The Practice of Wellness

By Jeri Ferguson

Ironically, wellness is one of those subjects that stress us out. We know we want it. We even have a vision of it: we should be strong, lean, flexible, in good cardio condition, eat a rainbow of fruits and veggies (all organic, of course) every day, drink plenty of (filtered) water, cleanse, be a vegetarian, don’t eat junk food (except the occasional bit of dark chocolate – bonus!), don’t smoke, wear your seat belt, don’t drink caffeine or alcohol (except red wine in moderation – another bonus!), breathe from the belly with awareness, meditate daily, have a morning and evening yoga or qigong practice (or both!), spend quality time with your family, volunteer, compost, walk to work, recycle, reduce, reuse, play an instrument (or two), sing, dance, read daily both for education and fun, get massages regularly, see a naturopath, spend time communing with nature, be vibrant, intelligent, outgoing and funny, never loss our temper, be comfortable with our less than ideal bodies, be organized, make sure that our kids and other loved ones also do all the above, become financially free, keep up to date with current issues, remain positive in the face of tragic events and be hopeful about the future. Phew, just writing it is stressful! I don’t know about you, but I’m craving a warm fire, a nice couch, and a latté (organic dairy substitute, of course). Really, it’s no wonder that people more often than not opt for pizza and TV. It’s easy, and we will most likely be successful at achieving it every time- despite the occasional heartburn or power outage.

Now, I’m not suggesting that we don’t strive to achieve these things. They are vital to our well-being. It is just that they can be, quite frankly, daunting and even discouraging at times. Throughout the ten years that I have worked in the healing arts, I have learned we need to seek balance. Every now and then we need to set the big picture aside and concentrate on the moment. Otherwise, it can simply be too overwhelming, and we end up beating ourselves up with guilt for not being able to achieve what some people make look so easy. We give up and shut down. I have learned to see wellness as a practice- either we practice it, or we don’t. We have to take a moment and assess our current state of well-being right now; not in comparison to our neighbor (or worse, some celebrity), but where we are ourselves. Wellness is a very personal thing, it changes from person to person to person. Once we begin to recognize the unique circumstances of our own struggles and challenges, then we can start to take the realistic steps that can bring us closer to our wellness ideal. We all have strengths and weaknesses. We struggle every day. What I struggle with may very well be your strength and vice versa. Assuming that our basic needs are met, I suggest that what matters most is not what the struggle is, but the power that this struggle holds over us. When we focus on our failures, we lose sight of our options. So, why is overcoming our struggles so much easier for some than others? It seems that the most successful people at achieving wellness are those who have a strong source of support and guidance, whether that is family, friends, god/goddess, etc.; whatever the source, it supports them and keeps them on track.

I advocate the idea that we all need a wellness coach. Someone who is willing and able to support us wherever we are in our process without judgment. Someone who can help us with an honest assessment of where we are in this moment. Someone who can give us clarity to empower ourselves and provide us with tools to train with. Someone who can keep us focused on “the game”. Someone who can help us refine our strengths and work on our weaknesses. Someone who helps us out when we are in a rut. Our very own, personal cheer squad, that helps us celebrate our successes and learn from our mistakes. This person does not have to be an expert in what you are trying to achieve. What matters most is whether or not they support you in the way that you need. So, how do you need to be supported? Spend some time and find out. If you have to, seek out support to help you figure out how you need to be supported. Figure it out and then ask for it. Chances are you will never get support, unless you ask for it. If you find that the support you are already receiving is not quite exactly what you were truly looking for, be genuinely grateful for the good intention, but also pursue the support you feel you need. We’ve all heard, “seek and ye shall find”; I would add seek until you find.

We are all our own best healers. We know our needs and desires better than anyone else. We just need the right support to achieve it. It is a process- we practice wellness, we don’t practice wellness, than we practice again. We stumble, we fall, we get back up (repeat regularly). The more we practice, the easier the practice gets. Success can be defined as not only achievement of a goal, but also progress toward that goal. What makes the biggest difference is whether or not we are supported. Find that support. Be that support for someone else. Relax, and actually enjoy your life. Wellness should be fun.

Jeri Ferguson is a wellness coach, massage therapist, medical qigong therapist, personal trainer, reiki master, dancer, mother, and a struggler with words. Primarily, she is a lover of life. She can be reached at (360)-223-9797                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

To learn more about Jeri go to:  www.bodyecology.org