It’s Time to Talk About Well Being
No Vacation Required
It’s been an especially stressful few weeks here in the good ol’ US of A. Election intensity hit a fever pitch and then – boom! – the results hit, leaving half of the country (and most of our allies) in despair. And while the other half may be happy with how things turned out, I don’t suspect many people walked away from the election feeling well.
So I’d say it’s a good time to do a well being check in, wouldn’t you? First, though, how about some background on well being and why it’s so important, especially now.*
Lake Serene, near Index, WA. Photo Credit: No Vacation Required
Why you should you care about well being
In the 15+ years we’ve been doing the work we do – personal and organizational development for those who don’t know – we’ve noticed a sharp decline in individuals’ perceptions of well being. Why?
First things first. Life satisfaction is not just about an individual’s current feelings; it encompasses both the person’s perceptions about how life has gone so far and their feelings about where it’s headed. When one’s sense of satisfaction gets off kilter, their measure of well being slips proportionally.
And that’s the problem right now. People aren’t feeling hopeful about the future. They’re fretting about their economic situation. Despite being constantly “connected," they feel isolated and lonely. They’re concerned about the stability of their employment. They’re worried about access to healthcare. We don’t have to tell you, people just generally are unsettled about all the things.
Life satisfaction is not just about an individual’s current feelings; it encompasses both the person’s perceptions about how life has gone so far and about their feelings about where it’s headed.
If recent studies are any indication, we’re in full-on crisis mode. Here are some striking statistics highlighting various dimensions of the issue:
Happiness at Historic Lows: According to Gallup, global happiness has hit a 10-year low, with more people than ever reporting reduced life satisfaction.
Rising Mental Health Concerns: The WHO reported a 25% rise in global anxiety and depression since 2020, with levels remaining high, especially in high-income nations.
Loneliness Epidemic: In the U.S., 50% of adults now experience measurable loneliness, with social isolation considered as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
Depression on the Rise: Youth mental health issues have doubled over the past decade. Nearly 3 in 5 U.S. teenage girls report persistent sadness or hopelessness.
Economic Gaps: Lower-income individuals report significantly higher levels of anxiety and depression. Women also report emotional stress at notably higher rates than men.
We’ve long understood that effective personal, professional, and team development demands a comprehensive, individualize approach. People can’t achieve peak performance when they’re not well. And Caanan and I can’t achieve our personal and professional mission – to increase the number of fulfilled people in the world – if we don't level up our skills to meet the moment. So, given the current state of well being, we each recently embarked on advanced education in the hope that we could be a part of solution. Early in 2024, I completed a post-graduate program dedicated to incorporating the tenets of well being into our personal and organizational development practice.
The following holistic elements of wellness are now at the core of the work we do. But you don’t need to engage us to put these to work for you.
Lake Serene, near Index, WA. Photo Credit: No Vacation Required
How to evaluate your well being
Well being plays out in the different aspects of your life, including the many roles you play. We place those elements under five broad categories. For each category, simply measure where you’re at on a scale of 1 (low) to 10 (high).
Foundational Well Being - Consider your: nutrition, health, sleep, finances
Emotional Well Being - Consider your: optimism, outlook, mental health
Pursuit Well Being - Consider your: career, hobbies, education
Social Well Being - Consider your: partner, communities, interactions
Global Well Being - Consider your: spirituality, environment, world view
What are the surprises? What’s the lowest? What’s the highest? Where do you most want to make movement?
How to improve your well being
Now that you have (informally) evaluated your well being, let’s examine an option for improving those numbers.
The PERMA model, created by Dr. Martin Seligman, is central to positive psychology, a field he pioneered in the late 1990s to shift psychology’s focus from illness to human flourishing (and here’s how much we love that!).
Rather than focusing solely on mental health challenges, Seligman sought to understand what drives well being and fulfillment. PERMA outlines five key elements of a fulfilling life:
Positive Emotion – Experiencing joy and satisfaction
Engagement – Being fully absorbed in what you do
Relationships – Building strong, supportive connections
Meaning – Having a sense of purpose and belonging
Achievement – Reaching goals and feeling accomplished
Now, here are some options for bringing each PERMA element to life – to cultivate growth:
Positive Emotion – Cultivate Gratitude: Unless you live under a rock, you’ve already heard about the power of gratitude. But just because it’s cliché does not means it’s ineffective. So, if you’re not already gratitude journaling, at the very least, note a few things you’re grateful for each day to boost positivity. Put ‘em on a sticky! Write ‘em on your hand!
Engagement – Find Your Flow: Engage in activities where you lose track of time. Doing so can reduce stress, boost your mood, improve focus, enhance creativity, and foster a sense of accomplishment. That’s a lot of payoff for doing something you enjoy.
Relationships – Practice Active Listening: Engage fully when others speak to build stronger bonds. Give your undivided attention, show interest through body language, and respond thoughtfully. Trust us, you’ll get a lot out of it.
Meaning – Align with Values: Choose actions that resonate with your core beliefs. And if you don’t already know what your core beliefs (i.e., values) are, figuring that out will bring a great sense of meaning.
Achievement – Set Clear Goals: Focus on specific, achievable goals and track your progress. This not only will provide a sense of accomplishment, these wins strengthen and empower you to achieve profound growth.
PERMA serves as a proactive guide to well being and positive change.
Be well, please
As we move into post-election America and gear up for the holidays, which can bring as much stress as they do joy, make sure you are paying attention to your well being.
We need you here.
We need you happy and healthy.
Onward & Upward,
*There are many ways to look at well being. The information and opinions provided here are for informational purposes only and are not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read here.