Over the years, I’ve had countless conversations about well-being with professionals, students, my online community, friends, and family.
Every time I ask the question, “what is well-being?” the answers sound like this:
- Self-care
- Having personal time
- Balanced
- Peaceful
- Relaxed
- Centered
- Healthy
- Wealthy
- Happy
- Energized and rested
- Engaged and proactive
- Optimistic
- Solid relationships
- Connected
- Having fun
- Safe and secure
- Going with the flow
The truth is well-being is whatever you define it to be.
More importantly, well-being is….
Living your version of overall health, happiness, comfort or prosperity.
These days, many people I speak with feel DISEMPOWERED. Words they use to describe it sound like this:
- Stuck
- Trapped
- Obligated
- Exhausted
- Resentful
- Disinterested
- Distracted
- Forgetful
- Apathetic
- Over-extended
COVID-19 brought our world to a halt and sent us into a global crisis. I believe it exaggerated people’s tension, void, and stress from living in our never-enough society that expects us to sacrifice joy to uphold an unsatisfying version of success.
Consider this…
According to a 2021 article by the Harvard Business Review, almost 9/10 Americans experienced a decrease in well-being. Roughly 6/10 people admitted to being burned out or extremely burned out. From the conversations I am having today, that sentiment hasn’t improved much, if at all.
9 years ago, I was a burned-out workaholic. While my credentials and accomplishments demonstrated success, I secretly felt trapped by my never-ending obligations, was unable to say no to things that exhausted me, and I felt let down for choosing a personal path that left little room for joy.
9 years ago, my life was NOT the definition of well-being.
Today, it IS!
> > > Well-being is NOT living in a of happiness, zen, balance, or comfort.
> > > Well-being is TRUSTING you can create everything you wish to experience and can navigate everything life presents..
I learned how to live a life of well-being and reclaim my personal power by following these 4 ways of living:
Living with Awareness
Living with awareness comes from being honest about your reality. It means looking closely at what you are doing to create your unhappiness or pain. It means deconstructing your personal beliefs and figuring out which ones continue to hold you back. It also means digging deep into your heart to uncover your dreams letting them shine without apology or guilt.
Living with Courage
Living with courage is fueled by knowing who you are and what you stand for. When you know what you value, what lights your heart, what gives you strength and what makes you talented, you will stand taller, speak louder, and make bolder decisions for yourself. Living inauthentically will no longer be an option for you.
Living with Abundance
Living with abundance starts with savoring your life as it is. It’s trusting you already have more than enough, that the universe always supports your highest good, and that everything in life happens FOR you, not TO you. Feeling abundant attracts more abundance to your life. Once you see evidence of this, you will believe you are blessed and continue the momentum of gratitude to attract more good fortune.
Living with Joy
Joy is not a privilege; it’s your inherent right. You deserve to live it. Once you intentionally tap into the joy of your day, you will learn what euphoria feels like. You won’t be able to resist sharing that goodness with others and you will inspire a flow of giving and receiving. You will radiate an energy so strong it will ignite the same in others and collectively spread more joy in the world.
9 years ago, I led a powerful career, but I wasn’t leading a powerful life.
Today, I feel free and powerful to live.
Putting these concepts to practice helped me create a reality I thought only possible in another lifetime.
I am confident they will help you do the same.
Xo,
Alyson
