The University of New Hampshire defines the Wellness Wheel as “an active process through which you become aware of, and make choices towards, a more balanced life.” Traditionally the Wellness Wheel is used to help guide you into daily, weekly and monthly habits for you to reach overall balance. To explain how this works let’s use our physical nutrition as a metaphor. Imagine that for 4 months you ate nothing but bread and water; no protein, no fruits, no vegetables, nothing - just bread and water. What would be the physical results of this? A whole bunch of nutritional imbalance problems, right? 

The same concept applies to our mental health. Let’s say that your only source of fueling your self-confidence is dating. As a result you rarely read a book, pick up the phone and call your bestie or listen to a podcast. You have a date lined up, you’re anticipating it for days and the day before the date you get ghosted. Of course anyone is going to feel disrespected because, well it's disrespectful. However, if dating is your main or only source to fuel your value it is likely you will have an exaggerated response. You may start questioning yourself "What is wrong with me?", "Am I not attractive enough?", "Am I not skinny enough?" and the actions of one inconsiderate human has now restructured your self worth. 

When we are only providing ourselves with one source of “nutrition” we end up becoming emotionally imbalanced. However if you allow yourself to be well rounded it creates the opportunity for you to feel more fulfilled, be more emotionally balanced and more grounded in who you are.

- Trey De La Torre, Author & Self-Care Educator