Well-being is often understood as how happy and satisfied we feel with our lives.

If we are being promoted at work, going on nice vacations, marrying and having kids, buying the house in the good neighborhood, and we go through it with no challenges or stressors, we are living the life.

But reality is far from that.

A truly fulfilling life will be full of obstacles and difficulties, challenging emotions, and discomfort.

Well-being is not a state of constant positivity and happiness; it’s the experience of living a full and rich life, and being ready to embrace it all with curiosity, compassion, and courage.

The 3 C’s of well-being:

Curiosity is what allows us to enter ambiguous or uncomfortable situations, even the ones we might otherwise avoid, with openness rather than fear and open our minds to flexible thinking.

Compassion is what allows us to act towards our own suffering, and that of others, from a place of kindness and care. It helps us to see that we all go through challenges, and we all have inner resources to be resilient.

Courage is what allows us to take that next step, even if we feel scared, so we can reach towards our goals, set up healthy boundaries, have that difficult conversation, or pursue our biggest dream.

When we look at well-being through the lens of curiosity, compassion, and courage, we might be able to see challenges as opportunities for growth, risks as bridges for new learning, and relationships as supports and not weights pulling us down.

When happiness is not the only goal, we open the door to a life full of possibilities.

What is your definition of well-being? And how are you cultivating it in your life right now?

If you want a place to start, take the free self-assessment and see where you are today, or grab a copy of Living with the HEART in Mind.