The Dynamic Wellness Framework
WOW believes that
“the simple return to intuitive and natural vitality is the 'bit flip' into sustainability, with the potential to empower the entire spectrum of this planet’s human biodiversity to live, learn, and create in a sustainable dynamics."
In order to understand the forces and properties of wellness, we must first understand the context: the human being. The first level is the physical body. The physical body is our primary operating system; its cellular intelligence functions automatically without needing input from the thinking mind for the vast majority of its functions. The physical body, designed by nature, is inherently sustainable in that it is designed to be efficient, dynamic, multifunctional. All its parts are interdependent, interconnected with each other and given the proper environment, the body becomes fully accessible, effective, and functional.
The second aspect of our being is the mind. The mind has three modes of operation: external perception (5 senses plus the sixth energetic sense), internal perception (body functionality and sensation), and mental thoughts. The first two modes are grounded in the present moment in that they gather information from and relate to visceral experiences, which only exist in the moment. The third mode, mental thought, can be related to/triggered by the first two modes, in which case it is also grounded in the now. Most often, however, mental thoughts come and go in a continuous stream unrelated to the present moment.
When we are conscious of our thoughts, we can either observe or direct them. Being conscious of our thoughts engages us in the moment; we realize that the activity we are doing now is thinking. Observing thoughts without directing them goes by many names: mindfulness, meditation, being the witness, nothingness, etc. Directing thoughts brings us into the action of willing. We can will our thoughts to engage in creativity, imagination, autonomous learning, visualization, etc. These two modes both require internal awareness and discipline. They require the self-awareness to notice the stream of thoughts unrelated to the present moment, and the self-discipline to stay present to either observe or direct.
In reality, many of us are neither in the present moment nor in control of our thoughts for much of the time. We are being swept away thinking about the past or the future. We experience entire dramas in our minds that are completely unrelated to what’s happening in the now. When we are swept away like this, we become disengaged from the world, wasting time and energy thinking about things beyond our control. Allowing the mind to wander like this reflects a lack of awareness and/or discipline.
Dynamic wellness deals with balancing, enhancing, and engaging the mind (senses, body functionality, and mental activity) in the present moment so that it may function in harmony and synergy with the body. In order to consistently be in this optimized state, we need to integrate dynamic wellness practices into daily life. This returns us to the need for a basic level of self-awareness and self-discipline: awareness to recognize our state of being and know what would balance and/or enhance it, and discipline to be responsive and take action. Discipline can take the form of courage or innocence: courage to will ourselves to take action or innocence to be the witness to our natural unfolding.
In choosing dynamic wellness modalities we are looking for the lowest access point with the highest dynamic, so that integrating the modality into daily life requires the least amount of discipline. In other words, what is easy, efficient, and effective? The most effective modalities:
Apply to multiple intelligences, engage our creativity, and engage us kinesthetically (physically). These three components create a cellular experience, reminding us of and enhancing our basic cellular experience of wellness and sustainability.
Are easy and natural. They do not require a high level of talent or skill, making them accessible to everyone. Modalities such as breathing, engaging with elementals (i.e. going outside for fresh air), and simple exercise (i.e. going for a walk, standing up and stretching) are accessible to anyone anywhere. The simpler and easier the modality is the more adaptive it is. In other words, it can be regardless of location, and can be used in a variety of situations.
Are efficient. They don’t require a lot of time, space, money, or energy. Therefore they can be easily integrated into daily life.
There are an infinite number of activities that fit these criteria, and each individual will find a diversity of modalities to meet his/her needs in different situations. Ultimately, choosing modalities comes down to individual preference. What is fun? What comes naturally? What delivers tangible results? What works for one person might not work for another, and so there is no need for everyone to follow a prescribed wellness regimen. As we practice modalities regularly, they become more natural, and we may even create our own modalities intuitively. At this point we have the tools to synergize, balance, enhance, and engage our mind-body operating system.
Sustainability is the essence of dynamic wellness. When we practice dynamic wellness modalities we are actually working with the qualities of sustainability on a personal level: diversity, adaptability, efficiency, natural design, etc. This personal practice of sustainability activates and reaffirms the innate sustainability that our body engages in on a cellular level.
As we become personally sustainable, we begin to contribute to systemic sustainability by being clear and potent expressions of our highest selves. When we live in the present moment and optimize our state of being we realize that we are naturally creative, inspired, motivated, collaborative, efficient, etc. We become vibrantly effective and affective, enhancing all aspects of our lives as well as the lives of those we interact with.
Dynamic wellness, then, is the first step towards systemic sustainability. When we are each aligned with our highest potential in body, mind, and spirit, we are solution-oriented, self-sufficient, and collaborative.
We also intuitively understand that everything is interconnected. The natural outcome of these factors is sustainability in all aspects of life. Sustainability becomes the simplest, easiest, and most intuitive path because it is not only what we practice on a daily basis, but what we are programmed for on a cellular level.
by Diana Hahn
LEARN MORE ABOUT DYNAMIC WELLNESS
Click play to listen to discussions and investigations into the dynamics of mental thought, body awareness, sensory intelligence, and everything else in between. Different wellness modalities have also been looked into in these exchanges.