Health and Wellness

Martin Luther said, "This life, therefore, is not godliness but the process of becoming godly, not health but getting well, not being, but becoming, not rest, but exercise. We are not now what we shall be, but we are on the way." We can't be "whole" in this life, but we can become acquainted with the wholeness to come by striving to live well in key aspects of our lives. The Wholeness Wheel is a tool we use to understand whole-person health.

Wholeness Wheel

The Wholeness Wheel reflects our call to care for our whole self. By balancing the interconnected dimensions of well-being, we are able to live well in Christ and pass on our faith.

The Wholeness Wheel illustrates that wellness is multidimensional — made up of spiritual, vocational, intellectual, emotional, physical, social and financial elements of well-being. Spiritual well-being is intertwined with each aspect of wellness.

At the center of the wheel, we are a new creation through the waters of baptism. Christ lives in us and through us and calls us out to love and serve one another. What does it mean to be a new creation? We have received the gift of grace through Christ, who came that we might have abundant life. Abundant life is living as a new creation, being grounded and centered in Christ and loving our neighbor as ourselves. It is when we are living well in Christ that we are best equipped to pass on our faith.

The Wholeness Wheel was developed by the InterLutheran Coordinating Committee on Ministerial Health and Wellness, of which the ELCA Board of Pensions is a member.

Wholeness Wheel

Embody Health

If your primary insurance coverage is provided by the ELCA health plan, you may participate in the Mayo Clinic's Embody Health program. You are encouraged to complete an annual health assessment which will provide a "snapshot" of your current health. This tool can also be used to identify activities to improve your health and reduce health care costs.

Learn about the Embody Health program.

Social/Interpersonal Well-Being

We were created by God to be social being, living in community and instructed to help and love each other. Make time to build and maintain social well-being through interaction, play and forgiveness. Take time to nurture your relationships with family, friends, congregation and co-workers.

Emotional Well-Being

Being emotionally well means feeling the full range of human emotions and expressing them appropriately. Self- awareness is the first step. Recognizing and honoring your own feelings and those of others - stress, contentment, anger, love, sadness, joy, resentment - will help you live life abundantly.

Physical Well-Being

While we are not all born perfectly healthy or able to live life without injury or illness, we can live well with tending and nurturing. Honor your body as a gift from God. Feed it healthy foods, keep it hydrated, build your physical endurance through regular exercise and respect your body's needs for rest.

Financial Well-Being

In all aspects of well-being we are called to be stewards. Good financial stewards make decisions based on their values, which is evident in the way they save, spend and share. This understanding of stewardship embraces resilience, sustainability and generosity.

Vocational Well-Being

We all have a calling -- a vocation -- to follow Christ's example, living a life of meaning, purpose and service to our neighbor. Our vocations are our life's work and passions -- our everyday roles through which God calls us to help make this world a better place. Those who are well vocationally are faithful stewards of their talents and abilities, and find opportunities to build and use them.

Intellectual Well-Being

A mind is a terrible thing to waste. Using our minds keeps them alert and active. Stay curious, ask questions, seek answers. Explore new responsibilities, experience new things and keep an open mind. And remember, knowing when and how to let your mind rest is as important as keeping it active.

Spiritual Well-Being

Living a centered life focused on God affects each aspect of our well-being. Turn to God for strength as you seek to live well in Christ. Nurture your relationship with God through prayer, devotions, worship, nature, art and music. Explore who you are and know whose you are.