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Sometime in January, often but not always on New Year's Day, I like to take stock of wellness on a larger scale. During the year, I practice weekly and monthly rituals of reviewing the past and planning ahead. At least once a year, I add the dimension of envisioning a moment (merging present and future) in which my goals are fully realized. Some call it "heaven," others "enlightenment." I call it my "timeless wellness vision."
The vision does not deal in specifics such as ideal weight, times per week of meditation, or miles run. It deals, rather, in the experience of the life I want to live as a healthy, productive, happy, and loving person.
"I spend most of my time in the present, embracing what-is. I do not dwell unduly on either the successes or mistakes of the past. I do not invest disproportionate effort in planning for the future with an effort to control the uncontrollable. I learn from experience and set a hopeful vision, then place my trust in today.
"I rejoice in physical health, feed my body nourishing food, and maintain a level of activity that generates energy without injury or excessive fatigue. I value and make time for rest and recovery, sleep and relaxation.
"My mind is clear and flexible. I move smoothly between expanding my view to see the big picture and narrowing my thoughts to deal effectively with details. I choose thoughts that enhance happiness, hope, and inner peace; I shed those that take me in the direction of judgment dissatisfaction, and despair.
"I enjoy a rich network of loving connections with people, both near and far away. I pay attention to relationships and nurture them with regular and caring communication.
"My life is purposeful without being driven. I set and pursue goals without obsessing over them. When things don't turn out as I wish, I step back, reframe, and refocus. I give thanks for every life experience, because I know it is an opportunity for learning and growth."
Eventually, I translate the timeless vision into concrete behavioral terms. Over the next few weeks, we will reflect on the process of building habits that lead toward the outcome of our dreams. Tracking calories, following a training plan, and monitoring progress are more familiar for most of us than painting a somewhat abstract view of the success that we seek.
Today, however, I challenge you to spend some time envisioning your ideal. What does wellness mean for you physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually? How would you describe a happy outcome? Success? Heaven on earth?
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