In search of Wellness:
a movement to Wholeness

Bob Tschannen-Moran

II prefer to think of wellness as the movement toward wholeness that comes from making positive contributions to one's own life as well as the life of others, the planet, and all that is. Now there's a definition that soars! It is also a definition that everyone and anyone can claim in the present moment, regardless of one's current physical or mental condition. The question of wellness has less to do with the condition of our body and mind than with the movement of our body and mind in the direction of wholeness. And no one is ever more than a breath away from making that move. Wellness works best when the four dimensions -- self, others, planet, and cosmos -- work together in common cause.

Feeding the 7 billion people on this planet is no easy task and we don't do it well. The industrial food complex generates both obesity and starvation at the same time as it twists and tortures the environment with its global methods of production, transportation, storage, and distribution. That's bad for all four sectors -- me, others, the planet, and the cosmos.

But what's a person to do? I slowly shifted to organic whole foods and pastured meats, ideally from local farmers and ranchers. Such food costs more, and it's not always available, but what a difference it makes to know your farmer! Through Community Supported Agriculture and other local connections, such as a couple of delightful buffalo ranchers, I now have even more reasons to eat healthy and well. I have real people, who I know, who are counting on me to buy their food stuffs. The food tastes great and is good for me. In addition, every time I eat that food rather than food produced by the industrial food complex, I am helping to return some little corner of the planet and even the cosmos to wellness. How's that for incentive

That's what I mean about wellness being the movement toward wholeness in all four sectors. It's taken me eight years to get to this point, and the journey continues. I keep learning and growing, as one discovery leads to another which leads to another. That is the movement I want to share with you in the weeks and months ahead with the hope that it will inspire and inform your own journey into wellness. We will touch on at least ten facets of the journey:

1. Eating Well. It will take several weeks to get through breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but we will cut through the food fads to the basics of healthy nutrition. If you are concerned not only about your weight but also about the food practices that weaken inflammation and strengthen immunity, the lead off to our series will be for you.

2. Drinking Well. It may be a subset of nutrition, but hydration deserves special consideration. The bottom line: avoid artificial sweeteners but drink no calories (other than, perhaps, a daily glass of wine).

3. Supplementing Well. One problem of the industrial food complex is that it produces high-calorie, low-nutrient foods. As a result, the market for nutritional supplements is booming. Unfortunately, supplements are unregulated and often fail to live up to their promises. Here we'll try to sort things out.

4. Exercising Well. In this section we'll cover the basics of warming up, working out, and cooling down. Whether you prefer a leisurely walk or a vigorous regimen, we have coaching tips for making exercise a regular and meaningful part of your daily routine.

5. Sleeping Well. This one is huge, and not only because so many people walk around in a constant state of sleep deprivation. The benefits of sleep for wellness in all four sectors cannot be exaggerated.

6. Breathing Well. In addition to sleep, breath work is one of many techniques for recovering from exertion, managing stress, and improving wellness. We'll look at several techniques for cooling down the fires of modern life.

7. Laughing Well. There's no way to move into wholeness without at least a few good laughs on a daily basis. Children laugh easily and often; adults get bogged down with the serious side of life. If that sounds familiar, then this Provision may assist you to start laughing.

8. Cleaning Well. As you may have noticed, life is dirty. As a result, cleaning up is a major pastime of every animal species. Human beings are no different, although our habits sometimes leave a lot to be desired. From teeth to hands, we'll cover the gambit of proper hygiene.

9. Working Well. Life is too short to work every day in an unpleasant situation. That's no way to be at our best or to move into wellness. It brings everyone down. Whether it's time for a new job, that better enables you to make a contribution, or for a new attitude on the job, this Provision will make clear the work-wellness connection.

10. Serving Well. There's so many more ways to serve the four sectors -- self, others, planet, cosmos -- than on the job. Serving is a way of being in the world that adds both meaning and value to the quality of who we are and where we are going. It is the essence of moving into wholeness not as isolated individuals but as the beloved community.

These ten facets of wellness will form our focus for the next several months. I hope you will join me for the journey.

Coaching Inquiries: On a scale of 0 to 10, how would you rate your wellness? Are you moving into or away from wholeness? How can you be more connected not only to your own wellness but also to the wellness of others, the planet, and the cosmos? Who could become your wellness buddy? How could you make it happen?

Bob Tschannen-Moran

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