The concept of wellbeing represents a proactive stance toward emotional heath. The wellbeing literature examines the elements which contribute to a happy, fulfilling life. It encourages us to look at how we can actively foster resilience and contentment in our lives. In Ryff’s Scales of Psychological Wellbeing, Carol Ryff states wellbeing can be described through a number of components. These components are listed below. For each area, consider:
- “What does this mean day to day?”
- “How much am I ‘doing’ it in my life, today?”
- “How could I increase that tomorrow?”
Self-acceptance
A positive attitude toward your self; acknowledging and accepting multiple aspects of self; feeling positive about your past life. Being able to say, “When I look at the story of my life, I am pleased with how things have turned out so far”.
“When I look at how I handled today, can I say, ‘I did my best with that. I feel OK about how I went'”.
Personal growth
Feelings of continued development and potential and being open to new experiences; feeling increasingly knowledgeable and effective. Being able to say; “for me, life has been a continuous process of learning, changing, and growth.”
“How did I learn and change today? What was I open to?”
Purpose in life
Having goals and a sense of direction in life; feeling that both present and past experiences are meaningful; holding beliefs that give purpose to life. Being able to say; “some people wander aimlessly through life; I am not one of them.”
“What goal did I set myself and achieve today?”
Environmental mastery
Feeling competent and able to manage a complex environment; choosing or creating personally suitable contexts. Being able to say; “I am good at managing the responsibilities of daily life.”
“How did I manage the practicalities of getting through today. What did I do well in there?”
Autonomy
Being self-determining, independent, and regulating your behaviour internally; resisting social pressures to think and act in certain ways; evaluating yourself by personal standards. Being able to say; “I have confidence in my own opinions, even if they are different from the way most other people think.”
“What did I do or say today that expressed my opinion or belief?”
Positive relations with others
Having warm, satisfying, trusting relationships; being concerned about others’ welfare; being capable of strong empathy, affection, and intimacy; understanding give-and-take of human relationships. Being able to say; “People would describe me as a giving person, willing to share my time with others.”
“What gesture did I make today toward another person, that showed my ability to care?”
