Living a Lifestyle That Promises Well-Being

In general the word lifestyle means the general attitudes, interests, orientations, behaviors, and personal behaviors of an individual, a group, or society. The word was first introduced by Austrian psychiatrist Alfred Adler in his acclaimed 1929 book, The Case of Miss R. With the implied meaning of “the most basic nature of human personality as established at birth”. From then until today, the concept of lifestyle has been expanded to include not only personal attitudes, but attitudes and behaviors that one associates with other people, institutions, or the environment.

When we say LIFESTYLE we are referring to a very particular type of personal, family, and community existence. The current use of the word has also been widely applied to the concepts and ideas that underlie many aspects of our lives, including: general health, personal relationships, physical fitness, professional success, and wealth. In fact, the word “lifetime” is most often used in this context. A well-balanced life can be described as having an abundance of happiness and fulfillment.

So, what is the basic definition of a healthy lifestyle? It is a combination of good choices, proper interaction, a well-balanced diet, regular exercise, social support, and the maintenance of good relationships. Our modern lifestyles are filled with influences from both the past and the present. Past lifestyles can be seen in our traditions and family traditions, as well as our daily experiences. Our present-day environments include work, family, friends, television, shopping, computers, outdoor activities, leisure time, and a variety of other sources.

Many individuals, following a healthy lifestyle, want to live an active lifestyle. As adults we pursue a variety of different leisure time activities. Some people like to work out, lead active lifestyles, or they may have other specific interests. If an individual follows a healthy lifestyle but desires to spend more time doing an activity that is not considered to be active, they could easily be classified as a “spender.” Unfortunately, many adults who spend too much time inactive find themselves dissatisfied with their lives and with their financial status.

The main problem with the word lifestyle, as defined above, is that it has a variety of possible definitions. In reality, many lifestyles exist and there are many who would classify as a “healthy” lifestyle. Max Weiler, PhD, a world-recognized authority in healthy living, advocates for the inclusion of a healthy lifestyle content into all of our vocabulary. Dr. Weiler recommends that we make changes in the way we think about the world, including defining what we mean by “healthy.”

He states, “The best definition of the word Lifestyle is a healthy way of living in which you feel at one with your environment, your body, your mind, and your spirit.” It is important to use healthy lifestyle content to gain clarity on what it means to live a quality life. Too many of us struggle with a variety of health problems and in doing so, we lose the opportunity to gain clarity as to what it means to live a quality life. The use of LIFESTYLE will help us to define what it means to have a quality, well-balanced life.