Wellbeing

Wellbeing refers to how we are doing and how we feel about our lives. It is defined as the state of being healthy, happy and content, and encompasses various dimensions of an individual’s life to give a holistic sense of overall health and satisfaction.  

Wellbeing is a dynamic and multifaceted concept that can vary from person to person. Different factors can influence a person’s sense of wellbeing, and it can fluctuate throughout life based on experiences, circumstances, and individual strengths and challenges. This might include our financial situation, housing, health, exercise and nutrition, and relationships with others, as well as our own perception of how life is going.  

It can be helpful to think of wellbeing in terms of a see-saw (Dodge et al, 2012). The image of the see-saw shows wellbeing as a state of balance between the challenges we face and the resources we have to deal with them. When an individual has all the resources they need to meet daily challenges they are in a stable state of wellbeing, but if the challenges begin to exceed their resources the see-saw dips along with their wellbeing. 

Striving for wellbeing involves a conscious effort to nurture and balance these various aspects of life to lead a fulfilling and satisfying existence.  

Here is a short video from Sarah Hendrickx explaining what wellbeing means to her.

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