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CL ASSROOM TO CLIENT Intellectual Wellness Challenges, creative expression, curiosity, intellectual growth, and a positive self-concept are important parts of a person's overall well-being. Self-concept or self- esteem is a belief about oneself that enhances coping skills and leads to good feelings about oneself and the ability to impact others in a positive way. Sample questions related to intellectual wellness might include: • Do I regularly expose myself to new experiences in order to enhance my understanding of the world (e.g., the theater, a lecture on world affairs, drumming classes, etc.)? • Do I have hobbies, interests, and activities that stimulate my interest outside of work or school? Do these challenge me intellectually? • Do I actively observe the world around me and question my perceptions and assumptions? • Do I remain open to new ideas and curious about the experiences of other people? • Do I stay up to date in world affairs, local news, and current thinking? • Am I able to express myself creatively? What outlets do I use (e.g., writing, painting, music, etc.)? • Do I want to learn new things? Am I excited about new opportunities for learning? • Do I possess good critical thinking and problem-solving skills? How might I challenge myself to improve these skills? • Do I have a positive self-concept? A positive self-concept is manifested in behaviors such as the ability to build trusting relationships, demonstrating respect for oneself and for others, having the confi dence to take on a challenge, set goals, complete tasks, and handle disappointments. What actions can I take to develop my self-concept and build on my personal strengths? 40 m a s s a g e & b o d y w o r k j u l y / a u g u s t 2 0 1 4 Emotional Wellness Emotional wellness explores the awareness and acceptance of one's feelings. It looks at how we assess our emotions and moods to gather information used to meet important life goals and overcome personal limitations. Sample questions for exploring emotional wellness might include: • Can I recognize and label my emotions as they occur (e.g., being able to differentiate irritation from anger, sadness, or fear)? • Do I feel in control of my emotions most of the time or do my emotions come on unexpectedly and overwhelm me? Do my emotions ever seem too big for the situation and catch me off guard with their intensity? • Do I recognize the relationship between self-talk and mood? Am I aware of self-talk and can I change my self-talk to feel more positive and to help me achieve my goals? • Can I recognize negative moods and improve my mood through positive self-talk? • Can I share my emotions with trusted friends and family members? • Can I recognize and accept the feelings of other people without feeling threatened or uncomfortable most of the time? • Can I say "no" when I need to without feeling guilty? • Is my attitude toward life mostly positive and do I believe that I can reach my goals? Spiritual Wellness Spiritual wellness refers to each person's search for meaning and purpose in life. It explores the ability to fi nd beauty in everyday events, to feel comfort and hope even when things are not going well, to express compassion and caring toward others, and the ends to which we devote our time and energy. Sample questions for exploring spiritual wellness might include: • Can I contemplate the meaning of my life and allow myself to embrace my dreams for my future? • Am I open to the beliefs and practices of other people and can I demonstrate tolerance and compassion for each person's unique path through life? • Do I make time for spiritual growth and exploration? What actions might I take to explore my spiritual wellness? • Are my beliefs and values in alignment with my daily behaviors? Where are they out of alignment? What can I do to live my ethics more fully? • Do I take responsibility for the events in my life and contemplate the meaning and signifi cance of these events? Do I use this understanding to create positive change in my life? • Do I care about other people's welfare? Do I participate in community events or activities that allow me to demonstrate my concern for the well-being of others? • Can I talk about spiritual issues with trusted friends and family members? Do I feel comfortable explaining what I believe and why? • Do I feel faith in humankind and in the world? Do I feel hopeful that things will get better and that I can make a difference in the world?