Making 2022 our year of wellbeing
What does an ‘holistic approach to wellbeing’ mean? I guess we could all have a go at answering that from the perspective of the individual, but what does it mean for service providers? How do you ‘do’ a holistic approach to wellbeing when your daily specialism takes all of your time (and usually more!).
That’s the question we are going to pose this year. I haven’t got any answers at the minute although I wish I had. However, its my aim that by the end of 2022, together we will be generating those answers. It will mean change, it will mean challenging the status quo, it will mean working more closely, but what if by January 2023 we were all well on our way to a happier and healthier community? A one in which people had the means at hand to live a happy and meaningful life, to live with purpose and pride? A grand aim? Yes. Unrealistic? I am definitely going to say no to that one. 2020 proved the boundaries between realistic and unrealistic were very flexible. And that has to be our starting point. We do not need to accept that that’s just how things are. We do not need to accept we have to continue with what has gone before. What we want every member of the STWN to accept is that improving lives is within our control. Us as individuals, us as organisations and us as workers in a huge system dedicated to people’s lives.
And that’s our starting point for 2022. Change and change for the better. Looking at what we do well and spreading its reach. Looking at what we could improve and developing solutions. Looking at what isn’t there that should be.
What is Positive Psychology: A Definition
Positive psychology has been described in many ways and with many words, but the commonly accepted definition of the field is this:
“Positive psychology is the scientific study of what makes life most worth living” (Peterson, 2008).
To push this brief description a bit further, positive psychology is a scientific approach to studying human thoughts, feelings, and behaviour, with a focus on strengths instead of weaknesses, building the good in life instead of repairing the bad, and taking the lives of average people up to “great” instead of focusing solely on moving those who are struggling up to “normal” (Peterson, 2008).
https://positivepsychology.com/what-is-positive-psychology-definition/
I want to see a huge upswing towards positive psychology. Of course I want this for our clients or patients, but also for us. Many of us have worked through extremely hard times over the last 2 years and we need time to restore our health and energies too. You can’t pour from an empty cup as the old adage goes.
I have written this blog on 23 February 2022 and somehow I feel different this year. I feel there is change in the air. Much has been written about post-covid possibilities and I don’t want us to lose those voices in the rush back to the ‘old normal’. I want a new normal. One based on the realisation of how so dependent we are upon each other. I want a kinder world built around people and not things or processes that serve no-one properly.
Kindness. Understanding. Happiness. Peace. Togetherness. That’s my wish.
Our year of wellbeing is about learning and doing. It is an ongoing commitment. It is a journey into real lives and real needs and the real people who can make a significant difference. You. We really would love to have you along for the ride.
