4 Things Wellness Isn’t: Misconceptions You Should Know

    Defining Wellness….

    Wellness is a word we hear everywhere — in schools, clinics, workplaces, mental health organizations, and all over social media. But what does it actually mean? At Wholistic Living, we define it as the sum of all the components of a person’s life, and the degree to which they align with both clinical standards and the individual’s personal values. In other words, wellness is about pursuing balance and living in a way that’s healthy and true to who you are (we’ll unpack this more later!).

    Of course, having a definition is one thing — but what does that look like in real life? Because wellness touches every area of life, trying to cover it all would be way too overwhelming. So instead, we’ll start simple by looking at what wellness isn’t. Like a multiple-choice question, sometimes the process of elimination brings the clearest answer — and some of these might surprise you!

1. Wellness isn’t an aesthetic 

   We love a good aesthetic as much as anyone! But while aspects of your wellness journey might look beautiful, life itself is not a Pinterest board. Lemon water in a hydro flask, Lulu leggings, Pilates classes, or a minimalist condo aren’t bad things—but if our wellness goals start and end there, we’ll end up unfulfilled, unmotivated, exhausted, and maybe even broke. Much of what we see online is just curated snapshots from influencers showing the highlight reel of their lives.

At Wholistic Living, our role isn’t to judge, but to remind you that real life isn’t filtered—it’s raw, unedited, and full of ebbs and flows. And here’s the good news: wellness isn’t confined to pretty moments. It can be found just as much in a messy kitchen as in an IKEA catalogue—because that’s where real, authentic life happens. Speaking of appearances, that leads us to our next point.

2. Wellness isn’t a body type

   When you read that subheading, what came to mind? Maybe a lean, toned person with glowing skin and everything tucked in all the “right” places. Thanks to social media, that’s often the image we attach to wellness — but it simply isn’t true. Wellness is not defined by what we see on the outside. Going back to our original definition, wellness is the culmination of all the components of our lives. It’s about overall satisfaction and balance, not whether or not you have visible abs. 

Of course, body image plays into how we view wellness, so let’s focus on that for a moment. It’s easy to compare different body types and make snap judgments. If someone is thinner, we assume they’re healthier and disciplined. If they’re heavier, we assume the opposite. That mindset may be common in Western culture, but it’s not accurate. While obesity does come with increased health risks, research shows that body weight and shape alone are not reliable measures of health. Many people live in larger bodies and are perfectly healthy for their sex, age, and medical context. The truth? You don’t need to look like a fitness model to be well. You just need to care for the body you’ve been given. This segues us into our third point. 

3. Wellness isn’t the same for everyone

   As humans, we love to create standards. We like to define what’s normal and what’s odd, what’s healthy and what’s unhealthy, what’s successful and what’s not. In many ways, we crave boxes we can neatly fit into to prove that we belong. And often, we assume that everyone should meet the same standards as the majority. If they don’t, then they’ve failed. 

Unfortunately, this mindset has slipped into how we think about wellness. If someone doesn’t eat the way we think they “should,” if they don’t exercise at the same intensity or in the same way we do, if their income or emotional progress doesn’t match our expectations — we may be quick to assume they’re not well. But here’s the truth: people are unique. We have different emotional needs, nutritional needs, experiences, and life paths. What contributes to one person’s wellness may not contribute to yours, and vice versa.

Of course, there are some universal building blocks of wellness — like eating nourishing foods or being connected to a supportive community. But how those things look, and the extent to which they’re lived out, will vary for each individual. So let others inspire and encourage you, but resist the urge to compare. Wellness isn’t about living someone else’s story — it’s about living yours. 

4. Wellness Isn’t a destination

   Wellness is not a place you finally arrive at—it’s a continual journey of growth. It’s not about perfection or achieving some elusive standard of “good enough.” The truth is, you’re already valuable and worthy right where you are. Wellness isn’t a competition with those around you or a validation of your worth; it’s about taking small, meaningful steps each day to improve your quality of life and, in turn, the lives of those around you.

If the idea of never arriving feels discouraging, we get it. But here’s another way to look at it: if wellness has no finish line, then your life always holds the potential to grow, deepen, and get better. There’s never a point where you’ve “maxed out.” Even the standards set by others—or the ones you put on yourself—don’t define your success, because those standards aren’t perfection either.

Instead, wellness is about celebrating wins, learning from losses, and living in the present. It’s asking yourself: Where am I in my wellness journey today? What small step can I take now? We may never be perfect, but we can live with joy and contentment by walking the journey one step at a time.

Wrapping it up…

    Wellness can seem overwhelming at times—even to us! But thankfully, we can rest in the fact that it’s not about looking right, keeping up with the Joneses, or reaching perfection. It’s a step by step process that we take day by day. It’s unique, it’s real, and sometimes a little messy (okay, maybe a lot messy!) But the good news? You’re not on it alone! So wherever you’re at in your wellness journey, we’d be thrilled to walk it with you! 

Reflection time! 

How would YOU define wellness? Has this post changed your perspective on wellness? If so, how?

Share your answer in the comment section below!

Thank you so much for joining us here at Wholistic Living! We’re so glad you decided to read this post today. We hope it encouraged you, challenged you, and empowered you to keep on in your unique wellness trek. We realize that growth flourishes in community. We don’t have all the answers either, we’re sprouting right along with you! So we’d love to hear your feedback, your thoughts, and your suggestions. Feel free to leave to leave a respectful comment on this post or reach out to us through our Contact Us page!