Lessons That Linger 7. The Roots of Wellbeing 28 08 2025

Feeling good is a basic need for a happy life. Like the five fingers in our hand, I see human wellbeing too rooted in five essential elements:

1. Physical wellbeing– is the starting point. At the base, it is being at ease, i.e. without disease. The next level is to be fit for what we like to do. It is a relative state varying based on an individual’s desire, as fitness is for a defined purpose only. The third level is to excel in whatever we do. Excel in my definition is wanting to be better than you were yesterday, and to be the best you can be.  
2. Purpose-waking up with a desire to do something, anything, is what makes every day a present, i.e. a gift we give ourselves. Sustaining this urge right through the day makes our life meaningful and fulfilling.    
3. Gratitude -A physically active and purposeful individual has travelled half the way to feel valued. A deep sense of gratitude for their good fortune completes the journey.
4. Social connections -We live in families and with our friends. Our interactions enlarge our life. A genuine interest in people around us, to feel their joy and sorrow as our own, enriches our lives as we live not just our lives, but theirs too.
5. Contribution -Our efforts is what makes it our own. Assisting people around us whenever we can, even if it is only a wish or a prayer, makes not just us, but people around us also happy. In giving others, we give to ourselves.

Irrespective of the cards we are dealt with in our life, I feel our well-being is in our own hands based on how we react. The five fingers on our hand are a constant reminder of the five elements to realize it. They say thumb is the most critical finger. Which of these five elements is your thumb?