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Unit 1 Assignment

JaNiesha White

Purdue University Global

HW420 Creating Wellness - Psychological and Spiritual Aspects of Healing

Prof. Holly Parker

December 10, 2025.

Wellness Paradigms

Wellness is something many people talk about, but it can be hard to understand what it

actually means. Most people think of exercise and eating well, but wellness includes much more.

It involves how we think, how we feel, how we connect with others, and how we make sense of

our lives. The seven dimensions of wellness help break these areas into simple parts so a person

can see where they are doing well and where they may need support. In this paper, I focus on a

hypothetical client who wants to improve her health and feel more balanced. I describe her

current habits, her challenges, and her own ideas about wellness. I then create a detailed plan

using all seven dimensions: physical, intellectual, environmental, vocational, social, emotional,

and spiritual. I also explain how these areas influence one another and how they can support

spiritual growth over time. The purpose of this paper is to show how a clear, realistic plan can

help someone build steady progress toward a healthier and more meaningful life.

Client Profile

My client is Maria Thompson, a 42-year-old middle school math teacher who has been in

the classroom for almost fifteen years. She describes her health as “not terrible, but not where I

want it to be.” Over the last few years, she has gained some weight and often feels tired during

the day. She has no serious medical conditions, but she struggles with mild anxiety that tends to

flare up during the school year. She also has trouble sleeping because her mind stays busy long

after she gets home from work.

Maria’s job requires constant attention and emotional energy. She spends most of her day

helping students, answering questions, and managing a busy classroom. By the time she gets

home, she often feels drained. She has a habit of grading papers late at night, which adds to her
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stress and makes her evenings feel rushed. She wants to feel more in control of her time but has

trouble setting boundaries with work.

Maria’s view of wellness is limited to diet and exercise. She believes she should “eat

better and move more,” but she has never considered how things like her environment,

relationships, or emotional needs affect her wellbeing. Her current wellness habits include taking

short walks a few days a week and cooking simple meals when she has the energy. She journals

now and then, usually when she feels overwhelmed, but she does not have a steady routine.

Maria’s main goals are straightforward. She wants more energy, less stress, and better focus at

work. She also wants to feel more balanced in her daily life. She says she often feels as if she is

“rushing from one thing to the next” without having time to breathe or think. Overall, she is

motivated to make changes but feels unsure where to start.

Wellness Plan

Maria’s wellness plan focuses on all seven dimensions of wellness. Each dimension

offers a different way for her to improve her daily life. The goal is not for her to change

everything at once, but to build steady habits that support her health over time.

Physical wellness involves daily habits that help the body feel strong and steady. This

includes movement, nutritious food, and quality sleep. Maria often feels tired, so a simple routine

can help. She can start by walking for 30 minutes three times a week and adding two short

strength sessions at home. She can also track her sleep for a couple of weeks to see what helps

her rest. Small changes, like avoiding screens before bed and sticking to a consistent bedtime,

can make a noticeable difference.

Intellectual wellness includes learning, creativity, and staying mentally engaged. Maria

enjoys teaching but feels mentally tired. One helpful step is to sign up for a professional
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development workshop that interests her. This can give her new tools for her classroom and help

her feel more confident in her work. She can also read short articles or watch videos about

teaching strategies during her planning time instead of late at night. These activities can help her

feel more inspired without overwhelming her.

Environmental wellness focuses on the spaces where a person spends their time. Maria’s

home workspace is cluttered, and she often feels stressed when she sits down to plan lessons.

Organizing this area can make a big difference. She can clean her desk, throw away old papers,

and add two plants to bring a sense of calm. Keeping her workspace simple and pleasant can help

her think more clearly. She can also commit to recycling at home, which gives her a sense of

responsibility toward the environment.

Vocational wellness involves feeling purpose and satisfaction in work. Maria cares about

her students, but her long hours drain her energy. Setting better boundaries can help. One

realistic step is to stop checking work emails after 6 p.m. This allows her to rest without feeling

pulled back into her job. She can also make a short list of the parts of teaching that make her feel

proud. Keeping these reminders can help her reconnect with why she went into teaching in the

first place.

Social wellness supports healthy connections with others. Maria often feels isolated

because her schedule is packed. Scheduling one simple conversation each week with a friend or

coworker can help her feel supported. It does not need to be a long visit. Even a short phone call

can make her feel more connected and less overwhelmed by her responsibilities.

Emotional wellness includes stress management, understanding feelings, and practicing

gratitude. Maria already journals occasionally, but she can benefit from making it a more regular

habit. Writing three times a week can help her release stress and notice patterns in her moods.
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She can also practice a five-minute mindfulness exercise each day. This small routine can help

her pause, breathe, and reset her mind when she feels tense.

Spiritual wellness involves meaning, purpose, and inner peace. Maria says she wants to

feel more grounded. She can create a quiet morning routine that includes ten minutes of

reflection, breathing, or prayer. Starting her day with calm can help her stay centered even when

her schedule becomes busy. She can also think about her core values, such as kindness, patience,

and service, and look for small ways to practice them at school and at home.

Interconnections Between Dimensions

The seven dimensions of wellness do not work alone. They affect each other in ways that

can either support or weaken health. For instance, the physical and emotional wellness often go

hand in hand. When Maria exercises, her body releases tension and her mind becomes calmer.

This makes it easier for her to deal with stress at school. Another example involves social and

vocational wellness. When Maria builds stronger friendships with her coworkers, she feels

supported during tough days at work. This improves her job satisfaction and can prevent burnout.

We also see the interconnection in environmental and intellectual wellness. When her workspace

is organized and peaceful, Maria can think more clearly. She can plan lessons more effectively

and tackle new learning without feeling overwhelmed. With these connections, we can see that

small changes in one dimension can spread into others.

Wellness Plan and Spiritual Growth

A wellness plan that includes all seven dimensions can support spiritual growth in

meaningful ways. When Maria begins to care for her physical, emotional, and social needs, she

naturally creates more space in her life for reflection and inner peace. Even small improvements

in daily habits can help her feel more grounded. As her stress levels drop, she becomes better
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able to listen to her thoughts and feelings instead of rushing through her day. This calmer

mindset gives her a chance to think about what matters to her and what kind of life she wants to

build.

Spiritual growth often starts with awareness, and each part of the wellness plan helps

Maria build that awareness. For example, when she organizes her home workspace and adds

small touches like plants, she creates an environment that feels peaceful instead of chaotic. This

physical space supports a mental space where she can reflect more easily. When she practices

mindfulness and writes in her journal, she learns to notice her emotions without judging herself.

Over time, this helps her understand what brings her joy, what drains her energy, and what she

wants to change.

Her social connections also play a role. When Maria talks with supportive friends, she

feels seen and understood. Feeling connected to others can strengthen her sense of belonging,

which is an important part of spiritual wellbeing. These relationships remind her that she has

support and that she does not have to manage everything alone. This sense of connection can

deepen her appreciation for the people around her and help her see purpose in everyday

interactions.

As Maria focuses on each wellness dimension, she begins to see how her choices reflect

her values. Setting boundaries at work teaches her that her time and energy matter. Learning new

skills reminds her that growth is possible at any age. Caring for her body shows her that she

deserves to feel healthy and strong. These actions can help her feel more aligned with her beliefs

and more confident in her direction. Over time, this alignment becomes a form of spiritual

growth because it helps her live in a way that feels honest and meaningful. By caring for her

whole self, body, mind, emotions, relationships, and environment, Maria creates a foundation for
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a deeper spiritual life. She does not have to make dramatic changes. She only needs small, steady

steps that support balance and self-awareness. As she practices these habits, she may begin to

feel more peaceful, more purposeful, and more connected to her daily life. This is where true

spiritual growth begins.

Conclusion

Maria’s wellness plan shows how the seven dimensions of wellness can work together to

support real change. By looking at her life from several angles instead of just focusing on diet

and exercise, she gains a better understanding of what she needs. Small steps in each area help

her feel more steady, more focused, and more connected to her daily routine. As she improves

her physical health, organizes her environment, strengthens her relationships, and learns new

coping skills, she begins to feel more balanced. These changes also open the door to spiritual

growth by giving her the space and clarity to think about her values and what brings meaning to

her life. A wellness plan does not have to be complicated. It only needs consistency, honesty, and

a willingness to grow. As Maria works through each dimension, she builds habits that support

her long-term wellbeing. Over time, I believe this balanced approach can help her create a

healthier, calmer, and more purposeful life.

References

Grand Rapids Community College. (2022). Seven dimensions of wellness.

[Link]

employee-wellness/seven-dimensions-wellness