Truths About Wellbeing Part 1: Wellbeing is Complex

Wellbeing is a complex concept because we are all interconnected. We exist as individual systems within larger systems, where our wellbeing can influence and be influenced by those around us (Kern et al. 2020).

Wellbeing is frequently used, yet its true meaning often remains elusive. Why? Wellbeing encompasses our sense of self and the ability to care for our needs to thrive in our family lives, communities, and workplaces.

It is crucial to remember that there isn't a one-size-fits-all solution to enhancing wellbeing. What works for one person may not work for another, and the same principle applies to workplaces. Here’s one truth that I've learned from the science of wellbeing. 

Wellbeing is a complex concept because we are all interconnected. We exist as individual systems within larger systems, where our wellbeing can influence and be influenced by those around us (Kern et al. 2020). This interconnectedness means our actions and behaviours impact our relationships with family, friends, and teams, as well as the environments of our homes, workplaces, and communities. Over time, we collectively shape culture and society, influencing its economy, standards, and policies. It's important to note that these effects also happen in reverse; any of these domains we are part of can affect our wellbeing.

This interconnectedness means our actions and behaviours impact our relationships with family, friends, and teams, as well as the environments of our homes, workplaces, and communities. Over time, we collectively shape culture and society, influencing its economy, standards, and policies.

From the perspective of Indigenous cultures, wellbeing is a holistic concept encompassing mental, physical, cultural, and spiritual health (Mental Health Commission of NSW, 2017). This view underscores the importance of not just focusing on one aspect of our lives, but being mindful of how each aspect influences others. It reminds us to consider the whole picture of our wellbeing, not just one piece of the puzzle.

Understanding that wellbeing is complex, it's important to consider what it means to us individually, within families, teams, and organisations. To simplify this complexity, I often use the Me-We-Us model to illustrate a systems approach to wellbeing (Jarden & Jarden, 2022). This model shows how individuals (Me) influence those around them (We), and how these connections impact the broader community (Us), creating a ripple effect in both directions.

Fig.1 The Me-We-Us Model (Jarden & Jarden, 2022)

There are two key steps to take from this understanding. First is to develop self-awareness and consider how our actions and behaviours affects others in all contexts of our lives. The second is to define what wellbeing means to us as individuals, families, teams, organisations and communities.

So where do we go from here? There are two key steps to take from this understanding. First is to develop self-awareness and consider how our actions and behaviours affects others in all contexts of our lives. The second is to define what wellbeing means to us as individuals, families, teams, organisations and communities. Wellbeing is subjective (Diener, 1984) and everyone has different needs to function at their best. What's yours?

---

References

Diener, E. (1984). Subjective well-being. Psychological bulletin, 95(3), 542.

Jarden, R. J., & Jarden, A. (2022). A systems pathway to self-care in academia: Me, We, and Us as avenues to integrated long-term self-care. In Reflections on Valuing Wellbeing in Higher Education (pp. 95-110). Routledge.

Kern, M. L., Williams, P., Spong, C., Colla, R., Sharma, K., Downie, A., & Oades, L. G. (2020). Systems informed positive psychology. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 15(6), 705-715.

Mental Health Commission of NSW (2017), Wellbeing language and definitions guide 2017. Sydney, Mental Health Commission of NSW