wellness is more than exercise. Nutrition is also extremely vital area in maintain one’s physical health. Also, remaining celibate till marriage, getting regular checkups from the doctor and staying injury free, all fall in the category of physical health. These days we often hear about self-esteem and self-confidence. Both are very important aspects in the area of emotional wellness or health. The ability to maintain a strong state of mind in the face of life’s myriad supply of adversity will always prove significant. Other attributes of emotional wellness include, a positive outlook, accepting oneself and being honest to others. Yet another facet of health is intellectual wellness. This encompasses a mind that has a continuous desire and need to be educated and to learn more. Also, being open to different ideas, and challenging the status quo through intelligent questions are other means to gain additional personal growth and development. Spirituality is the area of our health that provides for a purpose and meaningful existence in life. It is here we find answers to why we exist and appropriate behavior to our surroundings. Plus, spiritually builds a bond between humankind to share with each other. Spirituality builds a bond between humankind to share with each other. Spirituality can be expressed through our belief in God and all that entails. Having good wholesome and meaningful relationships is a satisfying component of wellness. It is a basic need we all have to reach out and connect with others through various relationships. We are social beings designed to communicate and to be intimate. Finally, environmental wellness details one possessing a personal concern for problems with pollution, food supply and violence in society. What is important here is how we go about solving society’s ills individually and in concerned groups. So there we have it, health and wellness being exhibited in every facet of life. Yes, health expands into the physical realm, but then it delves even deeper as it touches our innermost thoughts and beliefs regarding all areas of life. Thus, complete health enables us to become complete individuals.