Have you noticed the increase in the use of the words ‘Wellbeing, Good Mental Health and Wellness’ in the community? If improving our health means that we can have a more content life while living longer, and having less pain, I am all for it. There are exceptions however, to the use of these words or similar to describe what we must do to achieve our goals.
Apparently, as demonstrated by some well-known companies below, the use of Wellbeing is taken out of context to sell their products. These companies and many more worldwide, are saying ‘If you do this ( buy our product/service), you will be rewarded with better health’.
For instance, a car firm who inform potential customers, that upgrading your car will ‘improve your mental health and wellbeing’.
A Supermarket who suggest that shopping in their store and joining their loyalty scheme will improve your mental health.
A beverage company state that consuming their product will improve your overall health and wellbeing.
These claims are sales pitches, nothing more, and personally, I find that these firms devalue the meaning of what I and other professionals in the therapeutic field are offering, as a way to improve emotional and psycho-social outcomes for individuals who seek help.
Yes, retail therapy may release endorphins and make you feel better, however so too can you feel uplifted by watching a good film on the TV, or looking at photographs of loved ones and not have to indulge in spending hard earned cash just because these companies want your custom.
These are only quick-fix boosts for happiness. What about the longer term need to feel better about yourself?
There are multidimensional approaches to what constitutes Wellbeing.
Generally speaking, when the desire is to improve a person’s outlook on life, by making changes to their behaviours, perception and physical fitness, these are made up of the following factors:
Emotional Wellbeing: When you change the way that you feel about yourself, by doing something new, usually your emotions alter too. As we connect with others, our interests in what the world has to offer affect how we perceive our own being. Benefits include having increased confidence, more self-worth and self-esteem. Our emotional state comparing the before and after can be amazing and positive.
Physical Wellbeing: If you feel that you are not taking part in any physical exercise, try moving around your home more, for a start. Anything to increase your heart rate, and get the blood moving. Instead of taking the lift/escalator, walk the stairs, at your own pace. Look at joining a group that offers social activity rather than having a competitive edge.
Social: Connecting with other people, to form networks of friends and others who you have common interests. This could be neighbours or work colleagues. Try to form groups which do not include the use of mobile/cell phones, concentrating on face-to-face communication.
Spiritual: Connecting with your inner self, your soul while seeking a purpose to understand your place on this journey through life. This approach can be religious or not, as that is your choosing. It is an exploration of consciousness and the frequencies that we journey through.
Intellect: is the mind functioning independently of emotion; the ability to rationalize and reason logically on any given information. This does not involve measuring someone’s intelligence or IQ level, this is about having the ability to understand the world from a holistic viewpoint.
Everyone has different ideas of what it is that helps them achieve a better quality of life. Therefore, what works for one person may not work for the other.
There are many ways to improve our overall wellbeing, and it is a personal choice on what route to take.
Some popular activities are Swimming, Cycling, Gardening and Walking. It depends on what activity you are able to take part in, as physical or emotional barriers may exist which only allow for less strenuous activities such as Meditation, Mindfulness or taking up Art classes.
Wellbeing is not achieved by selling or receiving a product, it the course of action from a psychotherapist view is to alter behaviours and slowly introduce positive changes to the way we live, socially, physically, emotionally, spiritually and using what you perceive as acceptable for own world.
Finally, for further understanding of how we can measure our own sense of Wellbeing, please click on this link to read about Maslow’s Hierarchy or Needs. This may help you choose where you see your life at present, and if change is required.
Maslow’s original hypothesis stated that having one’s basic needs met is a necessary prerequisite to pursuing a fulfilling life (Maslow 1943). Maslow posited that a person’s ability and desire to grow is related to his or her unmet needs.
Take care
Steve
Change Therapy 
As a Martech director I was really sad to read this.
Yes, there are some brands that try to jump on every shiny thing, every passing train, but I believe, hope, many professional marketers do have moral codes and consciences. But there will always be ratbags, cowboys who bring the level down.
Having said that, I have noticed a trend in the short time I’ve been in the UK where the consumer is treated more of a product to be fleeced and milked for every last farthing~ Seems things here have not moved very far past Charles Dickens era.
Real estate rental and mobile data companies spring to mind.
We strongly believe in UX (user experience) and work from a relationship based perspective which seems alien in the local UK market.
But, (and this is not going to win me any points with your readers I know,) I find the average UK consumer to be apathetic, too accepting of poor quality, service and unwilling or just too lazy to do anything about it.
Until British shoppers stand up and start demanding better quality from brands, realise and assert their collective weight and worth, nothing will change.
Sorry if this sounds revolutionary – delete the comment if it doesn’t fit with your ideology.
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I feel like the problem here is that the people who need this information the most are not going to chase after it. Much like when I wrote a blog series about how to effectively job hunt. And yet most people at the hourly wage level still suck at job hunting. Because they are not likely to chase after that kind of information. Similarly, those who need this wellness information the most or do easily fall prey to commercial advertising are not people who like reading and blogging. Indeed, many who could really use therapy won’t pursue it. Got one of those in my personal life! I guess the only silver lining and counter to my own argument here is that, actually, in reference to my job hunting series (which I worked rather hard on), there was indeed one college student who was like, “this is amazing!” And who had never been introduced to such information prior. So that perhaps made it worth it for me. Perhaps similarly someone may read information such as you present here and maybe it will actually be new to them.
But it doesn’t solve the problem of most people chasing more of what they already know while vast oceans of people out there churn in their self imposed sufferings. And I wonder how therapists grapple with that.
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Very interesting!
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An excellent article. Many thanks.
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