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Wellbeing Balance & Resiliency Reserve
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Creating a resiliency reserve...
If you have ever had a day where you were tired, head aching, upset over an argument, worried that you weren’t going to have enough money for bills, haven’t had a moment to yourself for weeks, stubbed your toe, nearly stalled out in “pools” of water when driving to work and then were expected to go through the day being pleasant, supportive, and a team player….then you know that it takes all of your resiliency reserve to make that happen. But what if your resiliency reserve has not been replenished?
This brings us to a crucial point about resiliency be it individual or community. It must be replenished by maintaining a balance in all Seven Areas of Wellbeing.
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1. Environmental Security & Responsibility: Safety, visual appeal, and life-sustaining resource
2. Fiscal Management & Stability: Our ability to manage and plan for economic stability
3. Intellectual Growth: Our knowledge and know-how base (formal and informal)
4. Introspective Reflection: The health of our inner self—purpose, goals, satisfaction level; spiritual connections
5. Mental Clarity: Our ability to think clearly and sensibly/to employ reason/to deal with obstacles and loss
6. Physical Fitness: The care of our bodies and to potential long life
7. Social & Interpersonal Relationships: Our ability to positively interact with others physically and emotionally/to feel a sense of belonging/to give and receive support
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As in all parts and parcels of life, there is a cycle—
Wellbeing begets Resiliency which in turn begets Wellbeing.
This cycle is, in effect, a lifesaver.
It allows one to stay afloat until rescue.
Inner strength/safety, energy/productivity, etc., can only exist and be maintained if there is a balance of wellbeing to promote these necessary characteristics. Wellbeing is often defined as “a good or satisfactory condition of existence; a state characterized by health, happiness, and prosperity” (“Wellbeing,” 1996).
Our usage evolves from the idea that wellbeing most certainly goes beyond just good health and from the significant fact that all aspects of life (i.e. emotions, finances, environment) affect health and are thus interdependent. This interdependency is also the reason for emphasizing balance. All seven areas must be acknowledged and wellness pursued or the positive effects of efforts in other wellbeing areas will be undermined by those that are neglected.
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| Area of Wellbeing |
Supporting Institute |
Key Indicators to Affect |
Wellbeing Defined
| Physical Fitness (those things which contribute to the care of our bodies and potential long life) |
Parks & Recreation, Gyms, Hospitals, doctors, dentists, vision care, grocery stores, restaurants, fruit & vegetable stands and gardens, nonprofit, Faithbased, government |
# of deaths under 60 due to illness; # of heart attacks, strokes, diabetes; infant mortality rates; participation in physical fitness activities; consumption of fast food and convenience store “snacks”; consumption of fresh fruit, vegetables, and grains |
| Mental Clarity (those things which contribute our ability to think clearly and sensibly/to employ reason |
Mental Health Facilities, Counseling Centers, non-profit, Faithbased, government |
Early diagnosis of mental instability or illnesses not related to physical trauma or defect; % who feel they can adequately handle anger, disappointment or fear; increase interventions and suicide rates |
| Social/Interpersonal Relationships (those things which contribute to our ability to positively interact with others and feel a sense of belonging) |
Community & Counseling Centers, Clubs/Organizations/ Programs for Children, Youth, Single Parents, Families, Senior Citizens, Disabled, Stay-At-Home Parents, Mentoring Programs, Support Groups (AA, abuse recovery), nonprofit, Faithbased, government |
Participation in school/community events; # of alcohol/drug abuse; % engaged in a hobby or recreational activity with other; % active in an organized social club or church; % of child/spouse abuse; % involved in criminal gangs; % of teen pregnancies; incidents of bullying; % of volunteer commitments; % who feel supported by family members or a sense of belonging |
| Introspective Reflection (those things which contribute to the health of our inner self—purpose, goals, satisfaction level) |
Churches, Public Parks, Sidewalks, Community Gardens, nonprofit, Faithbased, government |
% active in local churches; % who report feeling content most of the time, and/or taking time to engage in something they enjoy alone (read, ride bike, jog, etc.), and/or feeling that they have a purpose that brings happiness. |
| Environmental Impact (those things which contribute to safety, visual appeal, and life-sustaining resources) |
Public transportation, fire & police stations, public parks & sidewalks, community gardens, neighborhood watches, EPA, hardware stores, nurseries, Homeless Shelters/Hospitality, recycling centers, nonprofit, Faithbased, government |
crime rates; poor transportation options; # of asthma diagnosis; presence of environmental hazards or potential; % who report feeling unsafe in the community; % report feeling that the community lacks visual appeal/orderliness; participation in recycling programs, litter-free programs, beautification programs; use of “green” products, etc. |
| Intellectual Growth (those things which contribute to our knowledge and know-how base) |
Daycares, pre-schools, K-12 schools, Jacksonville University, University Branch Library, Norman Studio Museum, public parks, book stores, high speed Internet access, nonprofit, Faithbased, government |
% of eligible children in “school readiness” programs; student achievement, grade retention rates; graduation rates; enrollment in and completion of post-secondary education; usage/attendance for libraries, museums, etc.; enrollment #s in informal learning programs (i.e. How to classes); # of households with in-home access to the Internet/e-mail |
| Fiscal Management &Stability (those things which contribute to our ability to manage and plan for economic stability) |
Banks, Credit Union, tax attorney, nonprofit, Faithbased, government
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# of income to be poverty level households; % reporting little to no paid vacation and sick leave; % of teenagers who must work to support family; % that regularly contribute to a savings account/retirement account; access to life, disability, health insurance |
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