The Difference Between Wellness & Health

Wellness. This is something that I study everyday. As an Exercise and Wellness major this has quickly become one of my favorite words in the English Language. At work as a wellness coordinator, I spend almost 8 hours a day helping other people to be well, when I myself am continually seeking to be more well. This is both motivating and discouraging. On the days that I am discouraged, it is because I am confusing health with wellness, the two terms are not synonymous. Yes, you can be perfectly WELL without being in perfectly good HEALTH. Fun fact for you, no one is in 100% perfect health. So pleaaassse don't let that trip you up.

What is Wellness?
Wellness has a lot of definitions. The defining characteristics of wellness include: a deliberate effort, a  holistic approach, body, mind, and spirit health, and an enjoyment and zest for life no matter what health condition you are facing. My personal belief: whatever condition of health you find yourself in, you can always do something to improve it. (Notice how I said improve, not make it go away). And with this approach to holistic healing and improvement you can thrive in life, in any and in all circumstances.

What is Health?
Health also has a lot of definitions. The defining characteristics of health include: free from disease, disability, mental and physical pain, etc. This is more of a harsh and absolute definition. You see, this is why it can be frustrating if you get so caught up in having a quest for perfect health. While good health is certainly something we should all strive for, it is not something to be consumed by. I am learning this first handedly.

To briefly illustrate this, I will share with you my little miracle of the week. I have been praying and praying that I will feel better. And more simply, that I will even just have one good day where I feel totally healthy. Well after 4 or 5 months that day finally came yesterday. And I know that God hears and answers prayers. All of them, when he knows that we are ready to receive the blessings we have been praying for. This miracle of feeling totally healthy for even just a day literally made me leap for joy! I cried tears of gratitude and am sharing this in hopes to inspire someone to look for their own miracle. All summer long I have been feeling disheartened by the fact that I have a label of 'Chron's Disease'. I have become fixated that I can only be happy when I am no longer worried, or feeling sick, or whatever. I am teaching a cycling class that I often write about because I love teaching so much. In this class, it is strange to me because people often come up and compliment me and tell me how healthy I look. And in my head I have been saying to myself "if they only knew.... I feel worried, and I have to do X, Y, and Z in order to keep up... etc. etc." But this negative internal talk has got to end! The point that I am trying to illustrate here is that we all appear to be "perfect" on the outside. We all too often pass by strangers going through difficult things, to only judge them so quickly and think that our lot is so much harder. We all wish to be 'the person next door'. When really we should just focus on being our best selves.

I can't be someone else. But I can make a pretty good Camille. And that is why I am choosing to focus on Wellness rather than Health.

I know this is so personal, but if you have a story where you can relate, I would love to hear it in the comments. Please do so, and share if you feel comfortable.


And I am still smiling about my (not so little) miracle this week. Keep looking for yours. Chin up!