The Wellness Wheel & The New Moon
When you hear the term “holistic”, what do you think of?
For many, holistic means something about the medical field. We may envision holistic health as agencies that hesitate to prescribe medication and instead look to more natural remedies. We may just know that the term “holistic” is associated with healthcare, and that’s the extent of our knowledge!
Holistic healthcare is healthcare that considers all elements of a person - not only their physical and mental health, but their financial, social, intellectual, and spiritual health, as well. In the mental health field, holistic health may look like conceptualizing a mental health disorder in the context of a client’s whole system - that is, what part of their physical health is impacted and also impacted by their mental health concerns? What about their social life? Their spiritual life? In other words, mental health therapists that use a holistic approach understand that a person’s wellness is impacted by multiple factors, not just physical or mental ones.
The Wellness Wheel is one common way to assess our holistic health. The wheel incorporates 8 different aspects of health, which are:
Emotional: how well do we know our emotions? What coping skills do we use?
Environmental: what are our surroundings like?
Financial: what is our financial situation like?
Intellectual: what have we done to stimulate our minds recently?
Occupational: what is our vocation, job, or career like?
Physical: how do we connect with our bodies?
Social: what is our social life like - our friends, family, and community?
Spiritual: what are our spiritual beliefs and practices?
Just like a wheel, the moon also experiences continuous cycles between the new moon and the full moon. You can think of the cycle as representing your wellness; there are times to release what isn’t good for you (the full moon signifies release) and there are times to set goals for yourself (the new moon is a time to set intentions).
With the new moon just happening on 7/28/22, it’s the perfect time to set an intention for wellness and healing.
During the days following the new moon, use these 16 journal prompts to assess your holistic wellness and set an intention for health and healing!
Emotional
How in-tune are you with your emotions? How can you tell when you feel happy, or sad, or angry?
What intention would you like to set regarding your emotions? (Examples: I will feel more in touch with my emotions, I will develop new coping skills, I will cultivate happiness, etc.).
Environmental
On a scale of 1-10, how satisfied are you with your home life? What would it take to bump it up by one number? How about 2 numbers?
What intention do you have regarding your home life? (Examples: I will rearrange my room for a new start, I will fix the leaky faucet, I will do a deep clean of the house, etc.)
Financial
Do you feel comfortable in your financial situation? Why or why not?
What intention do you have to improve your financial situation? (Examples: I will save $100 from each paycheck, I will start a retirement fund, I will advocate for a raise at work, etc.)
Intellectual
When was the last time you learned something new - for fun? What was it?
What intention do you have for your intellectual life? (Examples: I will try a new podcast today, I will read 1 book per week, I will try out a new hobby, etc.)
Occupational
How satisfied are you with your job, on a scale of 1-10? What would it take to boost that number up by 1?
What intention do you have for your vocation, career, or job? (Examples: I will take a training to get a new certification, I will set boundaries between my home and work lives, I will collaborate better with coworkers, etc.)
Physical
What movement do you like to do joyfully? When was the last time you did it?
What intention do you have for your physical life? (Examples: I will treat my body kindly, I will rest when I need it, I will dance for fun today, etc.)
Social
Do you feel you can lean on your support system for help? Why or why not?
What intention do you have for your social life? (Examples: I make friends easily, I feel comfortable talking to strangers, I feel supported by my social network, etc.)
Spiritual
Do you have a spiritual practice? Describe it.
What intention do you have for your spiritual life? (Examples: I am in touch with the Divine, I pray/meditate/say affirmations daily, I honor the light in myself and others, etc.)
We hope this not only gives you a basic introduction to the Wellness Wheel, but food for thought to start or deepen your journey of alignment with setting intentions with the new moon!
If your intention is to start your healing journey, we have counselors that can help. Our clinicians are holistic, meaning we’ll take a look at your whole Wellness Wheel instead of just one little part of it. We’d love to learn more about you and support you - reach out using our online contact form today! We look forward to hearing from you!
