http://blog.oup.com/2012/05/wellbeing-happiness-index-children-health/ Academic insights for the thinking world. Sat, 25 May 2013 11:23:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 http://blog.oup.com/2012/05/wellbeing-happiness-index-children-health/#comment-276165 teresa heys Fri, 18 May 2012 15:25:58 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/?p=24775#comment-276165 I think the main issue is defining what wellbeing is and then deciding on how to achieve it. My working definition, which I came to after much thought and research is 'a state of being relaxed yet alert, and able to cope well with life's challenges and demands.' Once we have this definition, we can find ways of achieving it, be it stable well paid employment, healthy diet, adequate housing, good relationships, sufficient exercise, 'me' time, high self-acceptance, or whatever else the individual or society decides what is needed. It may well be that feeding the pigeons in the park is all that is needed for an individual, but society as a whole will need more. But the definition, in my view, is the key starting point. I think the main issue is defining what wellbeing is and then deciding on how to achieve it. My working definition, which I came to after much thought and research is ‘a state of being relaxed yet alert, and able to cope well with life’s challenges and demands.’ Once we have this definition, we can find ways of achieving it, be it stable well paid employment, healthy diet, adequate housing, good relationships, sufficient exercise, ‘me’ time, high self-acceptance, or whatever else the individual or society decides what is needed. It may well be that feeding the pigeons in the park is all that is needed for an individual, but society as a whole will need more. But the definition, in my view, is the key starting point.

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