Intention: The Four Important Words For Wellness

It has become popular this year to choose one word that defines the intent you set for yourself for the New Year. For example, one person could choose the word “serenity” as their guide, using it as their daily mantra. Another could choose the word “success” or perhaps the word” worthy.” All are good choices, helping to define the personal goals you want to set for yourself.

I’ve thought about this idea for the purpose of my “Wellness” category here on Boomeon. Starting with a clean slate we begin anew to reach further than we have before in our ongoing quest for personal growth. We use our past successes and failures as the catalyst to do better, dream deeper and explore farther.

But wellness is difficult to define in one word. There are many paths to follow for us to reach our chosen destination. For this reason, I think it’s necessary to choose several words to set our intentions for the coming year. Here are a few that stand out among them:

Gratitude

The world we live in is fast-paced. Keeping up with the treadmill of life can leave us feeling weary, anxious and empty. In our rush to get things done, we sometimes forget to take a moment to look around and notice our blessings. Keeping a gratitude journal or making a mental note of our blessings is important for our spiritual and physical health.

Peace

Peace means different things to different people. With global unrest, it can mean a wish to end all violence. But in the realm of wellness peace can mean the joy we feel when we reach inner peace. How can we achieve this? Here are a few things we can do:

• Remove toxic relationships.
• Surround yourself with those who love and care about you.
• Find what you’re passionate about and make that a part of your life.
• Listen to your instincts by saying “yes” and “no” to create the kind of balance you desire in your life.
• Slow down and enjoy your life. Be mindful as often as possible, and breathe in the fragrance of happiness.

Health

Taking care of your physical, emotional and spiritual needs are vital to aging gracefully. Eating healthy foods, getting regular exercise and finding time to meditate (or doing whatever you find is calming for you) will collectively turn you into a healthier and happier person.

Remember to schedule regular doctor appointments. Also, spend time doing research from reputable websites for information about alternative ways to care for your health issues.

Reach

Reach for the stars. Reach for meaningful relationships. Reach for that “something” you’ve always wanted to do and just do it. Reach out to others for help, guidance, and solace. Reach out to those in need (including animals) and do what you can to help them. Reach out to people you’ve lost touch with. Reach, stretch and bend, even if it’s out of your comfort zone, to reach toward the life you’ve always wanted. Reach. It’s such a magical word.