BEHAVIOUR CHANGE
WELLBEING COACHING
In the second of his two-part series on behaviour change, Dr Tim Anstiss looks at the power of wellbeing coaching
to make one or more changes to their health behaviour, in ways likely to bring about improved health. I emphasised the importance of empathic listening, evoking from the other person rather than telling and instructing, working in partnership and sharing ideas in a respectful, person-centred manner. This article builds on the ideas and concepts shared in the first article. Instead of health, though, we will be
I
talking about wellbeing: the two are related, but not the same. It’s perfectly possible to have good physical health and poor psychological wellbeing, or to have poor physical health but good wellbeing. Some activities will commonly improve both health and wellbeing – becoming more active, for example – but there are some specifi c activities people can engage in which might be expected to improve their wellbeing over time.
What is wellbeing? There are several definitions of wellbeing. Some emphasise the ‘feeling good/feeling well’ aspects of wellbeing, while others emphasise the ‘doing good/ doing well’ aspects. For instance, according to the Government Foresight Report: Mental Capital and Wellbeing: “Mental wellbeing is a dynamic state in which the individual is able to develop their potential, work productively and creatively, build strong and positive relationships with others and contribute
n my previous article, I described the professional practice of health coaching: guiding and empowering people
to their community. It is enhanced when an individual is able to fulfil their personal and social goals and achieve a sense of purpose in society.” This defi nition emphasises that
wellbeing is related to optimum human functioning, thriving and fl ourishing. Other defi nitions of wellbeing are more akin to the idea of happiness – the pleasant inner emotion characterised by positive feelings like contentment, joy, achievement, feeling accepted and loved. Of course, these different aspects
of wellbeing are related. Generally speaking, doing well in life tends to bring with it a fl ow of positive emotions and experiences, while people who experience more happiness, optimism and wellbeing tend to do better in life. This two-way relationship between doing well and feeling well has led to people talking about an upward spiral of wellbeing, where one good thing leads to another. Improved psychological wellbeing can also result in improved physical health, even for people with long-term health problems.
Origins of wellbeing Research suggests that a person’s level of wellbeing is determined by three main factors: their biology, their circumstances, and their attitudes and behaviours. This last factor – attitudes and behaviours – is thought to account for up to 35-40 per cent of people’s happiness. So what does the research suggest a person should do if they want to protect and improve their happiness and wellbeing?
A person's attitudes and behaviours are thought to account for up to 35–40 per cent of their wellbeing and happiness
54 Read Health Club Management online at
healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital
Being active is one of the fi ve recommendations put forward to help improve people's wellbeing
When it comes to health promotion,
the UK government likes to focus on fi ves: a recommended intake of fi ve portions of fruit and vegetables a day, or taking part in 5 x 30 minutes of moderate physical activity every week. The government therefore asked Nic Marks and his colleagues at the New Economics Foundation to come up with 'Five Ways to Wellbeing', with the following suggestions put forward:
• Connect • Be active • Take notice • Keep learning • Give
July 2013 © Cybertrek 2013
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.WCOM/PRESSMASTER
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