So if you’ve visited my business FaceBook page, you may have noticed the name is Perfectly Imperfect Ways to Health and Wellness. When I started the page several years ago, I was looking for a space to share information and resources that supported folks in their pathway of being healthy and well in their lifestyle. Perfectly Imperfect continues to be really meaningful to me. My life is constantly imperfect, and I choose to believe that’s the way it’s supposed to be. Health to me is not just eating a specific diet or exercising, it’s about creating a lifestyle that supports me thriving in my life. Wellness, well I’ve come to struggle with that concept a little bit.

I feel like “wellness” has turned into a buzz word It’s an easy word to use to draw attention from people who are looking to have a sense of health in their life. But at what point does it become a little watered down? So I’ve thought a good bit about what it means to me and why it’s important.

To me it’s important to live a life and to support other’s living their lives in such a way that allows them to be their best selves today. That means making decisions that tend to all of our needs - physical, mental, cognitive, relational, etc. Today is going to look different than tomorrow and this week is going to look different then the following week ,so the decisions I make today are probably going to change from day-to-day and week-to-week too. Despite those changes though, there’s a general sense of consistency or some ongoing consistent effort that’s aligned with a larger goal. For example, there’s been times in my life when I’ve needed to spend energy managing my stress level. So today it may mean going to bed early to ensure I get plenty of rest. Tomorrow it might be generally eating healthy so I have the energy I need for my day but also maybe treating myself to some of my favorite dark chocolate as well. One day it may be a decent run and working up a sweat, while the next day it’s a long walk enjoying being outside. It means when I’m feeling stressed, prioritizing what I need to focus on so as not to stretch myself even further. You see there’s both flexibility to tend to my current needs but also consistent daily effort. It’s not always giving in to the immediate impulses that are actually likely to move me away from my goal. But when I do give in to the impulse, I am compassionate with myself and don’t get stuck there or beat myself up. I also need the capacity to slow down, to listen to myself and to be honest with myself about what I need. And then finally the courage to allow myself to meet my own needs. So for me living well is a combination of consistency and flexibility and it’s what leads to a state of health. It’s imperfect because I’m a fallible human being and regardless of how good this all sounds written down or reading it, like anything else it’s impossible to do perfectly every single day.

I wonder what wellness means to you and how you work towards a life well lived? Does your lifestyle of wellness result in a healthy way of being? Does wellness come easily or is it a real challenge for you? I’d love to hear your thoughts or comments on the concept of wellness! Leave a comment below!

Peace, grace and brave hearts,