What is well-being?

Finding and honouring ‘My-time’ …

One of the definitions of well-being I found stated:

Well-being is the highest possible quality of life in its full breadth of expression – socially, mentally & physically.

As you can see in the image, rock climbing is for me absolute well-being in all aspects.

 

• If I asked you if well-being is important to you what would your answer be? If you are like most people your answer will very likely be ‘Yes, it is important to me’.

 

• And if I asked you to tell me what well-being is for you, what would your answer be? If you are like most people, you would have to think about this for a moment. So let’s do that: Take 2 minutes and write down what well-being is for you.

 

• If I then asked you what you do to maintain well-being, what would your answer be? Again, if you are like most people, maybe you haven’t really come up with a plan and if you have how are you sticking to it?

Sticking to a plan is one of the hardest things to do, if you haven’t clarified for yourself, how you are going to stick to it and why it is important to you.

 

 

Invest in yourself

I firmly believe that well-being starts with yourself – invest or gift yourself ‘Me-time’. ‘Me-time’ is important, no matter what ‘Me-time’ is for each of us. If you feel good with yourself you can be more to yourself and other people.

If 2020 has taught me anything (and it has), it is how important it is to feel good with yourself and to know what matters to you. Such a year we have just left behind catapulted me out of my comfy-mode into being-challenged-mode. It definitely made me reconnect with what is important for my well-being. One word which stands out for me is ‘resilience’ – the ability to bounce back, both mentally and physically.

I would like to share something, we discussed during my Franklin Method Educator Training – one of my Franklin Method teachers, Morten Dithmer, said:

 

Well-being is not just something you have.

It is an ability.

It is something you can develop.

 

For me this statement is empowering because I myself can do something about it – I am responsible.

I am also grateful for living in a time where I can find many solutions online and where I can connect with people who I know can facilitate maintaining well-being for me.

 

My own investment in well-being

Two aspects in my own well-being are

1. Movement – in any way possible, e.g. rock climbing as on the image above, Franklin Method, pilates, walking, bicycling etc.
2. Develop new skill and deepen my knowledge in different areas of movement

Just before 2020 came to an end, I honoured this lavishly by first attending a full-day online conference on ‘The fascia of the pelvis’ hosted by The Fascia Hub.

Some weeks later, I attended an online breathing event with Lotte Paarup from ‘Skolen for Åndedrættet‘. As a gift to myself I set aside 1 hour to practice the benefits of conscious breathing.

I made another investment the other day: I spent 90 minutes in a ‘Feel your absolute best … no matter what online retreat’. This retreat was hosted by Rachael Hall who is another one of my Franklin Method teachers.

The events with Lotte and Rachael were with 2 different persons whose thoughts and approaches to each their fields really resonate with me. What I liked about both events was that I had to slow down and be present. And when I do that I can start asking myself:

• What is well-being for me?
• What is my plan on how to maintain it?
• And how do I make sure I honour this plan?

Your investment in your well-being could start here …

To maybe get you started, I would like to invite you to set aside some ‘Me-time’ and join me for 2 master classes on Zoom:

• Master class ‘Stand your ground – how to mobilise and strengthen your feet’ on 29 January 2021
• Master class bundle of 3 matwork classes ‘Access the full power of your myofascial system’ on 30 January, 5 February and 12 February.