Pathways, Skills And Actions To Promote And Enhance Wellbeing

Running Head: ENHANCING WELLBEING

Pathways, skills and Actions to Promote and Enhance Wellbeing

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ENHANCING WELLBEING 2

Wellbeing can be defined as a state of satisfaction or balance in cognitive, affective,

psychological, financial and social needs. It is highly essential for a purposeful and peaceful

living. Every individual desires a state of wellbeing. However, based on the complexity and

diversity of the backgrounds leading to satisfaction of the needs leading to wellbeing, there

arises a state of imbalance in emotional, psychological, social and physiological domains. In

uncontrolled situations, these imbalances can lead to internal conflicts and, hence, crises. In

times of such crises, pathways to wellbeing help individuals in regaining the required balance

and satisfaction. There are numerous pathways to wellbeing. Individuals choose the most

suitable pathways to wellbeing as what might work for some might not work for others. In

this regard, it is necessary to consider six of the pathways to wellbeing by evaluating

acknowledgement and diagnostic acceptance and considering effective ways of stress

management.

1. Acknowledging an issue

Acknowledgement is simply making admittance that there is indeed a problem. This

includes realizing one’s vulnerabilities, making comparisons of self with others and defining

new realities that include possibilities.

Constituting the first steps towards enhancing wellbeing includes acknowledgement

of an issue. Acknowledgement begins to work when one has admitted that there is problem

somewhere by admitting vulnerability to issues. Most problems occur out of denial to

vulnerability as some people think that they cannot experience problems. This is aided and

guided by comparing self with others and in turn identifying what is possible, and thus,

identifies realistic expectations. Through identification of possibilities, one makes a

ENHANCING WELLBEING 3

redefinition of reality and provides self with options for improvement. These options are

highly helpful in making or creating new goals.

In his world top selling book, Peale (2013) argues that many people around the world

attested to have undergone an improvement after recognizing that they were vulnerable to

problems. The author also points out that making these new expectations helps one to be

realistic and achieve accordingly and hence improve on every challenges of life.

My father always told me it not a weakness to accept to have made a mistake and

instead it would be a weakness to fail to accept failure or mistakes. He told me that this

acknowledgement helped him a great deal in overcoming problems in his life.

2. Choice

Choice is simply a consideration of available alternative of and also realizing that there

is not only one way of doing things. This includes option considerations, understanding

consequences, taking new stances or positions with other options still and redefining realities.

Choice works best by providing one with alternatives. Many problems arise out of lack

of options and when one thought way of doing things does not work, frustrations arise.

Generating options actually creates new means of reaching some end, and making

understanding of doing tasks easier. This way, people take new positions as regards love, life

and achievement. This realization also helps people to generate other options in relation to

the new positions and avoid future crises. When new positions have been taken with new

options, the future is secured and hence people feel more comfortable handling even the

undesirable results.

Research evidence indicates that people with choices in relationships, means of work

and social circles do not get frustrated in the events that things go wrong. A majority of the

ENHANCING WELLBEING 4

people report that when one thing fails to work out, then falling to the second choice helps in

forgetting the undesirable occurrence of the first one and in turn helps in enhancing wellbeing.

I have always had the concept of equipping myself with choices. I had planned that in

the case that I complete my studies and do not employed immediately, then I would become a

writer at some point. This helped me to reduce one line thinking leading to frustrations of

seeking and committing to routine work.

3. Positivity

Positivity involves aligning thought processes towards happy, pleasurable and possible

endings and includes optimism, noticing the good, affirmations and regarding with awe.

Positivity works by changing one’s line of thinking towards recognizing the good

always. This recognition helps one to affirm well in others and self, making optimistic

expectations in self and others and attributing some power to the unknown and fateful

occurrences such as natural disasters and death. Through affirmations, social relations

improve and self-acceptance increases. Noticing the good in every situation helps in reducing

negative thoughts about events, things, life and expectations and thereby improves on mood,

sociability and achievement of good perception from others (Lunde, 2015). Attribution to

some power such as God in fateful endings helps people to overcome frustrations such as in

accepting losing their loved ones.

In times of crises, individual that develop positive thinking, as identified by Peale

(2013), focus on the good, resulting from positive thoughts and thereby helps greatly in

achievement of dreams, new realities and meeting of expectations. The author argues further

that concentrating on negative occurrences and thoughts reduce the possibilities of people

achieving successful conclusions. Thus, to enhance wellbeing, many must develop positive

thinking (Henry, 90, 2001).

ENHANCING WELLBEING 5

A preacher at our local church, who is a successful businessman, always insisted on

the importance of positivity in handling every situation. He quoted that in identifying

opportunities, he considered the positive side of events.

4. Humor

Humor, which includes making fun of people, events or situations, is regarded as one

of the most effective natural tools for reducing tension, increasing motivation and easy

communication.

Humor begins to work when people start laughing at themselves. Laughing at the self

helps in reducing tension and thus, stressful times. By laughing at the self and sharing the

laughter with others, while exchanging their laughable situations and events, people end up

sharing and achieving help easily. Another key not is that laughter requires one to play the

fool in helping to laugh at the self. It is highly advisable to laugh out loudly. Watching funny

videos helps one in making ridiculous solutions (Kathia & Alexander, 89, 2004). By easing

tension, adaptation to situations improves and hence aids achievement of wellbeing.

Research evidence indicates that people who laugh often find it easy to handle difficult

life situations than those who do not and tend to be happier than the latter. For instance, one

reason attributed to the high levels of happiness, in the 2015 World happiness report, to Latin

American is the creation of humor in situations.

I have always found it easier to handle difficult situations through laugher. Laughing

at my mistakes have helped me to improve and make better position with alternatives, while

laughing at situations and others has made me realistic of everyone’s vulnerabilities.

5. Kindness and care for others

ENHANCING WELLBEING 6

In managing stressful situations or events, kindness and caring to others. This includes

empathy, honesty and openness, sense of unity with others, smiling, desire to see others

improve, sense of fairness and justice and altruism help in reducing crises.

Kindness commences working by developing empathic feelings towards others and

situations. Developing empathy to others helps in identifying the needs of others and in turn

helps in creation of affirmations of others. Openness towards others helps in understanding

these needs, in turn helps in raising self-acceptance to social circles, and eventually improves

self-image. A good self-image creates confidence and solidarity with others (Ripley&

Worthington, 20, 2002). Also smiling helps in gaining easy acceptance from people and

eventually leads to easing of situations. A sense of fairness and justice helps in reducing harsh

judgments of others, which leads to rejection from them, an instead increases social

acceptance, fulfilling the needs of belongingness and hence enhancing wellbeing.

Various studies have been undertaken to understand social relations and consequences.

The evidences point out that those individuals who either are open to others, smile often,

show empathy towards others and undertake a fairness and justice in others report to

experiencing a minimal level of problems. This effect is attributable to good relations, good

self-image and fulfillment of social needs (Ellen, Kalliath & Kalliath, 2012).

Back in high schools, most students would clash with others owing to their negative

judgments of others. The few examples of the good guys in school, when I look back,

possessed a sense of openness, always put smiles on their faces and were empathic to others,

factors that made them lovable.

6. Generosity

Generosity is a concept of giving out whatever one can, to those who may need it and

this includes material needs such as food and clothing, time, psychological help such as

ENHANCING WELLBEING 7

advising people out of situations and providing anything of help to others and the willingness

to receive from others.

Generosity works by gaining affirmation from others of good actions or deeds. The

willingness to give to others of what they require such as material basic needs creates a

feeling of empathy and in turn makes one gain appreciation from others. The appreciation in

turn creates a good feeling and helps in achieving fairness to others (Lunde, 2015). When one

is appreciated, motivation for life improves and consequently, people exhibit desirable social

behaviors. The willingness to receive from others also helps in reducing the level of meanness

in people and in turn increases levels of appreciation, leading to higher levels of human

dignity. This affirmation in turn enhances social, psychological, emotional and physiological

wellbeing.

Daniere and Takahashi (2009) argue that in Thailand, there is a natural tendency to

give to the less privileged material basic needs, time to the stressed and other aspects. When

people give more to the less privileged, they in turn find a solace in the undertaking and

eventually live purposeful and happier lives. Although individual may not experience

happiness in nations with policies for mandatory donation, the overall sense of collectivism

and responsibility helps in achieving a sense of wellbeing.

A recent example of generosity and inspiration involves the world’s most popular

boxers, Floyd Mayweather and Nanny Pacquiao. While latter managed to win the hearts of

millions of people around the world by donating half of his proceedings to charity every time

he wins, the latter was received with scorn, hatred and negative judgment by being mean and

refusing to give back to society. Pacquiao is reported to have lived a happier life throughout

while Mayweather is reported to have divorced, jailed and judged badly by society.

ENHANCING WELLBEING 8

Conclusion

Although the pathways, skills and actions to promote and enhance wellbeing differ in

people, choosing specific pathways, skills and actions helps greatly in enhancing wellbeing.

Acknowledging problems and creating choices or options commences first steps to wellbeing.

Maintaining a positive thinking line in all circumstances, using a sense of humor such as

laughing at self and sharing laughter experiences with others, coupled with being kind

empathic to others and also being generous are some of the few pathways, skills and actions,

which when used collectively and effectively produce an enhanced wellbeing outcomes.

Although the concept of wellbeing is diverse, understanding specific pathways relevant to

specific people aids in improving normal mental, emotional and social even physiological

status of those people.

ENHANCING WELLBEING 9

References

Daniere, A. G., & Takahashi, L. M. (2009). Public policy and human dignity in Thailand:

Environmental policies and human values in bangkok. Policy Sciences, 32(3), 247.

Ellen, E. K., Kalliath, T., & Kalliath, P. (2012). Achieving employee wellbeing in a changing

work environment. International Journal of Manpower, 33(7), 738-753.

doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/01437721211268294

Henry, P. (2001). An examination of the pathways through which social class impacts health

outcomes. Academy of Marketing Science Review, 2001, 1.

Kathia, C. L., & Alexander, L. (2004). The role of evolutionary learning community in

evolutionary development: The unfolding of a line of inquiry. Systems Research and

Behavioral Science, 21(3), 269.

Lunde, T. (2015). Escaping poverty: Perceptions from twelve indigenous communities in

southern mexico (Order No. 3356942).

Peale, N.V. (2013). The power of positive thinking. New York, NY: Important Books.

Ripley, J. S., & Worthington,Everett L.,,Jr. (2002). Hope-focused and forgiveness-based

group interventions to promote marital enrichment. Journal of Counseling and

Development : JCD, 80(4), 452-463.

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