What is Wellbeing?
Symbol: A tree
The questions:
- What is wellbeing?
- Does Earth matter?
- Who am I?
- Can planet and people thrive?
- Is there reason to hope?
Theme: Thriving and hope
- What is Wellbeing?
Wellbeing could not be more personal, yet equally essential for the whole planet. Wellbeing has been simply expressed as ‘feeling good and functioning well’, or ‘To thrive, to flourish, to succeed’.
“A friend is struggling with wellbeing issues, where would you begin in trying to help them?”
Wellbeing is about the totality of things. In its fullest sense is the heart and quest of all spirituality. It is a perfect word with which to translate shalom. Wellbeing is dynamic, so it requires nurturing.
- Does Earth matter?
Earth – ‘pale blue dot’ in space – is our home (Gk. oikos), that’s what ‘ecology’ means. Earth is the ultimate community, enabling wellbeing, nourishing spirituality. Many cultures call her “Mother”.
“Western culture treats Earth as a commodity, Is this acceptable? What are the alternatives?”
Climate and environment make it clear something is seriously wrong. Deniers and campaigners both appeal to science. To what extent might spirituality and community also be about ecology?
- Who am I?
Identity is central to wellbeing. Today sex, gender, race, culture, ability, opportunity etc, are all under the spotlight. Truth challenging tradition. Complex issues often leave people feeling lost.
“ ‘Who am I?’ is such a complex question. What steps might help someone start to untangle it?”
Recognising identity is as inclusive (outreaching and connected) as it is reclusive (hidden and private) – both are important. Develop each to enable them to blend together in a healthy way.
- Can planet and people thrive?
Both planet and people have historically shown themselves to be astonishing resilient, with great resurgent powers, providing they have access to all the resources needed to flourish and prosper.
“Is there anything specific a spiritual person might be able to bring to aid this healing process?”
The word is ‘thrive,’ not just ‘survive’. This requires relationship – all the lives of planet and people intertwining. Recovering something we have lost, not discovering something previously unknown.
- Is there reason to hope?
Hope is a most powerful lifegiving value. But is it actually the final illusion, or is it the most positive affirmation of reality? This is the question ‘Pandora’s box’ poses, How could we test which might actually be true?
“Do you think the phrase, ‘crisis provides opportunity’, is helpful in inspiring hope, and if so, how?”
Hope is more than optimism. Hope begins with experience (like the daily sunrise), supported by ‘intuitive reason’(what would be best and good), these inspire behaviour and actions towards that goal.
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