How is wellness best defined?

Wellness is best defined as the overall quality of health actively sought for optimal health and well-being because it encompasses a holistic approach to living. This definition emphasizes that wellness is not merely the absence of disease or illness; rather, it involves actively engaging in practices and behaviors that promote a balanced, fulfilling life. This includes aspects such as physical health, mental well-being, emotional stability, social connections, and even spiritual health.

The notion of actively seeking wellness highlights the importance of personal responsibility and proactive choices in achieving a high quality of life. It reflects a dynamic process rather than a static state, acknowledging that wellness is about striving for improvement and the integration of various life dimensions.

Other choices focus on isolated aspects of health rather than the comprehensive nature of wellness. For example, simply defining wellness as the absence of illness fails to capture the proactive efforts necessary for achieving optimal health. Similarly, while the ability to perform daily activities and satisfaction with personal relationships are important components of a healthy life, they do not encompass the broader, multifaceted concept of wellness that includes emotional, social, and even spiritual dimensions.