The fact that this week is world wellbeing week has gotten me thinking about what that means to me. I’m a quite intense person who goes through quite a bit of ups and downs in life. Every time a downtime comes I don’t like it, of course, but I have learned that it is okay to not be okay. Society doesn’t always want to see or talk about sadness, failure, or depression, but I know that it’s nothing to be ashamed of. The tougher the time, the stronger I am going to be afterwards.
A definition of well-being that I like from Boston University (their webpage on the topic, https://www.bu.edu/studentwellbeing/what-is-wellbeing/ is excellent!). According to the site, well-being is “a lifelong process of learning what makes you feel balanced and well.” I find this spot-on because it highlights that it is discovered over time through trial and error, not just something magically there one day.
Unfortunately, some of the best learning about well-being comes in our most difficult times, so the path is often challenging. Things are not always okay, and that’s nothing to feel ashamed about. Happiness isn’t always having everything together and only getting positive outcomes. It is being a superstar at finding ways through the moments when life throws you a curve ball and celebrating yourself for it.
I always say that if life is trying to give you a lesson, it will only give up once you hear what it is trying to say. From my experience, the message will get more prominent each time (and painful), but it’s always for the best.
I created this video for a different reason a while back, but I’m sharing it as a reminder that the “I’m not okay” moments are also essential parts of the journey toward more profound well-being.