Aspects of health for wellbeing

Health is not singular, rather it has multiple aspects. Commonly accepted, it includes physical, emotional, mental and spiritual aspects. These aspects are intercorrelated with each other. Physical health is about the functioning of our body, including many organs and body structures, and it refers to a more traditional definition of health.  

Mental health is about the behaviors and functions dealing with the mind and brain. We use our mind and brain to think, pay attention and process and store information. The processes of mind and brain actions are controlled by various hormones and neurotransmitters. These hormones and neurotransmitters are physical substances, i.e. matters in our body. Clearly, mental health cannot be isolated from physical health. The imbalance in these substances due to genetics or environmental factors such as misuse of mind-altering drugs can cause mental illness, such as bipolar disorder, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, personality disorder and psychotic disorder. On the other hand, people with mental illness may experience physical symptoms, such as muscle tension, pain, headaches, and insomnia.  

Emotional health is about how we express our feelings and thoughts and control our behaviors. Being emotionally healthy, a person can handle both positive and negative emotions, is self-aware of one’s own character, feelings, motives and desires, has strong coping skills and lives with purposes. Emotional health is about being in control of our emotions. Raging anger causing us to do something that we regret later, temper tantrums due to that we cannot get our own way, and extreme excitement begetting sorrow, are examples that we do not have good control over our emotions. The feelings and thoughts are from our mental actions; i.e. emotional health is connected to mental health.     

Spiritual health is about how we direct the inner energy flowing in our body and connect to the almighty power of the universe (God). Spiritual health is about energy. Using an analogy of chemical reactions, mixing substances together cannot guarantee a reaction to occur; energy must flow properly and drive the reaction to occur. Our physical body is an organized system that is built by substances (matters). For a body to function properly, the energy must flow properly and direct the body functions, including thinking. The spirit is above physical matters on earth.       

To be well, we need to take care of our body for both physical and spiritual prospects, by eating healthy, being in actions (physical activities), being in good living environments, paying attention to our spiritual growth, and connecting our inner being with eternal power. Then we can have a good condition for our mental wellness and emotional control, further to promote social wellness and career success and eventually have a fulfilling life on earth.

(A scheme of health aspects for wellbeing)