
Many people strive to improve their lives but struggle to succeed. What is well-being? They lack a clear understanding. This lack of clarity can lead to confusion, missed opportunities, and delays in achieving true happiness.
After years of neglecting my well-being and facing the consequences, I fully understand its value and significance.
Have you experienced similar struggles? Or are you now questioning what well-being truly means and why it matters?
This article gives you a clear understanding of well-being and a fresh perspective for improving your life.
Photo by Lior Shapira on Unsplash
Key Takeaways
- Make your well-being a priority from the beginning to build a fulfilling life
- Understand that well-being reflects how you feel about yourself and your life
- Recognize that well-being can be both good and bad
- Define what well-being means to you in your current situation
Contents
Significance of Well-being in Life
Understanding and pursuing well-being is crucial for achieving a fulfilling and meaningful life.
When we focus on our well-being, we prepare ourselves to face challenges, develop strong relationships, and pursue our goals with energy and excitement. Ignoring it can lead to burnout, unhappiness, and a lower quality of life.
By adopting self-care and mindfulness, and building positive connections, we lay a strong groundwork for happiness and lasting success. Well-being is a continuous journey that enriches every aspect of our lives.
The earlier you know what well-being in life is, the better. The later, the worse. Share on XWhat Well-being is NOT?
Many mistakenly believe possessing what they desire or dream of leads to well-being. However, it’s not that straightforward.
It’s crucial not to overlook other important factors that may not currently be your main focus. Therefore, it’s important first to know what well-being is NOT.
Well-being is not just the absence of illness.
Having no illness does mean having better health which adds to wellness. However, even a healthy person may not feel good in life if he or she does not have a loving or supportive life partner.
It’s not just about having wealth.
Even rich people cannot enjoy their life without good health. Some unhappy rich even regret later they amassed wealth working hard without spending it wisely for themselves or others.

It is not even about gaining fame.
Even famous cinema actors may experience tough times. I read that a glamorous film heroine from the 1980s spent her last few years in loneliness.
Well-being is not about marrying the beautiful woman or the handsome man of your dreams.
After spending an initial romantic time together, many young couples are surprised to realize that what they had wanted for so many years did not bring them happiness. Some may even have to start looking for a divorce.
Well-being in General
- Varies from Person to Person
- Broad Meaning
- Inter-linked Dimensions
- Collective Well-being
- Widely Used Word
Well-being Varies Greatly from Person to Person
People have varying personalities, desires, and life goals. So, well-being means different things to different people. While some prioritize happiness, others value health or comfort.
The interpretation of well-being relies on an individual’s personal experiences and life priorities. It’s a very subjective issue, so it’s important to understand the comprehensive meaning of the concept.
- In an individual’s life, the importance, possession, or need of certain elements of well-being may change over time.
- Apart from common elements like happiness and health, some individuals may be concerned about how well they control their overall life or how satisfied they are with it.
- Some others may even feel the need to find their sense of purpose.
What is Well-being Broadly?

Overall, an individual’s well-being is a complicated mix of many factors including the mind, body, emotions, and how one interacts with others.
It’s not just one thing that determines how someone feels; it’s a lot of different pieces coming together to create a complete picture. The main parts that stand out in this mix include health, happiness, satisfaction, and a sense of purpose in life.
Putting simply, well-being is about how a person feels about themselves and their life. A person’s view of their life, health, relationships with family and friends, and inner thoughts play important roles in their overall well-being. Think of it like a personal recipe, where each part adds to how satisfying life is for them.
Well-being Has Different Inter-linked Dimensions
There are different elements of well-being, including mental, physical, financial, emotional, and social well-being. These are all connected in ways that aren’t always obvious.
Some cases seem to belong to one kind, but their causes or effects may stretch to the other. For example, feeling mentally stressed or anxious can harm physical health. It may lead to issues like sleepless nights or headaches.
On the other hand, facing money problems can lead to mental stress and affect a person emotionally. It can even strain their relationships with friends and family.
Understanding how these elements are related is crucial for recognizing a person’s overall well-being. Addressing one form of well-being often requires consideration of others to achieve a balanced life.
What is Well-being for Humans Collectively?
Collective human well-being refers to how well people can live in a valuable and satisfying way. Many things affect this idea, such as the availability of health services, which are key to staying healthy and avoiding sickness.
The environment, including social and political factors, also plays a big role in how people feel about their lives.
Cultural identity and heritage shape how individuals view themselves and what matters to them.
Having job opportunities is crucial as earning money helps people access the required resources
Equally important is the role of nature. Nature is vital to our lives; it provides essentials like food, clean water, and fresh air.
Therefore, we have to take care of the ecosystems that support us. This means striving for a healthy environment and tackling problems like pollution and climate change.

Protecting nature benefits us today and ensures that future generations have the same chances and resources that we enjoy. Ultimately, our happiness is connected to nature, and caring for the environment is key to a meaningful life.
Well-being Is a Widely Used Word in Different Sectors
According to a research report by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, UK, ‘well-being’ is ubiquitous. It occurs frequently and widely in public discourse.

In scientific discourse – academic and self-help – well-being is an object of research.
It is also strongly featured in the work and education arenas. Here it is built both as affecting personal development and as its effect.
The commercial sector – consumer goods, health, consultancy services – uses it as an income-generating commodity. The product or service “holds out the promise of “well” identities to be purchased and consumed to achieve a state of virtue”.
A Deeper Look at Well-being
- Definition
- Meaning in Philosophy
- Explanation by Aristotle
- Meaning in Positive Psychology
Definition of Well-being
An article in the International Journal of Wellbeing (IJW) titled ‘The challenge of defining wellbeing’ studies various theories on the subject. Then it closes by proposing a new definition of wellbeing.

The definition is based on a state of equilibrium or balance influenced by life events or challenges. It is considered “simple, universal in application, optimistic, and a basis for measurement”.
As per the IJW article, “the balance point between an individual’s resource pool and the challenges faced” defines what is well-being for them.
It is stable when an individual has the psychological, social, and physical resources to meet a particular psychological, social, or physical challenge. “When they have more challenges than resources, the see-saw dips, along with their wellbeing, and vice-versa”.
Well-being for a person is determined by the balance between their available resources and the challenges they encounter. Share on XWhat is Well-being in Philosophy?
Well-being in philosophy refers to what is good for a person.
There has been much debate for centuries on some theories of well-being. But here, we talk about their content very briefly. We aim to become more aware of their practical use, not to confuse ourselves with the wide historical research or discussions.
We usually think of a person’s happiness as a short-lived state that depends on what’s happening around them. But philosophically, we talk about whether a person is happy in life or not. How well someone’s life is going defines their well-being.

We should consider happiness more than a short-term emotion; it can be lifelong. How a person lives, the challenges they encounter, the goals they achieve, and the connections they make, all significantly impact their well-being.
On the other hand, well-being is also said to be negative. It explains the negative aspects of a person’s being.
Someone may be leading a life of awful agony. Ongoing struggle or deep emotional pain can lead to more negativity. The adverse experiences can overshadow even the happy moments they get. Their well-being is referred to as negative.
In short, happiness and well-being are complex ideas tied closely to the experiences and emotions that shape a person’s journey.
What Does Aristotle Mean by Well-being?
- The highest human good
- Virtuous activity of the soul
- Emotions make life meaningful
This is one of the most detailed and discussed parts of the literature on well-being. Here I summarize in simple points what Aristotle has to say about it.
Sources: Routledge Handbooks: Aristotle on well-being,
Stanford Encyclopedia: Aristotle’s Ethics
Happiness: The highest good, sought for its own sake
Aristotle puts the good things into one of these three categories:
- Those chosen only because of the other things they bring,
- Those chosen for themselves as well as for what they bring,
- Those who bring nothing else but are chosen only for themselves.
Aristotle claims that Eudaimonia (commonly translated as “happiness”) falls in the third category. Thus, desirable for its own sake, happiness is the highest good humans strive for. He equates it with living well and doing well.

Happiness consists of the virtuous activity of the soul
Aristotle’s theory of well-being holds that living well or happiness consists of the virtuous activity of the rational soul.

Virtuous activity is the ultimate “dominant” end at the top of the hierarchy of goods.
Lesser goods are to be pursued for the sake of others that are more valuable. These other goods may be sought because they lead to others who are even better.
But what is virtuous activity? It is an activity of the soul, chosen for its own sake, and carried out as per virtue or excellence.
Aristotle clarifies that to be happy, human beings require other goods such as honor, friends, wealth, and power. But that is because their virtuous activity would be impeded if they lacked in one or more. It is not because these goods are themselves parts of the highest good.
Emotions and learning make our lives more meaningful
All living things have the potential to live well according to their endowment.
For plants, a flourishing life is simply a matter of nutrition, growth, and reproduction.
For non-human animals, living well also involves locomotion, perception, and (in some cases) a certain kind of sociability.
Aristotle’s argument for identifying happiness with virtuous activity rests on the assumption that the human soul gives us the potential to do better than other forms of life.
Humans have emotions unlike plants that grow silently or animals that follow instinct. Our feelings let us connect deeply with each other and understand the world around us on a level that those forms of life cannot.

This emotional richness enables us to experience life fully and meaningfully. We can think about our actions, reflect on our choices, and strive for improvement, which helps our lives be more vibrant and layered than plants or other animals experience. Each day, we can grow, adapt, and feel, making our journey through life far more fulfilling.
To exploit these greater possibilities, however, a person requires a long process of habituation and learning, leading to the acquisition of practical and theoretical wisdom.
Aristotle’s theory of well-being aims to reconcile two compelling ideas. First, no human being is immune to misfortune. And qualities such as wisdom, justice, and courage do not simply belong to a list of goods but are somehow on a higher level.
Our ability to feel emotions and learn allows us to live lives of greater depth and meaning than other animals. Share on XWhat is Well-being in Positive Psychology?
- Positive well-being
- Subjective well-being
- Psychological well-being
Though relatively new, positive psychology has various theories of well-being. A layman would benefit from knowing the following constructs briefly.
Positive well-being
Positive psychology is about understanding and encouraging well-being, a mental and emotional state where people feel happy and satisfied with their lives.

When individuals reach this positive state, they often build strong, meaningful relationships with family, friends, and community. These connections offer support, love, and a sense of belonging, all crucial for true happiness.
People in this state also find purpose in their daily activities, seeing their lives as meaningful and fulfilling. They recognize the good things they have and engage in activities that bring them joy and satisfaction, leading to a richer and more balanced life.
This viewpoint highlights not just a lack of stress or negativity, but an active, positive way of living that helps create a happier and more involved life.
Photo by DISRUPTIVO on Unsplash
These 10 traits describe “positive aspects of mental functioning”:
- Competence
- Emotional stability
- Engagement
- Meaning
- Optimism
- Positive emotion
- Positive relationship
- Resilience
- Self-esteem
- Vitality
Subjective well-being
Subjective well-being (SWB) refers to how people experience and evaluate their lives. Maximizing one’s well-being has been seen as “maximizing one’s feelings of happiness.”
Psychological well-being
A person’s well-being relates to having or achieving the following in life.
- Autonomy: Achieving a sense of personal control to sustain one’s “individuality within a larger social context”
- Personal growth: Making the most of one’s skills and abilities
- Self-acceptance: Becoming aware of one’s limitations and feeling good about oneself
- Life purpose: Finding “meaning in one’s efforts and challenges”
- Positive relations: Developing and maintaining sincere and trustful mutual relationships
- Environmental mastery: Shaping one’s “environment to meet personal needs and desires”
Real-life Examples of Well-being
- Examples of a Well-lived Life
- Examples of a Life of Distress
There is both positive and negative well-being in life. The following examples demonstrate what well-being is, as it shows in real life.
Examples of a Well-lived Life
Well-being is said to be positive when you are happy in your life.
You feel connected to others around you and have a sense of purpose.
Examples of positive well-being:
- A family shares a strong bond and enjoys open, positive communication, fostering a calm and happy atmosphere.
- After losing her loving husband in an accident two years ago, a woman fell into a deep depression. However, she gradually healed through a long meditation course and found the strength to move forward with her life.
- A man devoutly follows his faith and never misses his prayers. He works diligently but believes that all outcomes are in God’s hands, freeing himself from worry.

Examples of a Life of Distress
Some people lead a life of suffering, for a short or long period.

Examples of such ‘negative’ well-being:
- The COVID-19 lockdown left a factory laborer jobless. With limited savings, he struggles to sustain his family and grows increasingly anxious about their future.
- Unaware of the challenges ahead, a well-educated and sensitive woman marries a man with a lower IQ and a short temper. The persistent absence of meaningful communication leaves her increasingly dissatisfied and stressed, putting her at significant risk of developing depression.
- An adolescent boy educated at a modern boarding school feels caught between his progressive education and his family’s rural lifestyle. With reserved parents and limited emotional connection, he struggles with a growing sense of detachment.
How Does Well-being Fit into Your Life?
- How Does It Relate to You?
- Begin to improve Your Well-being
Since I started to understand well-being and how I need it, my life has constantly changed to become more and more balanced.
Conclusion: Consider How Well-being Relates to Your Current Situation
You read above about well-being, which is clarified in different ways.
Meaning of the term … what it doesn’t mean … as a balance between assets and challenges … collective human well-being … wide use of the word … historical studies … real-life examples.
Now you know what it means. So, you can more easily begin your journey toward a more fulfilled life.
But how do you do it?
Well-being includes many aspects that need deeper attention, including physical health, mental and emotional stability, social connections, and financial security.
Still, with its basic understanding now, you can clarify what it means to you personally in your current life situation.
For instance, you might focus on managing stress and balancing your work and personal life if you have a stressful job. On the other hand, if you are going through a big change, like relocating to a new city, finding a supportive community could be your main goal.
Contemplating the relationship between your well-being and your present situation can be an initial move toward enhancing it.

You can ask yourself a few questions like these:
- Should I work to make my mind more calm?
- Do I need to improve my relationships?
- Or, is solitude my way to go?
Focus, Plan, Act—Start Now to Improve Your Well-being
You can now focus on your thought-out issue(s) as above which can improve your life. Use your common sense to make strategies in this direction. And, start working on them. For example, you can begin to make your mind peaceful by controlling your thoughts.
Understand well-being > Reflect on yours > Take steps to improve it. Share on XIf needed, seek further answers or information about a topic that is not clear.
It is an ongoing process to know what well-being is in your life and improve it. The earlier you begin, the better.
What do you say? I would love to read your comment below.

My blog assists you in navigating life’s challenges with clarity and confidence. As someone in my fifties with diverse experiences who has overcome unique emotional hurdles, I share insights to guide you toward a fulfilling life. Read More