I recently searched for Wellness products at a popular online bookstore and was surprised when the search produced hundreds results many of which were books. I noted with amusement that the books discussed how certain amino acids may produce wellness, how to make a fortune in the trillion dollar wellness industry, and something called digestive wellness. There was even an idiots guide to wellness! And I thought that you couldn't be an idiot and be well at the same time, who knew?

All of this serves to underscore the fact that while Wellness is a legitimate phenomenon, it seems to lack a universally accepted definition. Such a definition would be a useful starting point for many Wellness constituents. Practitioners could more confidently develop and implement programs designed to promote Wellness, researchers would finally have a definition upon which to construct a Wellness measure and educators would have a foundation for Wellness curriculum.

So What is Wellness Anyway?

Many different definitions of wellness exist and this is part of the problem. Opinions about Wellness, in the absence of a codified definition, can easily reduce to debate that produce more "heat" than "light". Interestingly, the World Health Organization formally defined health in 1948. But it wasn't until 2002 that, after 7 years of collaborative work by people from 65 countries, in centers located in 8 countries, the WHO released (in six different languages) an International Classification System for measuring Functioning, Disability and Health.

Common Wellness Principles

While there is little agreement on a specific definition of Wellness, a careful look at several definitions reveal some common principles.

Principle 1: Wellness is multi-dimensional. The dimensions may be different but all published definitions contain the basic principle of multi-dimensionality.
Principle 2: Wellness is salutogenic. This principle suggests that Wellness research and practice should be oriented towards identifying and reinforcing causes of Wellness rather than causes of illness.
Principle 3: Wellness is about balance. This principle implies that Wellness, like Health and Health Promotion is a state. This is not the case. Like a river flowing downstream, Wellness is exceptionally dynamic which suggests that Wellness is really more like a process. The truth is, that Wellness, like plasma, may be so unique that it actually possesses properties of both state and process.
Principle 4: Wellness is relative, subjective or perceptual. This is perhaps the core element of Wellness because it enables all humans to be well. This principle is the focus of the remainder of this Wellness Moment.

Perceptions and Chocolate Chicken

Some years ago, my family and I sat down for a light meal consisting of salad and sandwiches. Rather than the typical chicken or turkey sandwich, we provided my 4 year old daughter a roast beef sandwich. As she took her first bite she said „mmmm∑ chicken!!!‰ She then proceeded to discard the bread in favor of the chicken when she noticed that the meat inside was not light but dark. She was taken back momentarily but then, with even greater delight exclaimed "CHOCOLATE CHICKEN!" Her perception, based on her experience, had created a new reality that we had never considered. She was eating chocolate chicken because she thought she was.

Similarly, research in a variety of disciplines suggests that perception does impact reality in numerous ways. Additionally, many health behavior theories include perceptual constructs. And it has been said that perceptions "represent an integration of... health concepts and are among the best predictors of the use of general medical and mental health services." Perhaps the primary strength of focusing on perceptions is that they are substantially upstream. Since perceptions often precede health behavior and therefore some clinical manifestation of illness they may be the most proactive place to intervene.

Onward to Research and Practice

Focusing on perceptions would enable Wellness measurement in a globally acceptable, philosophically consistent way. For example, rather than determining whether participants sleep a prescribed number of hours, we determine whether they perceive that they get adequate rest. This allows for the internal perception rather than the external standard to determine Wellness and acknowledges the importance of individual variability. It is instructive that perception is a central feature of the WHO measure of health.

Accepting perceptions as a core element of Wellness also creates opportunities for a fresh approach to Wellness practice. With the goal of shaping Wellness perception, the role of the Wellness professional might include things like building efficacy, enabling the achievement of human potential, facilitating internal harmony, teaching principles and letting practice find itself, and helping people to hear their own inner wisdom. As Wellness practitioners, if we could fulfill even one of these roles, we could exclaim as Louis Armstrong so beautifully sang, "what a wonderful world".