Mental

Internal emotional and psychological response to life events (eg worry, sadness, happiness, anger)

That evening at the dinner table, he started telling the family about the beauty of the ocean and how graceful the hang gliders were. It wasn’t long before the girls were begging to go to the beach. When he thought about it, he agreed, suggesting they take a picnic lunch. Reluctantly his wife consented.

On the drive to the beach, his wife sat quietly, staring out the window. The girls sat in the back bickering over everything. He began to wonder if he had made the right decision agreeing to this trip.

Once they arrived, the girls hurried off to the water, leaving him and his wife to lay out the lunch. When it was ready, he called them back. During lunch, the girls talked constantly about the fun things they’d been seeing and doing.

After lunch, while the girls went back to the water, he sat down beside his wife, soaking up the sun. He was startled when his wife, who hadn’t laughed in months, let out a sudden giggle. He looked over to see what had caught her attention. It was a seagull ripping into another family’s lunch. Despite how funny it was, he couldn’t help feeling a quiet sense of pity for the startled family, and even for the gull just acting on instinct.

He and his wife continued to sit quietly. Eventually he proposed a short walk and this time his wife said yes.

As they strolled along the beach, she remained quiet. After a while, she said she was tired and wanted to head back. On the return walk, they spotted an unsuspecting wader being drenched by a wave. This time, his wife laughed more freely, and, almost without thinking, she shared a memory from when she was a girl. It was the most she had spoken spontaneously in a long time.

That evening, as the girls were heading to bed, they stopped and thanked him for a lovely day. They hoped they could do it again. Later when his wife brought him a drink, she leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

As he sat in his chair, he thought about the day. The tension that seemed to be surrounding the family now felt lighter. A simple change of scenery had taken his girls from bickering to quiet conversation, and his wife from little emotion to actually having a laugh. These simple acts had brought him joy and allowed the worries of the past three months to be put aside for the day.

Social

Connection with others in meaningful ways.

He’d been thinking about the picnic at the beach. Since then, there had been small signs they could be on the path to becoming the family they once were. They were starting to share experiences and even have meaningful conversations. He wondered if the ocean had had the same effect on them as it always seemed to have on him. Perhaps regular time at the beach might help them continue on the path back to being a close family. He suggested to his wife that they make beach outings a weekly event. Though less than enthusiastically, she agreed, saying the girls would enjoy it.

On these outings, his wife was sometimes willing to go for a walk, but she seemed happier just sitting and watching people. There were the young people kicking a ball, swimmers following their routines, and couples walking hand in hand.

Occasionally, he and his wife formed stories about the people they saw. Through this simple game, she seemed to be connecting in her own quiet way with the people around her.

As they continued their weekly trips to the beach, he became aware of the difference between walking in the street and walking at the beach. Strangers rarely acknowledged him in the street, but at the beach people seemed friendlier. There was a smile here, a nod there, or even a quiet ‘G’day’. It was these small acknowledgements from strangers that made him feel connected to the wider community. He began to initiate the greetings himself. At times, his wife even greeted some people.

Some of the fishermen he met at the harbour were starting to feel more like friends. They discussed fishing stories, bait, and equipment. Over time, he was able to tell them about his redundancy and how things had changed at home. It was a relief not always having to be the strong one for the family.

After his redundancy, the girls had felt a great sense of rejection as their friends drifted away. The trips to the beach seemed to be turning this around. They still argued at times, but they were gradually becoming friends. The day they decided to make a sandcastle marked a turning point. Some people came by to encourage them, and some even offered a hand. The compliments and support gave them a sense of self-worth. When they were later asked to join a beach volleyball game, they went with confidence. New friendships were also forming.

Although his wife had started to engage more with others and there were glimpses that things were shifting within the family, the changes were not consistent.

Spiritual

Personal sense of meaning, purpose, and direction in life.

After his interview earlier that day, he felt conflicted. The job would ease financial pressure and offer advancement opportunities, but he wasn’t sure it would make him happy. Weekends and on-call work meant time away from his family. He hated disappointing them.

With his wife and girls away, he didn’t want to return to an empty house. Instead, he drove to the harbour.

Along his walk, he noticed a shark egg in the sand. He picked it up. It was unlike anything he had seen before, except in a book. It was hard and black and looked like a piece of burnt plastic. He pocketed it for his girls.

The morning’s interview returned. On paper it seemed perfect, yet there was a niggle. Was he missing something?

He thought about the shark egg. It looked different, yet had the same purpose as other eggs, to protect and nourish what was growing inside. That made him pause. Perhaps work was no different.

As he turned homeward, the sun was going down. He settled into a sand dune to watch the sunset. The sky slowly changed with the clouds taking on shades of pink and orange. As stars appeared, the day’s events crystallized. The interview and the shark egg now connected the job, family, and the choices ahead.

What path should he take?

Then a fisherman’s earlier comment returned to him. “You like fishing, so why not get paid for it?”

Suddenly it became clear. Commercial fishing could be the answer. The ocean seemed to be helping to rebuild his family. Maybe it could also form the basis of a new career.

Excitement stirred. He needed to talk this through with his wife.

As he got up and headed home, ideas flowed.

Understanding the Dimensions

Mental Wellness	Social Wellness	Spiritual Wellness
Noticing emotions, understanding how they affect us, and responding in ways that support balance and wellbeing.	Connection, relationships, & feeling that we belong. It grows through everyday contact with others & shared experiences.	Relating to a person’s sense of meaning, values, and purpose, and how these guide choices. It can be experienced with or without religious belief.
Key points: – Anger, sadness, & worry are normal & healthy when acknowledged & not allowed to become stuck or overwhelming. – Recognising patterns of rumination & gently shifting focus. – Considering how our actions affect others.	Key points: – Needing contact with others, not perfect relationships. – Feeling a sense of belonging & mutual support. – Enjoying shared activities & quiet moments together. – Recognizing that each person’s experience of connection is unique.	Key points: – Grounded in personal beliefs, morals, & principles. – Involves reflecting on what matters most in life. – May include practices that quiet the mind, eg meditation or mindfulness. – Helps shape the direction a person wants for their life to take.

Think about a time when you noticed one of these dimensions in your own life.
Did you see it as a wellness experience in the moment, or have you only noticed it in hindsight?

Continued in Part 3