As some of you may already know, I am coming to the end of my class at the Thomas Wernert Center. The class is called "8 Dimensions of Wellness". I have learned a lot about the 8 different ways one can be mentally healthy. As a mental health advocate, I have enjoyed learning how to encourage others to live a mentally healthy life. As a Christian, I have enjoyed seeing how these "8 Dimensions" actually coincide with Scripture. In this blog, I will share what each of these 8 Dimensions are, and then I will share how each of these Dimensions ties into the Biblical text. This blog aims to show you how you can live a mentally healthy life as a Christian. It is important to keep in mind that the way one operates in each of these dimensions will look different for each person. This does not mean that these 8 dimensions do not apply to everyone because they most certainly do. It just means that there is no "one-size-fits-all" for each of these dimensions. The book that I will be referencing in this blog is called "Creating A Healthier Life: A Step-By-Step Guide To Wellness". Now, it is time for me to discuss each of these categories.
Physical Wellness
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The definition for this category is the following,
"A healthy body. Good physical health habits. Nutrition, exercise, and appropriate health care. These make up the physical dimension of wellness. A few ways that we can get there might be choosing things that make our body feel good and trimming back the things that bring us down. We can also feel better by creating a routine that balances activity with inactivity, and that is manageable within our obligations and needs. Our body is intelligent, and learning to listen to it more may be very important and empowering."
I really love this definition because it perfectly says what physical wellness looks like. Pay close attention to some of the words and phrases in this definition. "Nutrition". "Exercise". "Choosing things that make our body feel good". "Trimming back the things that bring us down". What is it that you think of when you read these words and phrases? Take a moment to really ruminate on these thoughts. Now, how does this correlate with the Bible? I would like to draw your attention to 1 Timothy 4:7-8, which says the following,
"Rather train yourself for godliness, for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come."
I know that this text is usually used to show how godliness is much more valuable than physical training, and
I do not have any dispute with that interpretation because that does seem to be the point that the Apostle Paul was getting at. However, notice what Paul does not do. He does not say that there is no value in physical training at all. This would mean that even Paul acknowledged that there is some value to physical exercise. I know that this might sound like a trite point, but I have heard godly men and women abuse this text by making it seem as if, as long as you are "godly," then it does not matter if you physically exercise. That is a gross misapplication of this text.
Here are some ways that I try to fulfill this dimension:
1) Going for walks
2) Exercising on the bike at the Thomas Wernert Center
3) Walking in place inside my apartment
Intellectual Wellness
__________________
The definition for this category is the following,
"...involves many things that keep our brains active and intellect expanding. In a broad sense, this dimension can involve looking at different perspectives of an issue and taking them into consideration. Through several activities-- from learning about current events to organizing game nights in your home og community center-- you can broaden your perspective and understand diverse points of view."
Physical Wellness
________________
The definition for this category is the following,
"A healthy body. Good physical health habits. Nutrition, exercise, and appropriate health care. These make up the physical dimension of wellness. A few ways that we can get there might be choosing things that make our body feel good and trimming back the things that bring us down. We can also feel better by creating a routine that balances activity with inactivity, and that is manageable within our obligations and needs. Our body is intelligent, and learning to listen to it more may be very important and empowering."
I really love this definition because it perfectly says what physical wellness looks like. Pay close attention to some of the words and phrases in this definition. "Nutrition". "Exercise". "Choosing things that make our body feel good". "Trimming back the things that bring us down". What is it that you think of when you read these words and phrases? Take a moment to really ruminate on these thoughts. Now, how does this correlate with the Bible? I would like to draw your attention to 1 Timothy 4:7-8, which says the following,
"Rather train yourself for godliness, for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come."
I know that this text is usually used to show how godliness is much more valuable than physical training, and
I do not have any dispute with that interpretation because that does seem to be the point that the Apostle Paul was getting at. However, notice what Paul does not do. He does not say that there is no value in physical training at all. This would mean that even Paul acknowledged that there is some value to physical exercise. I know that this might sound like a trite point, but I have heard godly men and women abuse this text by making it seem as if, as long as you are "godly," then it does not matter if you physically exercise. That is a gross misapplication of this text.
Here are some ways that I try to fulfill this dimension:
1) Going for walks
2) Exercising on the bike at the Thomas Wernert Center
3) Walking in place inside my apartment
Intellectual Wellness
__________________
The definition for this category is the following,
"...involves many things that keep our brains active and intellect expanding. In a broad sense, this dimension can involve looking at different perspectives of an issue and taking them into consideration. Through several activities-- from learning about current events to organizing game nights in your home og community center-- you can broaden your perspective and understand diverse points of view."
"...You should love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind"
As you can see, the Lord Jesus Christ commands us to love God with OUR MINDS. This does not mean we have an excuse to be intellectually lazy. As a matter of fact, the way we love the Lord with our minds to the best of our abilities is by keeping them active. We should never give up stimulating our minds. Christians do not get brownie points for being ignorant. Now, does this mean that we will always love the Lord perfectly with our minds? Heaven's no. As sinful, imperfect people, we will always struggle. But that is no excuse to just throw in the towel and give up.
Here are some ways that I fulfill this category:
1) Reading Theology, Psychology, and Philosophy Books
2) Researching other perspectives different from my own
3) Studying the Bible
4) Having intellectually stimulating conversations
Financial Wellness
________________
The definition for this category is the following,
"...involves things such as income, debt and savings, as well as a person's understanding of financial processes and resources. A person's satisfaction with their current financial situation and future prospects also comes into play."
Pay close attention to the words and phrases in this definition. "Debt and savings". "Person's understanding of financial processes". "Person's satisfaction with their current financial situation". What comes to your mind when you think of these words and phrases? What does the Bible say about this category? If we turn to 1 Timothy 6:10, we read the following,
"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs."
Notice what the Apostle Paul does not say. He does not say that money is the root of all evil. He merely says that the LOVE of money is the root of all kinds of evil. We must really take the time to understand that because many Christians read this verse and automatically think it is sinful to be rich. It is only sinful to be rich when you idolize your money above God. When someone does that, they will fall into "all kinds of evils". Another Scripture I'd like to draw your attention to is Proverbs 3:9-10, which says the following,
"Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will be bursting with wine."
As you can see from this text, the wisest man to have ever lived commands us to use our wealth to honor God. As a matter of fact, Solomon promises us that if we honor God with our money, then God will bless us. I know that there is some disagreement amongst Christians concerning how one is to honor God with our money, but I think the Scripture is clear when it says our "first fruits". This means that when we get paid, we are to give our dues to the Lord before we buy or spend money on anything else. When we do this, then God will honor us. As a matter of fact, when we turn to Malachi 3:10, we read the following,
"Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of Heaven for you and pour down a blessing until there is no more need."
As you can see from this text, the Lord commands us to bring our tithe into our churches. What exactly constitutes a tithe? Biblically speaking, a tithe is 10% of all your income. Basically, we are commanded to give 10% of our income to our churches. That should be the bare minimum of what we give. God not only commands us to give our full tithe, but He tells us to test Him to see if He will not bless us for giving Him our full tithe. Usually, the Lord tells us not to test Him, but in this portion of Scripture, He gives us the right to test Him.
Here is how I fulfill this category:
1) I may not always give my full tithe, but I do make sure to tithe at least $15 at the beginning of each month
2) I do not spend any of my money before I give my tithe
3) I make sure I follow a budget to the best of my ability
Environment Wellness
____________________
The definition for this category is the following:
"...involves being able to be safe and feel safe. This can include: Accessing clean air, food, and water. Preserving the areas where we live, learn, and work. Occupying pleasant, stimulating environments that support our wellbeing, Promoting learning, contemplation, and relaxation in natural places and spaces."
Pay close attention to some of these words and phrases. "Feel safe and be safe". "Clean air, food, and water". "Preserving the areas where we live". What do you think of when you think of these phrases? What does the Bible say? When we turn to chapter 2 of Genesis, we see a remarkable scene. We see that the Lord created the Garden of Eden, and it was very lush and beautiful, but it had no one to tend it. Then, eventually, God created the first man out of the dust of the ground and breathed His breath into the man so that the man would become a living being. Then, in verse 15, we read the following,
"The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden to work it and keep it."
As you can see from this text, God commanded Adam to take care of his environment. This would mean that he had a job to do. And this was before he and Eve fell into sin. Basically, work is not sinful nor is it evil. As a matter of fact, we are commanded to work. Laziness is a sin that is forbidden throughout the Scriptures. Christians are not only commanded to work, but we are expected to work. And we are commanded to take care of our immediate environment. This means we are to make sure our living spaces are liveable. As Dr. Michael Horton has once said, "Christians should be the best environmentalists".
Here are some ways I fulfil this category:
1) Doing the chores around the house that my wife cannot do
2) Cleaning up after myself
3) Making sure I do not litter, trash goes into the trash bin
Spiritual Wellness
________________
The definition for this category is the following:
"...is a broad concept that represents one's personal beliefs and values and involves having meaning, purpose, and a sense of balance and peace."
Pay close attention to these words and phrases. "personal beliefs and values,". "meaning, purpose, and sense of balance". What comes to your mind when you think of these phrases? What does the Bible say concerning this? If we turn to 1 Peter 2:9, we read the following,
"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."
As you can see from this scripture, Peter wants us to know a couple of things. First, he wants us to know who we are in Christ. He says things like we are "a chosen race", a "royal priesthood", and a "people for his own possession". In other words, we belong to the Great King of the universe, and that fact makes us holy and royal. We may as well think of ourselves as princes and princesses in His grand kingdom. Secondly, Peter wants us to know our purpose. He says our purpose is to "proclaim the excellencies of him who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light". Basically, we are to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to as many people as we can while we are alive on this earth. Spreading the Gospel message is not only our duty, but it is also our privilege.
Here are some ways I fulfill this category:
1) Pray daily
2) Read my Bible
3) Conduct Family Worship
4) Give people Bibles when they ask
5) Talk to people about Christ
6) Read theology books
Social Wellness
_______________
The definition for this category is the following,
"...Involves having health relationships with friends, family, and community, and having an interest in and concern for the needs of others and humankind"
What do you think of when you read this definition? What does the Bible say? When we turn to Philippians 2:3-4, we read the following,
"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others as more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."
As you can clearly see from this text, we are not to be selfish by only caring for our needs, but we are commanded to think of other people as more important than ourselves. This means we should be thinking of meeting other people's needs before our own. Are we going to do this perfectly? No! As long as we are stuck in these sinful bodies, we will never do this perfectly because we are always prone to selfishness. However, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we will make progress in fulfilling this command. Another text that I would like to draw your attention to is 1 Corinthians 12:22-24, which says the following,
"On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable, we bestow greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are used with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it."
The context of these verses is that Paul is comparing the Body of Christ to being like a human body. Each individual Christian makes up a part of the Body of Christ. Paul tells us that the weaker or less honorable member of the body of Christ should be treated with even more honor. This is the polar opposite of what the world teaches. The world wants attractive people, have lots of money and have a lot of charisma to be treated with all the honor and respect. The world will mistreat someone who is not attractive, who does not have a lot of money, and who does not have a lot of charisma. However, the Lord flips things upside-down by telling us to give more honor and respect to the outcasts and misfits of the world.
Here are some ways I fulfill this category:
1) I treat everyone I meet the same as I would treat anyone else
2) I do my best to help out others
3) I do not hold grudges
4) I am always forgiving
Occupational Wellness
___________________
The definition for this category is the following,
"involves participating in activities that provide meaning and purpose and reflect personal values, interests, and beliefs, including employment."
This is a pretty straightforward definition, and as you can see, this has an overlap with the environmental wellness category. I will turn your attention to Genesis 2:15 again, which says,
"The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden to work it and keep it."
If you remember correctly, God creates the Garden of Eden, but there is no one to tend this very lush and beautiful land. As a result, God creates Adam and gives him the job of tending the garden. As I have pointed out before, God gave Adam this job before the Fall. This means that work is not inherently sinful. As a matter of fact, we are called and commanded to work. I know that this may sound convincing to those of us with mental illness who cannot work. But the command is still the same for us. However, the Lord understands if we are not able to work a traditional 9-5 job. If you are like me, then you may have to figure out what your own personal niche is. What are some things you're good at, and how can you utilize your gifts? You may have to talk to those who are close to you to figure out what God's calling for your life is.
How I fulfill this category:
1) Being the best mental health advocate that I can be
2) Doing my best to take care of my wife
3) Doing my best to represent Christ in the world
Emotional Wellness
_________________
The definition for this category is the following,
"...involves the ability to express feelings, adjust to emotional challenges, cope with life stressors, and enjoy life. It includes knowing our strengths as well as what we want to get better at, and living and working on our own but letting others help us from time to time."
Pay attention to some key words and phrases. "Express feelings". "Adjust to emotional challenges". "Knowing our strengths". What comes to your mind when you think of these words? What does the Bible say? If we turn to Proverbs 4:23, which says the following,
"Keep your heart with all vigilance; for from it flows the springs of life"
In this text, King Solomon is wisely commanding us to guard our hearts. In biblical times, the heart was considered to be our soul. In other words, it was the core of our being. So, when we are commanded to guard our hearts, Solomon was telling us to protect the core of our being. We do this by not allowing toxic people into our lives, by fighting negative thoughts that may arise in our minds, and by filling our thoughts with good things, as Philippians 4:8 tells us to do. When we can successfully do this, we will find that we are more at peace.
I would like to thank you all for taking the time to read my blog, and I hope that you find this to be a blessing in your life. I know that learning the "8 Dimensions of Wellness" has greatly benefitted me, and I know that it will greatly benefit you as well. Please feel free to let me know how these wellness tips have helped you in the comments below. May the grace of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ richly bless you all!
-David Lee Chu Sarchet
Christian Mental Health Advocate
Check out the Christ-Centered Mental Health Ministry Website
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