I start the New Year with great gratitude and happiness. I am grateful to all of our wonderful patients, family, and friends that have supported us and allowed us to continue providing the very best care possible this past year. I am happy because January is a new start, a time to set goals and look to a promising year ahead.
Many spent 2021 re-evaluating not only their physical health but their emotional and spiritual health and made shifts in their lives that will serve them well in the new year.
Wellness is a term that is often used in our profession but not always understood.
According to health and wellness definitions, wellness has a direct influence on overall health, which is essential for living a healthy, happy, and fulfilled life. The primary difference between health and wellness is that health is the goal and wellness is the active process of achieving it.
Knowing the distinction between the two matters for a number of reasons. For one, while we cannot always choose the state of our health, we do have the conscious choice to make active decisions towards wellness.
The following scenarios can help you better grasp health vs. wellness:
• Health: A predisposition to heart disease, diagnosis of type I diabetes at an early age, or an unexpected brain injury.
• Wellness: Making the choice to eat a balanced diet, exercise more often and schedule regular doctor visits.
Before setting personal goals for health, ask what you really want out of your new sought out transformation. Considering the following questions can help guide goals:
• How will making positive changes impact your life? • Are you doing it for yourself or trying to satisfy others? • Is this a short-term or long-term goal? • Which areas in your life do you want to focus on? • What sort of support system do you have?
Ultimately, knowing what you truly want from health and wellness can help drive a personal plan that works best for you. This month we’ll explore diet, fitness, mental well-being, and more.
We are here to help you achieve your goals.
Happy New Year!
Dr. Carlsen and the staff of the Family Chiropractic Center of Richmond