Your Wellness is Individual

I recently came across a post by Sherri McKnight, where she discusses how she works with clients to develop personalized wellness plans, and I think it’s a valuable insight into the importance of recognizing that there is no one-size-fits-all treatment for our mental and physical health needs. As she states:

Imagine going to a shoe store where they only offer one standard shoe size for everyone. It’s clear that this approach would leave many customers uncomfortable and dissatisfied. The same principle applies to wellness. Your health and well-being are unique, influenced by a variety of factors, including genetics, lifestyle, and personal goals.

Personalized wellness plans acknowledge these individual differences. They are designed to consider your specific needs, challenges, and aspirations. Whether you’re looking to improve your mental health, manage a chronic condition, or enhance your overall vitality, a personalized plan can be tailored to your exact requirements.

I would also add, as we mentioned in a couple of posts last week, that your environment might also influence your lifestyle. Living in poverty makes some well-being options unavailable. Being a single parent might make some others inaccessible. A lot is going on in each of our lives that makes the standard approaches to well-being challenging for us.

I agree with Sherri that with all of the contributing factors to our mental and physical health, why do we assume there is one “solution” out there for everyone? And why do we offer flippant responses to people who are struggling to find what helps them? We are all unique beings, so it shouldn’t be shocking that we don’t all reach wellness in the same way.