Health vs. Wellness

When defining wellness, we also want to define health and understand how they work together. There a several different ways to define both health and wellness depending on who is defining the terms. Use these as a start and consider how they fit in with your life!

 

Health

Health can be defined as an individual's capacity to reach your full potential. It takes in several factors and is different for each person. Our maximum health level can also fluctuate throughout our life, so re-evaluating is important. You maximum health may not be disease-free, but being the healthiest you can be considering any diseases or diagnoses.

What can impact our health?

Genetics & family history Education & knowledge Social & community support Childhood experiences

Housing & location Finances & income Access to healthcare & health services and more

Wellness

Wellness is a self-directed, conscious, and evolving process towards achieving your full potential. In this case, your full potential would be your maximum health. It is fluid and ever-changing, so check in with yourself to determine if some dimensions need more attention. Wellness can be made up of several different areas, or dimensions. The origianl theory was developed by Dr. Bill Hettler and has been modified to meet the needs of the population using it. Within the realm of colleges and universityies, the 8 dimension model is the most common and what we use at MTSU.

The 8 Dimensions of Wellness

Emotional	Coping effectively with life and creating satisfying relationships
Environmental	Occupying and caring for pleasant, stimulating spaces that support wellness
Financial	Satisfaction with current and future financial situation
Intellectual	Recognizing creative abilities and finding ways to expand knowledge and skills
Occupational	Personal satisfaction and enrichment derived from one's work
Physical	Recognizing the need for physical activity, nutrition, and sleep
Social	Developing a sense of connection, belonging, and well-developed support system
Spiritual	Expanding our sense of purpose and meaning in life and developing values