Two seemingly unrelated topics you may say? What is the intersect between wellness and leadership? And why does it matter?
Personal wellness is defined as the ability to achieve one’s truest potential. Wellness itself is not a unidimensional concept of just body or physical wellness. The National Wellness Institute (http://www.nationalwellness.org) considers 6 elements of wellness i.e. physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, financial and environmental.
Wellness, therefore, is an approach that transcends bodily health and includes a mindset of achieving ones highest ability, encompassing the richness of oneself, one’s environment and higher purpose. In this way wellbeing and wellness integrates both community and people. And herein is the link to leading people from a place of intention, purpose and wholeness. A perspective of viewing people, performance and goals from the holistic perspective of care – for oneself (as a leader), for the team (as an elite, high performance group of people) and for the organization as a responsible citizen of society.
The wellbeing of one, transfers to the wellbeing of many.
One’s own wellbeing can be seen as the nucleus and epicenter of energy – generating ripples of impact outwards. I use the metaphor of “putting on one’s own mask first, before that of people around you” as is heard on the airplane safety instructions. Self care enabled by personal leadership means taking deliberate and conscious effort in the direction of personal wellbeing and “groundedness”. It is then, from this place, that you can emulate, inspire and influence others to their own self-defined places of wellbeing & highest potential, ultimately impacting on groups, teams, organisations, families, communities and humanity at large.
Personal wellness matters. Putting on the mask, is an act of care for the greater good of us all. Take time to understand your own wellbeing. It may be the most selfless thing you do!