By: John Callaghan
WELL BEING AND HOW TO RECOGNISE IT!
It seems to me that most individuals are preoccupied with ill health rather than with well being, it appears that our predilection is towards ill health rather than towards health.
Practitioners of Tai Chi Qigong however put their emphasis upon taking responsibility for our health and understanding what well-being means, this means being aware of what good health consist of.
At the foundation level lifestyles that lead to good health include eating organic whole food in season, exercise, adequate sleep, healthy environment, and adequate intake of water, but there is much more to well-being than this.
So what are the signs of good health, to the harmony of body, mind and spirit?
PHYSICAL
a. A continued feeling of well being, from rising in the morning to retiring in the evening;
b. How quick is your recovery rate, how adaptable are you to change? The quicker you recover the healthier you are;
c. Are feelings of lethargy a distant memory, if they are then you are healthy;
d. Are all our joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments supple and flexible, free from pain, if so then you are healthy;
e. Can you walk, run, sustain some physical exercise for a while for a while, without being out of breath, then you are in good health;
f. Is the flesh on your skin firm, free of wrinkles, healthy tissue is firm tissue;
g. Does your sense of sight, smell, hearing remain acute, then you are healthy;
h. When you retire do you go to sleep when your head touches the pillow, to relax and fall asleep is a sign of good health;
EMOTIONAL
a. Once more the recovery rate is important, if you are injured emotionally how quickly you return to an optimistic outlook reflects your emotional health;
b. How quickly can you forgive yourself, a healthy individual learns from their mistakes, and moves on;
c. How able are you to socialize, and accepting of those with whom you come into contact, without judging, the less you judge the more emotionally balanced you are;
d. Are you able to commit to the things that you consider to be important in your life, commitment without obsession is a sign of good mental health;
e. How happy are you with the idea of the security of insecurity, the ability to embrace life from moment to moment is an indication of good emotional well being;
f. Do you express your joy and delight with life on a daily basis, can you express your frustration and anger in a positive manner that supports your ability to be tolerant of all;
g. Can you laugh and smile freely, for this is a sign of the love of life;
h. Are you happy? For happiness is the definition of radiant well being;
i. Are you accepting of yourself, with all your strengths and weaknesses? Good mental health is found in the person who accepts their truth, being highly critical of oneself or others is indicative of conflict within ourselves;
How healthy are you?
Where do you stand in the well being stakes?
Healthy individuals have the capacity to rise above their own self-importance and become filled with love and compassion towards all creation.
