Finding a way to achieve well-being is an essential question for everyone. It is a personal idea and can mean different things to different people based on their motivations and what brings them joy.
Throughout life, we have needs, dreams, and wishes we aim to fulfill. Focusing on well-being helps us achieve these goals at various times. We might desire a specific job, a particular place to live, or the type of person we wish to become.
Well-being is reached when all parts of our lives connect meaningfully. It is balanced across six key areas that create a sense of wholeness.
Work: How we earn our income. Finance: The way we manage our money. Social: Our relationships with friends, family, and partners. Environment: The places we inhabit and how we live. Health: The condition of our body and mind. Intelligence: The satisfaction of our thoughts.
Creating well-being means building a strong base where all these aspects work together harmoniously. We must discover what is truly meaningful to us and what brings us happiness, establishing healthy connections among these areas.
Not every area of our well-being needs to be equally important. We might place more value on our social life than our living environment, yet we still need to recognize relationships in all areas. Sometimes, our actions can impact multiple areas simultaneously.
For instance, if we enjoy our job, are pleased with our tasks, and have friendly relationships with coworkers, we are addressing our work, social, and environment areas.
We may not always think about all these areas. Feeling disconnected from ourselves can indicate that our well-being is not balanced. Achieving well-being involves defining each area based on our views and determining how much focus each one should receive in our lives. Here are some thoughts to consider for each area.
Work Choosing a career that feels right for us is most effective when we engage in tasks that resonate with us. We should grasp and enjoy our work processes, allowing our minds the opportunity to thrive.
If we remain uncertain about our career path, we should explore what we find meaningful, ensuring it serves a purpose and brings enjoyment. We can seek a company that helps us develop desired skills or even start our own venture.
Many companies now offer hybrid work environments. These flexible opportunities can enhance our well-being, allowing us to schedule our work hours based on when we feel most effective.
It’s essential to think about what fulfillment means to us through work. Should it take up a large part of our lives? Are we seeking productivity from our jobs?
Simply working to get by is one thing, but finding a deeper purpose in our work is necessary. Work plays a role in our overall well-being. We don’t have to aim for high ambitions or spend most of our lives working.
What's important is understanding how we wish to contribute to the world. Whether we choose to work part-time to enjoy time with loved ones or pursue a full-time job we love, the choice is ours to make. As long as our actions lead to joy and meaning, we are on the right path.