How to Think About the ILLNESS WELLNESS Continuum

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To reach your potential and have more energy, you need to understand the Wellness Continuum.

Wellness is not just the absence of disease or disease-risk. I’ve learned it can also be experienced despite disease.

This is good news.

Because no matter if you are in perfect health or struggling with a medical issue, you can grow your wellness.

What is Wellness?

Wellness encompasses your physical health - and your mental and emotional health, too.

John Travis, M.D., developed the Illness - Health - Wellness Continuum in 1972. As a continuum, it is not static. You can move up and down on the scale.

  • The closer to disease you go, the more signs and symptoms your have.

  • The closer to health and wellness you go, the more energy and vibrancy of life you enjoy.

However, after years of working with clients, I have seen that there is something outside the traditional Illness - Wellness Continuum.

It is when a friend with chronic pain still thrives in life, even competing in ultra-marathons.

Or when a client manages post-cancer issues and becomes more vibrant and stronger in every area of wellness.

Is there better Wellness Continuum?

After years of experience, I decided to experiment with re-drawing the Wellness Continuum to illustrate what I’ve seen better motivates clients. True, no simplified illustration captures every facet of a concept.

Dr. Travis’s version created a solid foundation to think about wellness. Watch the video to learn how my re-vision of it can motivate you.

No matter what your health status, know that you can improve your wellness with small daily steps:

Don’t let a diagnosis discourage you. You can improve your wellness. No matter what.