When you google well being, the first thing that pops up is a definition: “the state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy.” This definition is already subjective because it suggests an understanding of what it is to be comfortable, healthy, or happy. However, those can be different for different people. Sure, there are basic things that most people have in common when thinking about well being, but ultimately, well being is a distinctly personal thing.
Personally, my definition of well being is “being content and grateful for the moment that you are in.” After watching David Steindl-Rast’s TedTalk about the connection between happiness and gratefulness, I realized the importance of having “stop signs” in life that remind you of the opportunity to be grateful. This definition also involves being present in your current life, without constantly looking towards the future or into the past to find happiness.
My personal model of well being would include 4 dimensions: mental/ emotional, social, spiritual, and physical.
- Mental/Emotional: having overall positive mental health; measureable by levels of anxiety/depression and how you are coping
- Social: finding a balance between alone time and social time; surrounding yourself with people who support your overall well being but also stimulate you intellectually and challenge you
- Spiritual: having a connection with a higher power and how that relationship impacts how you treat others
- Physical: staying physically active through enjoyable exercise; find balance between healthy eating and indulging
When looking at the OECD Better Life Index, some of the countries that rank highest for me are Denmark and Norway, followed closely by Australia and Canada. The United States also ranks high (higher than I expected honestly!) on the list. My highest rated issues were work-life balance, life satisfaction, and civic engagement. I am not surprised at the results, as the Nordic countries are constantly hailed as being some of the happiest in the world. Canada was just named the #1 Country in the world for quality of life, so it is no shocker that it ranks high as well.