Did you know that the emotional dimension of wellness involves recognizing, accepting and taking responsibility for your feelings?
Emotional wellness includes the degree in which you feel positive and enthusiastic about yourself and life.  It includes managing your feelings and their related behaviors and the ability to effectively cope with stress. The emotionally well person has satisfying relationships with others.
Emotional wellness allows you to be aware of different feelings and accept them in yourself and others. You'll be able to express your feelings and manage them effectively.
When you are on the wellness path you will notice that although you are working independently, you will still seek and appreciate the support and assistance of others.  You will form healthy relationships with others based on mutual trust and respect. You will be more inclined to take on risks and challenges and recognize that conflict may be potentially healthy.
On the emotional wellness journey you manage your life in personally rewarding ways, taking on responsibility for your actions and seeing life as an exciting adventure.  You begin to believe that it is better to be aware of your emotions and accept them, rather than denying them and it is better to be optimistic in our approach to life rather than pessimistic.
Emotional wellness is striving to meet your emotional needs constructively.  It is maintaining good mental health, a positive attitude, high self-esteem, and a strong self-image. It is the ability to respond appropriately to emotional states and everyday life circumstances.
It is about learning more about yourself and how things that you do affect your feelings.  It is taking responsibility for your own behavior and responding to challenges as opportunities.
How to increase emotional wellness
o Practice optimism.
o Be conscious about spending time with friends and family discussing important personal concerns and being supportive of each other.
o Seek others who are on a similar path to yourself and hold each other accountable
o Read a self-help book that is of interest to you.
o Exercise
o Become more spiritually aware and practice prayer and meditation
o Learn time management skills and other stress management techniques.
o Smile at least 20 times each day.
Emotional wellness is a step-by-step process, and it may take a health care professional, a counselor or a spiritual guide to help you go through past hurts and negative behaviors. Recognize that this time of emotional exploration is normal and very healthy.  Treat yourself and others with kindness and love and enjoy the scenic route of emotional wellness.
Anita Cates RN, community nurse specialist practitioner and certified diabetes educator at the Family Medicine Center can be reached at 327-2878.
 
 

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