Health and Well-being

Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity [Preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organization].

Most of us do not consider all aspects of our health. We treat symptoms of disease. We go to a doctor to “fix” whatever is wrong. Most often that means pharmaceutical medicines, over the counter drugs, surgery or therapy.

We do not consider that being healthy has physical, mental, and social components that fit together. It is really impossible to be completely healthy physically without being healthy mentally and socially.

The key concern is how do we improve and maintain our state of health. Most people seek help from the outside when we realize that we are not healthy. We ask a doctor to fix us. We seek mental counseling. We look to our significant other, family, and friends to help us socially.

There is clearly a better approach: prevention instead of repair. We should be building a complete state of health from the inside out, instead of looking for someone else to fix the problem.