People often use the terms health and wellness interchangeably. Although a person cannot have one and not the other, they are two different concepts that are quite variable, and their meanings are different.

World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity (illness).”

WHO defines wellness as “the optimal state of health of individuals and groups,” and wellness is expressed as “a positive approach to living.”

The primary difference between health and wellness is that health is the goal and wellness is the active process of achieving it. You truly cannot have health without first achieving wellness. Wellness has a direct influence on overall health, which is essential for living a robust, happy, and fulfilled life.

Benefits of Positive Thinking (on our Health)

Positive thinking often starts with self-talk. We all have a stream of unspoken thoughts that run through our heads every day. This internal dialogue can be positive or negative. Some self-talk comes from logic and reason. Other self-talk may arise from misconceptions that we create because of lack of information.

If the thoughts that run through your head are mostly negative, your outlook on life is more likely pessimistic. If your thoughts are mostly positive, you’re likely an optimist, someone who practices positive thinking.

Researchers continue to explore the effects of positive thinking and optimism on health. Some possible health benefits of positive thinking include:

• Increased life span
• Lower rates of depression
• Lower levels of distress
• Greater resistance to the common cold
• Better psychological and physical well-being
• Reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease
• Better coping skills during hardships and times of stress

Practicing positive thinking can remove emotional burdens from your life. I know that I’m much happier and more fun to be around when I chose to accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative, and embrace life’s possibilities.

Experts have Determined 6 Dimensions of Health & Wellness:

Physical wellness – Overall body

Eating well

Exercising

Getting Routine Checkups

Emotional wellness – exactly how you take

care of challenges

Self-confidence

Intellectual wellness – Constant discovering

Visibility to new ideas

Capacity to assume critically

Spiritual wellness – an ideal system

A sense of definition and function

A feeling of belonging to something above oneself

Social wellness

Communication abilities

Capability for intimacy

Ecological wellness – reusing, going green

Reducing air pollution as well as waste

Having plentiful, clean natural resources

Lowering your carbon impact

Just recently these specialists have additionally determined that there is also a 7th measurement of wellness that has appeared recently. Not that it simply began by any means. They have simply finally noticed that this seventh dimension is directly pertaining to an individual’s health, whether it readies or poor. This dimension is work-related health.

What you can do to improve overall health and wellness

Your body is a direct reflection of what’s going on in your mind. In order to be successful improving the quality of your life you must change your mindset.

You can’t wait until everything is just right because it never will be. There will always be hurdles to leap and challenges to be faced.

Stop wearing your ‘busy-ness’ like a badge of honor. Stop feeling obligated to be reachable 24/7 by people that have a warped sense of urgency. Stop being hijacked by the needs and desires of others.

Knock it off with all the talk of ‘The Terrible Too’s’; too busy, too tired, too hard, too early etc. You have the ability to control your destiny. Your future is wide open and you can create it by what you chose to do.

Quiet your mind

• Love yourself — It’s about time you recognize and acknowledge how amazing and unique you are. While it’s human nature to want the approval and acceptance of others, don’t allow their opinions define and limit you. Appreciate yourself for who you are and what you have to offer the world. Love yourself from the inside out and everything else will fall into place.
• Be true to yourself — Most often people have no idea where you’ve been, where you’re headed, or where you are in your journey. Focus on the things that make you your happiest, healthiest self. Continue to explore your passions, reach for your goals, and achieve your wildest dreams.
• Stop comparing yourself — Positive self-talk is empowering; know that what you focus on will become your reality. Imagine all the things you could bring to fruition if you channeled your time and energy into positive aspirations. If you realized how powerful your thoughts were you would never want to think a negative thought again.

Build your body

• Get fit — Getting fit is a slow and steady process, being fit is not a destination, it is a way of life. Adhering to regularly scheduled workouts will take commitment, determination, and discipline; doing what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, when you don’t want to do it.
• Eat well — Every living cell in your body is made from what you eat and drink. If you consistently eat and drink junk food, you will have a junk body. Food is not just calories, it is information; it talks to your DNA and tells it what to do. Food can be your medicine or your poison, choose wisely.
• Sleep soundly — It’s important to make sure that you get the rest your body needs. When your body is fully rested and you are getting the deep sleep you require, your hormones will work together and support your overall health and wellness goals.

Nurture your spirit

• Pay it forward — When you’re kind, you demonstrate to others that they mean something to you. Even if the person is a stranger to you, you are recognizing that their life matters. When you give of yourself openly and freely, your physical and mental health improves exponentially. The smallest gesture or kind word can brighten your day and brings you closer to others.
• Maintain a social network — Socializing has been proven to have a positive impact both physically and mentally and can be the key to a lifetime of wellness. If you’re looking to live a long and healthy life, start surrounding yourself with good friends. A study from Brigham Young University found that people with social relationships live 50 percent longer than people who are more socially isolated.
• Live a yogic lifestyle — It’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of daily life and spend much of your day battling the challenges laid before you. Adopting a yogic lifestyle means committing to living a meaningful life and interacting with the world around you more mindfully. Embrace yoga’s spiritual journey and finding harmony on and off the mat.

Maximize your level of health and wellness

By quieting your mind, building your body, and nurturing your spirit you will be well on your way to achieving your health and wellness goals. Work toward a state of well-being and you will see your lifestyle begin to improve.

Care for your mind, body and spirit and begin to lessen the occurrences of disease and illness. An enhanced quality of physical and mental fitness is the answer to your question ‘Why is health and wellness so important?’

Judy Molinaro is a wellness coach and master yoga instructor at judymolinaro.com. Sign up for her weekly newsletter and read a preview of her health and fitness book Eat Like You Give A Damn Free! Connect with her on Facebook at Fit You Wellness Solutions.