Multidimensional Wellbeing
Our founder Emma, heads Wellbeing Explorers’ work in multidimensional approaches to wellbeing.
See below for the areas she works in and her competencies as a Wellbeing Specialist. But first, what exactly is multidimensional wellbeing and why is it important?
How does this resonate with you? What areas are you strong in? What areas are you neglecting or weak in? What are the most important areas in your wellbeing?
What is multidimensional wellbeing?
Using the science of positive psychology, my own life experience, and working with clients, I have formulated the Wellbeing Explorers Model of Multidimensional Wellbeing to reflect the different areas affecting wellbeing in a person’s life.
When people evaluate their wellbeing they use a variety of information. These factors have different influences on how the information is weighted and processed. The model shows equal measure of all aspects, however, what one person values as highly important may be in total opposition or different to another. Therefore, we have to do our own inner exploration to discover what multidimensional wellbeing means for us, and how we can balance the different aspects of our lives so we can be happy, healthy, connected and performing at our peak.
The model is made up of the following areas. Note there are many aspects that make up each section, I have laid out some of the most salient here:
Mind: emotions, thoughts, behaviours, spirituality
Body: health, movement, exercise
Environment: connection, nature, adventure
Interpersonal: social, relationships (intimate, family, friends), community
Occupational: work, career, calling, what you do
Economic: finance, possessions e.g. house, car
Personal growth: meaning, purpose, goals, personal/ professional development, spirituality
Passions & Interests: what you love to do, what you enjoy doing
Why is multidimensional wellbeing important?
When you think of your wellbeing, how many areas do you normally focus on? For most of us it is only a few (e.g. your physical body and your finances). However, we have many parts to our wellbeing. These have a different focus and weight in the different areas of our lives and many different selves. But how much awareness do you have in all the aspects of your wellbeing? What areas are lacking attention and negatively affecting your ability to perform at your peak and live the life you want?
The multidimensional aspects of our wellbeing are interconnected. When we neglect an area or focus too heavily on one over another, we become disconnected. This disconnection leads to stress, ill health, burn out and unhappiness. It is important to note that individuals view their wellbeing differently so how they weight the model will look different, but also in different times in our lives we will focus on a few areas more heavily. Having an awareness of the interconnectedness and ensuring that we pay attention to the different areas as necessary is important to our overall health, happiness and performance.
The research across many different disciplines has as paid attention to separate areas (e.g. finances, work, relationships etc), or your wellbeing as a whole without defining the different aspects of wellbeing, or the weighting of these in our lives (e.g. rating your life satisfaction; subjective wellbeing). However, there is a movement towards models of multidimensional wellbeing which incorporate the multidimensional, but also multilayered nature of how different parts of our wellbeing interact and engage. The Wellbeing Explorers Model of Multidimensional Wellbeing was designed using the up to date research, my own life experience and my work with clients.
Why is it important to me?
I learnt this the hard way through my personal experience. I was always in my mind and consumed with negativity. I was not taught or shown how to manage my emotions or thoughts, nor how to take care of or be in my body. I had to learn skills towards awareness and connection with all areas of my wellbeing. Through this process, I have been able to overcome chronic fatigue syndrome, severe unhappiness, and have spent many years cultivating skills so I can facilitate your wellbeing journey. It took me around ten years to get here, but I took the long, painful and difficult road. It brings me so much joy and purpose to be able to help you cut years and years off your struggle or learning process, and help you move confidently and explore health, happiness, connection and peak performance in your lives.
From thinking to doing to BEING.
Emma’s professional skills and competencies and how they support you to multidimensional wellbeing:
Multidimensional wellbeing with Emma in practice:
The following sections outline the areas that I work in. I have chosen to focus on cultivating these skills as they are what helped me heal, and now thrive. They are my passions which have become my purpose. It is exciting to be able to offer such dynamic, individualised, diverse and in-the-moment options towards helping you achieve your wellbeing goals.
Working in a multidimensional approach allows us to work on what you need right now. We will formulate goals at the start of our working relationship then work towards these, as well as having the flexibility to say “what do you need today?”. Sometimes this might be to move your body - we can go rock climbing or hiking, sometimes you might need to relax - we can do some restorative yoga, sometimes you will be feeling pain - we can do a massage, sometimes you may need to work on your mind - we can do positive psychology coaching. The opportunities are endless! Use the skills I have to work for you on your exploration of multidimensional wellbeing.
Please note, this requires commitment, action and passion. Come to me as you are; even if you don’t know what you want to work on, feeling low in confidence or dealing with stress or difficulty. You know you want to be healthier, happier and more connected, so we can work together to formulate your goals and I will support you to committed action, learning, exploration and growth.
Positive psychology coaching
Positive psychology coaching uses the science of positive psychology and coaching psychology to facilitate a focused conversation where you (the coachee) work towards goals (established in the relationship) and wellbeing outcomes. The coaching process supports you to attain these goals and outcome and sustainable changes in ways of thinking and behaviour.
As your coach, I will help facilitate an individualised journey through a thought provoking and creative process, using psychological theory and models which engender the conditions for change and developmental shifts. I studied through leading university in the UK ensuring high ethical standards and professional skills and competencies.
The coaching process requires commitment to your development, an openness to exploration and discipline in the journey. I will support you towards self-awareness, then self-mastery. We work on the goals that are important to you and your life and wellbeing.
Outdoor, adventure and wilderness exploration, expeditions, sports and education
I use adventure sports and wilderness expeditions to provide challenging environments for your development and exploration, and allow you time and space to disconnect from the hustle of life and technology, to connect to nature and yourself.
There is no more powerful a place for self-exploration than in the mountains, taking a quiet walk along the beach or rafting down a jungle river.
I have been working in the outdoor industry since 2009. I am a qualified mountain leader, indoor rock climbing instructor and have led expeditions in countries like Mongolia, Nepal, Tanzania and UK/Ireland.
Yoga
Yoga is a way to connect with your body, your mind and your spirituality. I use yoga in my self-care almost daily. It involves many practices including the movements/ postures (asanas), meditation and breathing (pranayama).
Yoga is for everybody and every-body. Through the postures we work on functional movement, alignment, building muscle and mobility, and body confidence. My favourite way to use yoga is in a restorative practice. I find flow and meditation in the movements and truly connecting in my body. We can also do meditation and Pranayama (breath-work) which will improve focus and attention, memory, cultivate presence, boost your immune system, and get you out of the fight-flight mode modern life puts us in, and into the parasympathetic.
I started doing yoga in 2013 after becoming sick and injured. In 2019, I completed my 200 hour yoga teacher training course in Nepal, in the foothills of the Himalayas where my journey with yoga began. As with most things we pursue in life, being a yoga teacher reminds me that I am forever a student, on a lifelong exploration.
Namaste (The divine in me honours the divine in you).
Sports massage
Massage can be profoundly healing and a way to connect into your body. I love using massage in my multidimensional sessions as they give our bodies freedom from the stress and tension we carry, to move towards deeper levels of personal work and exploration. I have been a qualified, insured and practicing sports massage therapist since 2016. This is one of my favourite ways of working with people in their wellbeing.
Massage does not work with injured tissue, please see your healthcare team or a physiotherapist if you are injured. Once your injury has healed, massage can help get you back to functionality and thriving! Massage is also fantastic for releasing tension, eliminating stress, giving your body more mobility, relaxation and connection and awareness of your body.
Please note, this option is currently not available in the USA.
Music
I have been using music therapeutically my whole life. I am a semi-professional violin player, and also play the ukulele, violin and sing. I have played in quartets in weddings, events, in our local cancer hospice, played for the elderly in care homes (engaging them in the process) and played the piano, singing for my grandfather when he was ailing with Alzheimer’s.
Music is a beautiful way to express yourself and find liberation and freedom in being totally and unapologetically you. My favourite way to use music is around the campfire in the evening, singing old Irish songs or contemporary ones that get the party going. I love to weave musical expression into the sessions, workshops and expeditions I facilitate, whether that is singing, learning to play the ukulele and dancing (or dancing meditations – these will blow your mind and set your body free!); we have fun with music, learning not to take ourselves too seriously and bliss out to me singing sweet old tunes of home, mountains, adventure and wilderness.
Contact me now to start exploring your multidimensional wellbeing and discuss packages and prices
Am I a Wellbeing Explorer?
Wellbeing Explorers are the intrepid individuals exploring and journeying towards…click here to continue reading