Spiritual wellness doesn't mean organized religion Published July 17, 2006 By Kathleen A.K. Lopez Air Force Materiel Command Public Affairs WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Think wellness, as in Air Force Materiel Command's Wellness and Safety Campaign, and the image conjured most often is one of physical fitness. But wellness, by AFMC standards, is more than a physical attribute. For AFMC, wellness is comprised of four dimensions: physical, social, emotional and spiritual. When it comes to spiritual wellness misnomers exist as well. "When we talk about spiritual wellness, people tend to think we mean something that is religion-based, which is not at all the case," said Brig. Gen. (Dr.) William J. Germann, AFMC command surgeon and WASC leader. "What we are talking about is having faith in some kind of higher order that you can lean on or turn to when times get tough, and hope when things aren’t going your way."A person who has spiritual wellness recognizes the increased ability he or she has to recover from the setbacks life hands us. That may or may not equate to a religious denomination based solely on the individual’s preference."Understanding spiritual wellness and benefiting from its positive effects is so important to AFMC leadership that July is designated Spiritual Wellness Awareness Month for the command.What’s to understand about spiritual wellness? Eat too much ice cream? Physically, you can run an extra mile or do an extra set of reps at the bench press to get you back on track. Have a run-in with a co-worker or family member? Socially, you can approach him or her and talk things through. Feeling a little down? Emotionally, you can call on a dear friend who can talk you back to happiness. But what happens when you can’t run enough miles, you’re all talked out and you don't feel like reaching out to anyone? That's where spiritual wellness comes into play. That's why AFMC leadership thinks spiritual wellness is a must for its wellness program. "A person who comes to me doesn't necessarily do so because I am Catholic, nor do they necessarily seek another chaplain in order to obtain something partial to a particular denomination," said Col. (Chaplain) Joseph S. Kuan, AFMC command chaplain. "A person who comes to me has a hunger that craves healing, understanding or being listened to. With the introduction of spiritual wellness as one of four dimensions of wellness, we go beyond our own personal beliefs so that we may help others."The chaplain likened transcending the boundaries of spiritual wellness to the more easily definable physical dimension of wellness. For instance, he said, no one has the market on physical fitness. It's not defined in any one way; it’s impossible to define it in any one way. "Just like we don’t put a brand name on physical wellness, the same can be said for spiritual wellness," the chaplain said. "Spirituality is not a brand name. It’s not a single type. It’s not a religion."How do you know your spiritual wellness is in check? A physical hurt is relatively easy to identify. An emotional hurt usually is more difficult to recognize. A spiritual hurt goes even deeper. "The tendency is for a person not to express his or her pain – he or she wants to hide it," Chaplain Kuan said. "It’s not easy to engage the root of hurt and pain. But, you can't escape from reality."Some indicators that a person is spiritually well include an overall sense that his or her life has meaning and value, he said. Additionally, they feel a connection with others, such as family, friends, co-workers, etc. When a person doesn't have these types of connection, it may be a sign to seek help, either from a chaplain or another person in a people-serving agency. When spiritual wellness is in tact, a person is more open to peers, friends and loved ones; there is sense of trust and network of support, he said. "There is a feeling of satisfaction and a more positive outlook on life which, in turn, improves quality of life," he said. How can you help people to benefit from spiritual – and other dimensions of – wellness? The foundation of the WASC is meant to compliment the command's already-existing wingman culture, which is to be alert, get involved and take action. "When Gen. (Bruce) Carlson (AFMC commander) set the course for WASC part of his intent was to grow wellness and safety of ourselves and our co-workers into a way of life," Dr. Germann said. "By taking care of ourselves in all four dimensions of wellness we are better equipped to help take care of others."In doing the latter, Dr. Germann explained the importance of not overlooking that when reaching out to others the surface of people's actions can give a false assumption that everything is okay. Sometimes they are, and other times they aren't. That, he said, is one of the greatest indicators that wellness is becoming a way of life, an attitude toward life. To help develop spirituality, Chaplain Kuan suggests people set aside quiet time for themselves for personal reflection or spiritual study, if desired. Also, develop supportive networks so they are in place before they're needed. For more information about AFMC's spiritual wellness dimension, log onto the command chaplain Web site at https://www.afmc-mil.wpafb.af.mil/HQ-AFMC/HC. For more information about wellness, AFMC command civilian and military Airmen can log onto http://www.afmcwellness.com , from home or at work.