Wellness and Quality of Life
Traditional
medicine has gone through three phases. For centuries the physician's
goal was simply to preserve life at all cost, hence the emphasis was on
prolonging life through medicines, surgery, etc. We've seen that goal
shift in the last few decades from merely preserving life to preserving
health, hence the emphasis on nutrition, exercise, and a healthy
lifestyle.
The new millennium is seeing a further shift in the
physician's goal to emphasize Quality of Life and the Concept of
Wellness. Total wellness encompasses Body, Mind, and Spirit and is a
balance among the physical, emotional, and a healthy lifestyle...
Body
- Achieving the maximum state of energy and physical health within the
limits of the individual's particular situation. A paraplegic may not
be able to achieve the same state of physical health as a 20 year-old
linebacker, but he can achieve an optimum measure of health for his
individual situation.
Mind
- Being able to wake up free from guilt, fear, and anger. These three
powerful negative mental states can and will rob an individual of his
wellness and quality of life.
Spirit
- Involves relationships and connections. As John Donne wrote, "no man
is an island". When the first man was created, God said, "It is not
good that man should be alone..." We are social beings and as such we
cannot achieve wellness, or wholeness, without positive interpersonal
relations.
It is my sincere hope that these web pages will
inspire you to take whatever measures may be necessary in your life to
begin to experience optimum Wellness and Quality of Life.