Relational and Social Constructionist Consortium of Ecuador (IRYSE)
Maritza Crespo Balderrama, M.A. and Diego Tapia Figueroa, Ph.D.
The overall well-being of an individual goes far beyond physical health. Two clinical psychologists talk about it.
Although we all have some notion of what good health means, it is important to understand that it is not only related to not suffering from diseases.
Daily life presents us with situations that require us to be alert and engaged in activities of all kinds. Economic, social, and family demands imply that, regardless of age, we meet the expectations of others and our own, and, all of this, in one way or another, affects our health.
Next, we will present some ideas to be able to lead a healthy life comprehensively.
Health: the integral well-being of the person
When we talk about health we almost always think of illness. Health and illness, in Western society, constitute a duo that cannot be separated and that we normally locate, primarily, in the body. It is thought that when we do not feel discomfort or pain in our body it is because we are not sick, therefore, we are healthy.
The body is the medium that allows us to connect with the world, the vehicle to relate to others and with the other. It is the witness and evidence (at the same time) of our history, of the life we have had and have.
Our body, too, is a “machine” that contains organs that function, that are in process, and that requires care and attention. The lifestyle we have chosen -or the one we have had to live- determines, in many ways, the functioning of our body and the organs and processes that constitute it. Hence, the importance that society gives to physical health.
In a quick tour of the media, social networks, or the usual content that we consume, we can realize the priority that physical well-being has for the contemporary world. What we eat, how we eat it, the type of physical activity we should do, and the care we should take with our body are recommendations that flood our contexts and to which we pay more or less attention, depending on individual circumstances.
All of this is related to our physical health, to the “maintenance” and care of our body. However, it is important to be clear that when we talk about “health” it is not only about not having diseases in the body.
Mental health became relevant in our country due to the pandemic and the isolation to which all of humanity was subjected. Not having contact with loved ones, living again with people with whom we had distant relationships (even if they lived under the same roof), remote work, and the context of pain and death that COVID-19 imposed on us, made us all start to think on mental health as a priority.
Being mentally healthy is, in some ways, a utopia. Unlike what concerns the health of the body, “mental well-being” is an individual and relational issue, in which the parameters of “health” or “illness” are a bit confusing. It cannot and should not be standardized. Each human being and their history are understood in their relational contexts.
The most common thing is to hear that mental health is related to the adaptation capacity and functionality of each person in their particular contexts. However, a person can appear to be adapted and perfectly functional in their contexts and carry a different “burden” inside.
We could say that mental health and mental well-being have to do with how we see ourselves, what we feel about ourselves and others, and the ability we have to express our discomforts assertively. In this, the “permissions” we give ourselves to be able to say what we feel, as well as the openness we have to ask for professional help (from therapists) are elements that speak well of our mental health.
Recognizing ourselves as vulnerable beings, with needs for affection, listening, and respect, expressing what we need and listening to what others around us need, and acting accordingly is basic when we talk about mental health.
A third element, no less important, is what is called spiritual health. In this field, there are a variety of possibilities and it will depend on what each person thinks, feels, and wants, to talk about health and well-being.
Usually, spiritual well-being is linked to the need for transcendence that human beings experience. It’s about how much we want to contribute to the world we live in, and to the people we interact with. How much of this has to do with our notion of “good,” “goodness,” or “ought,” is something each person defines.
In general, spiritual health could be positioned as the importance we give to the bond with nature (the relationship with Pachamama, the planet), how we commit ourselves to building common well-being, and the contribution that each one offers so that humanity lives in dignity, harmony, and peace.
In this context, spirituality transcends rituals or religion and is closer to a comprehensive view of oneself in relation to others and the other (which is not me).
We cannot be “us” without being “with” the other.
Our individual actions impact others, and also the planet.
A healthy life means a conscious, responsible life, with freedom.
Healthily living life is, without a doubt, one of the goals that we should all set ourselves. As we have seen, having a healthy life is much more than having a life in which there is no disease.
We want to invite you to equate the concept of healthy living with conscious living.
Being conscious means being present, actively, in the place and time in which we are.
Take advantage of the opportunity we have to share and experience with others in an active and participatory way, contributing, from each of the spaces in which we work for the improvement of the quality of life of others and that of ourselves.
Healthy/conscious living involves recognizing that we cannot be without others, and that, furthermore, we live in contexts, social and natural, for which we are responsible. My participation in different relationships throughout life implies a responsibility with others and with the planet, a responsibility that must be assumed with joy, freedom, and responsibility.
Self-care of our body and also our mind and spirituality is part of a healthy life. Also taking care of others, those closest to us (our partner, children, parents, and friends), and the others with whom we share life (coworkers, community members, etc.).
Caring means being responsible, valuing each person’s existence, recognizing their importance and impact on one’s own life, and, in the same way, recognizing the impact that we have on the lives of others.
A healthy life is a conscious and responsible life for one’s well-being, that of others, and that of the planet.
https://www.maxionline.ec/la-salud-en-todas-sus-aristas/
English translation by Bruno Tapia Naranjo
