Wellness
Wellness is the dynamic process of becoming aware of, taking responsibility for, and making choices that directly contribute to one's lifestyle, mental and spiritual well being and that of the common good.  In order for individuals to experience wellness, the surrounding community must support and develop a culture of wellness.  There are eight dimensions of wellness, all of which are interconnected, contributing to living in wellness.

Social
A socially well community provides opportunities for community members to develop interdependent relationships based on mutual trust, honesty, equality, and cultural respect.
A community that promotes social wellness has:

• Opportunities for civic engagement, such as citizen’s groups, priority boards, neighborhood associations, community advisory boards, etc.
• Opportunities for volunteerism and citizens who volunteer
• Mechanisms that allow for the thoughts, feelings, and ideas of citizens to be heard

Environmental
Personal health depends on the health of the planet. Individuals can actively participate in and contribute to efforts to protect and renew the environment. An environmentally well community has a safe environment that is built around wellness.
A community that promotes environmental wellness has:

• Policies and programs in place that promote recycling
• Good quality air and water
• Programs to abate lead paint hazards

Physical
The physically well community supports workplaces, communities, and individuals in making positive and healthy choices in relation to: physical activity, healthy eating, sleep, tobacco, alcohol and drug use, managing chronic disease, and appropriate use of the health care system.
A community that promotes physical wellness has:

• Safe, pleasant walking and biking paths
• Green space that promotes outdoor activities
• Well enforced bans on smoking and alcohol purchase by minors

Occupational
An occupationally well community provides opportunities for all of its citizens to find and maintain work or activities that provide personal satisfaction and a living wage. The community supports balance, community service, and job growth.
A community that promotes occupational wellness has:

• Good educational institutions that can prepare citizens for the job market
• Policies and programs that promote high school graduation
• Programs that provide employment assistance

Financial
A financially well community is itself fiscally in good shape, and provides opportunities and institutions for its citizens to improve their skills in managing a personal budget, including saving for short-term, long-term, and emergency expenses.
A community that promotes financial wellness has:

• Laws that prevent predatory lending practices
• Opportunities for citizens to learn about budgeting, saving, and investing

Emotional
An emotionally well community supports its citizens in their ability to recognize, manage, and appropriately express feelings. Its citizens are able to develop independence, cope effectively with stress, take responsibility for their actions, and make choices and decisions based upon feelings, thoughts, and values.
A community that promotes emotional wellness has:

• Resources to provide counseling, support, and respite to persons under stress, such as parents, kinship caregivers, battered women, caregivers for the sick or elderly, etc.
• Enough mental health professionals to meet the mental health services needs of its citizens

Spiritual
Spiritual wellness involves exploring the meaning and purpose of human existence.  Through this, an individual discovers and incorporates a personal set of values and beliefs that are reflected in his/her actions.  A spiritually well community permits individuals to recognize the relationship between spirituality and identity in themselves.
A community that promotes spiritual wellness has:

• Respect for diverse spiritual traditions

Intellectual
The intellectually well community values education and lifelong learning for its citizens.  The community has activities that expand knowledge, moral reasoning, critical thinking and worldviews and opportunities for individuals to pursue personal interests, current issues, and ideas. The community supports the availability of art, music, and literature and continuing education.
The intellectually well community has:

• Opportunities for lifelong learning
• A vibrant arts community
• Accessible museums and galleries

Adapted from:
University of Miami. What is Wellness? Retrieved November 20, 2007 from http://wellness.med.miami.edu/x80.xml.
The Ohio State University. 7 Dimensions of Wellness. Retrieved November 20, 2007.
The National Wellness Institute. 6 Dimensional Wellness Model.Retrieved November 20, 2007 from http://www.nationalwellness.org/index.php?id=391&id_tier=381.