The concept of wellness must be clearly understood. According to Google, it is defined as “the state of being in good health, especially as an actively pursued goal.” An article on PubMed.gov describes it as “a holistic integration of physical, mental, and spiritual well-being—fueling the body, engaging the mind, and nurturing the spirit.”
I propose the following definition: Wellness is a perspective on health that honours the Source of our being. It is God’s divine gift to us—His children. It is the understanding that both the Earth and the human body have been designed by God for wellness. A perfect system, functioning with ease, to maintain our health and wholeness.
God has made things remarkably simple for us. While we sleep, the heart keeps beating. The kidneys continue filtering the blood and producing urine. The brain transfers information from short-term to long-term memory. Our immune system and body enter a reparative state: old cells are broken down, and new ones are formed. In other words, there is already a perfect wellness system built into the body.
This divine design keeps us in a state of wellness. If dust enters the nose or mouth, the body reacts with a cough—a protective reflex. The body wants to stay in wellness. Wellness is our birthright. It is God’s gift to each one of us. He has embedded it in His children and in the Earth.
The Bible affirms this: He created us in His image and likeness—whole, perfect, and complete. Think about that for a moment.
The Earth knows what to do. The body knows what to do. They operate on autopilot. The Earth knows when to bring forth the sun and the moon. Trees know when to sprout roots and germinate. The Earth grows the grass, nurtures the trees, and sustains the forests. God has created a flawless, self-sustaining system.
The heart beats whether we are awake or asleep. A pregnant woman’s body knows when to initiate labour. God spent six days preparing the Earth with everything necessary before placing His children in it.
With all this perfection, where then does sickness come from? It comes when man interferes with God’s design—when we convert wellness into illness.
This brings us to the five pillars of wellness, which, if neglected, can become five roots of illness:
Spirituality
Mindset
Nutrition
Lifestyle
Environment
Spirituality
A key feature here is forgiveness. Science increasingly affirms that individuals who harbour unforgiveness, bitterness, anger, and hatred are more prone to illness. Their baseline stress hormones—like cortisol—are significantly elevated. Prolonged high cortisol levels weaken the immune system, increase acidity in the body, deplete bone density, and reduce muscle mass. They also disrupt blood sugar and lipid balance. Studies show that unforgiveness can hinder healing and reduce the effectiveness of medical treatment. On the other hand, forgiving individuals tend to experience better health outcomes and respond more positively to treatment.
Mindset
How do we programme our minds? Are you an optimist or a pessimist? Science suggests that optimists enjoy better health and longer life spans. Their bodies are flooded with beneficial, mood-enhancing hormones such as serotonin, melatonin, oxytocin, dopamine, and endorphins.
God desires that His children live well and see the brighter side of life. Internally, our hormones respond to our outlook. Pessimists, who dwell on negativity, tend to experience higher stress levels.
Do you have a growth mindset or a fixed mindset? Ask yourself: Do you enjoy engaging in new discussions? Are you open to differing opinions? Do you travel to unfamiliar places? Challenge yourself with books beyond your profession? Have you tried learning a new language or musical instrument?
Regardless of age, engaging in new learning stimulates brain and nerve cell growth. The body can generate new brain cells or reassign existing neurons for new purposes. These processes are known as neurogenesis and neuroplasticity.
The mind is the foreman of the factory. As Scripture says, “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.”
For health and wellness, we must recognise that God has already created perfection. Wellness is built into us. The Earth and the human body are perfect—designed for wellness. Too often, however, mankind interferes and turns God’s gift of ease into dis-ease.
Dr Patrick Ijewere is the medical director, Carib Health Ltd.
