Bitesize Inspiration: Well-being with Zeno

 

Welcome back to It's a Classical Life. We are now a week into 2024 and I hope that this year will bring you much fulfilment and happiness. I know this is the time for people to be making (and possibly breaking) their New Year's Resolutions and it's common for these resolutions to be centred around our wellbeing, and perhaps the wellbeing of those around us. 

Zeno - one of my favourite Stoic philosophers - reminds us, though, that wellbeing is realised by small steps. Small, easy steps that we can incorporate into our everyday as seamlessly as possible. He doesn't suggest that wellbeing comes from hours of sweating through hard workouts, intense meditation or yoga retreats, strict eating regimes or long therapy sessions. Small steps. Baby steps even. The contradiction, or paradox, lies in the second part of his quote. It is truly no small thing. If wellbeing is realised through small steps, then why does it still feel so elusive to so many people? Perhaps because it is a monumental thing in and of itself. It is something that requires small, consistent steps, whether that be a walk around the block everyday, 5-10 minutes of quiet meditation or breathing practice, more fruit and veg in our diet, or asking for help when we need it. 

Betterhealth Victoria says this about wellbeing:

Wellbeing is not just the absence of disease or illness. It’s a complex combination of a person's physical, mental, emotional and social health factors. Wellbeing is strongly linked to happiness and life satisfaction. In short, wellbeing could be described as how you feel about yourself and your life.

(They go into more detail about Wellbeing on their website, which you can read here if you're interested.)

Wellbeing here is described as a "complex combination" and I suppose that is why it is not small, or easy thing to attain. Getting that combination for our physical, mental, emotional and social health right can be difficult. One area can be excelling while another isn't. However, I like Zeno's quote, because it reminds us that from small steps big things can come. From little things, big things grow. 

What small steps are you taking for your wellbeing this year? If you haven't read my post from Saturday on Knowing Yourself with Shakespeare, it might be a jumping off point in getting some ideas about what makes you most happy and contributes to your wellbeing.

Thanks for stopping by for this not-so-Bitesized Inspiration! Have a lovely week!