“The Athena Principles” Methodology Overview (Second in a Series)
Liz Kalloch Design & Illustration
The Athena Principles combines wellness philosophy with a methodology that includes:
· Tools to assess your current state of wellness, provide clarity, track progress, and set new objectives;
· Principles, which provide a solid foundation and serve as a guide for current actions and future decisions; and
· Practices that, when performed regularly, aim to create good habits and increased well-being.
The methodology recognizes that wellness is a fluid process that thrives with a flexible approach. It regards wellness as a practice, honors and cultivates inner knowing, and provides accountability. It can provide you with a foundation for making change, a vantage point to help you see where you’re working against yourself, and a scalable process that can grow with you.
Here's an overview of The Athena Principles methodology components:
Tools: The Holistic Wellness Spectrum and Wellness Assessment
The Holistic Wellness Spectrum is a broad inventory that can help you determine where to begin your wellness journey. It can be used repeatedly and is a useful tool to find new entry points to further increase wellness once progress has been made in other areas.
The Spectrum is categorized into three sections. The first is Vitality and it includes a list of familiar exercise and nutrition activities. Vitality is where most people start when they think about taking positive steps toward enhanced well-being.
The next section is Flow and it includes ideas for simplifying life routines, living intuitively and finding meaning and purpose.
The last section is Connection, and it includes a list of contemplative practices and ways of connecting in our relationships and community.
The Wellness Assessment is an orientation tool. Think back to the last time you were in a large setting, such as an airport or a shopping mall. Most likely there was an illustration depicting the layout of the environment and a red circle with the words “You are here.” The wellness assessment will provide a similar depiction of where you are in your journey and it can be completed in under five minutes. It’s a simple evaluation used to rate where your current level of satisfaction is in each of the Holistic Wellness Spectrum categories.
These tools are effective because they give you clarity. They also give you a chance to reflect on why a particular starting point is best for you in this moment. For those under extreme work pressure, for example, a good place to start to increase wellness may be to decrease stress, not add to it. In this case, focusing on quality sleep or stress management will pay bigger dividends than adding the pressure of trying a new boot camp regimen.
Principles: The Athena Principles
The word “principle” is defined as “a fundamental truth that serves as the foundation for a system, belief, behavior or a chain of reasoning.” Here is a brief overview of the Principles:
• Principle 1 – Self-Compassion: The care for one’s own well-being in the form of self-acceptance and nurturing support.
• Principle 2 – Intention: Intentions help us aim, set direction and connect emotionally to what we want. It’s the heart-based “Why” behind the urge to transform.
• Principle 3 – Consistency: This is the secret component to the whole equation. Consistency is how you choose to show up for yourself and stay committed and engaged throughout the process, especially during challenging times.
• Principle 4 – Growth Mindset: How you view the wellness journey will determine your progress and enjoyment. Applying a growth mindset where challenges are seen as opportunities will position you to move forward with grace and ease.
• Principle 5 – Accountability: A systematic way to check-in with what you commit to accomplish, celebrate the wins, and compassionately adjust where needed.
Practices: Writing Practice and Meditation
Why is writing considered a wellness practice? There have been numerous studies since the 1980s linking writing practice to a boost in immunity, cell revitalization, and ease from depression. Over time, a regular writing practice can lead to less stress and better sleep.
Let me assure you – if you can write an email or send a text, you have the ability to write your way toward wellness. By establishing a writing practice, you are creating a safe place for learning what wholehearted living means for you.
Meditation is another wellness practice that helps center inward attention. It can be practiced in a number of ways including focusing on breath, sound, a repeated phrase or through physical movement, as well as mindful self-compassion techniques, which is the acceptance of the present moment while offering ourselves what is most needed for our well-being.
I will continue sharing the book’s key concepts with you through blogs posted on the 1st and 15th of the month through September. You can get a free download of the framework and sign-up for blog alerts at www.athenawellness.com.
Book Announcement: The paperback and eBook version of The Athena Principles, Simple Wellness Practices for Overworked Professionals is available on Amazon. The audiobook will be available later this month. Feedback shared via Amazon reviews is much appreciated!