Loving this episode! Especially delighted by the breaks taken to stoke the fire 🥰
Food for thought in case it helps round out understanding the WHO’s definition of wellness:
As a public health organization, the WHO creates those definitions to inform policy decisions (as Ben alluded to). Defining wellness as “not merely the absence of disease/infirmity” is less about setting a standard for any one individual to aspire to, but rather encourages policymakers in various countries/areas to aim for this optimal “wellness” as the goal for public health initiatives for their populations.
This is important because prior to this definition of wellness, it would be sufficient to say “Okay, such and such a group of people isn’t actively sick right now. Our job here is done.” In contrast, the pursuit of this current definition of wellness requires policymakers to set up systems or pass laws that facilitate health for their populations in a more complete way, including mental and social wellbeing. This is especially important in less wealthy countries.
I left nursing school understanding public health to be a complicated field that is overall positive for large populations, but one that can get a little tricky when you try to apply wide standards and guidelines to any one individual. I totally understand what you were saying, Brooke, about folks being left out of this definition! Maybe with time and feedback, the WHO will continue to tweak its definitions to include more nuance for individuals.
Thank you as always for your thoughtful discussions. I’m a long time listener (first time commenter lol) and so grateful for your contributions to the world! :)
Team McAlary - Yet another thought-provoking and thoroughly enjoyable podcast!! Brooke - I so appreciate your candor!! But I also wish you could see yourself through my (virtual) eyes… if you could, those anxious/negative thoughts that you feel before putting your creations out into the world would NOT stand a chance!! Your gifts are a blessing!! Thank you!! Sending you both positive wellness vibes!!!
I’m a relatively new listener. Really loved this episode. What resonated with me most was your discussion about the importance of discomfort. I also appreciated Brooke’s thoughts on healing vs recovery. I think I need to do a bit more exploration into those thoughts.
Grateful for the company this Saturday afternoon as I listen to your podcast. So appreciate the real ness of the chat, whether that was stopping to stoke the fire or pausing to ponder your reply
I have lived with a post viral illness for over 20 years, leading to many challenges, recovery has not been possible though heartminded wellness certainly achieved and I am mostly grateful
So glad to have you back in my podcast feed and to find you here on Substack! I've been a follower of you for years, you might even have been my first serious podcast commitment. You and Ben should check out the podcast If Books Could Kill - they have a great episode on Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus.
I have been a bit behind in my listening, but I recently caught up with this episode and it just resonated so much with me. I have had cancer twice, once in 2015 when I was 38 (colon cancer), then again in 2019 when I was 41 (breast cancer). Both times I had surgery and chemo, then with the breast cancer I had radiation and immunotherapy. After colon cancer, I was able to "recover" as you say to my previous self is some ways. Mainly, I was able to return to running half marathons and felt great. But I was not the 38 year old me anymore, I had major surgery that changed my diet. Then came breast cancer and with it a challenge mentally. I was forced into menopause at an early age, suffered rare side effects of my drugs, and "recovery" was not in the cards. I struggled with the fact that my body was different and it wasn't going to do things the same anymore and that was not in my control (is it ever?). It has been 3 years since I finished the LONG treatment for breast cancer and I am learning to honor my body and all it has fought for and celebrate where I am now. Your comment about recovery versus healing really described what I have been dealing with. I will never be who I was before these cancers and I wouldn't change that for the world. I feel so lucky, lucky to have gone through what I have because I learned so much about me, my family and friends, and what is important. So thank you for creating this space and community (as you mention in episode 3) because it has helped me for so long. I actually started listening to you and reading your books after my first cancer as I sought to refocus my priorities on what mattered most to me.
Loving this episode! Especially delighted by the breaks taken to stoke the fire 🥰
Food for thought in case it helps round out understanding the WHO’s definition of wellness:
As a public health organization, the WHO creates those definitions to inform policy decisions (as Ben alluded to). Defining wellness as “not merely the absence of disease/infirmity” is less about setting a standard for any one individual to aspire to, but rather encourages policymakers in various countries/areas to aim for this optimal “wellness” as the goal for public health initiatives for their populations.
This is important because prior to this definition of wellness, it would be sufficient to say “Okay, such and such a group of people isn’t actively sick right now. Our job here is done.” In contrast, the pursuit of this current definition of wellness requires policymakers to set up systems or pass laws that facilitate health for their populations in a more complete way, including mental and social wellbeing. This is especially important in less wealthy countries.
I left nursing school understanding public health to be a complicated field that is overall positive for large populations, but one that can get a little tricky when you try to apply wide standards and guidelines to any one individual. I totally understand what you were saying, Brooke, about folks being left out of this definition! Maybe with time and feedback, the WHO will continue to tweak its definitions to include more nuance for individuals.
Thank you as always for your thoughtful discussions. I’m a long time listener (first time commenter lol) and so grateful for your contributions to the world! :)
Team McAlary - Yet another thought-provoking and thoroughly enjoyable podcast!! Brooke - I so appreciate your candor!! But I also wish you could see yourself through my (virtual) eyes… if you could, those anxious/negative thoughts that you feel before putting your creations out into the world would NOT stand a chance!! Your gifts are a blessing!! Thank you!! Sending you both positive wellness vibes!!!
I’m a relatively new listener. Really loved this episode. What resonated with me most was your discussion about the importance of discomfort. I also appreciated Brooke’s thoughts on healing vs recovery. I think I need to do a bit more exploration into those thoughts.
Grateful for the company this Saturday afternoon as I listen to your podcast. So appreciate the real ness of the chat, whether that was stopping to stoke the fire or pausing to ponder your reply
I have lived with a post viral illness for over 20 years, leading to many challenges, recovery has not been possible though heartminded wellness certainly achieved and I am mostly grateful
Thank for the encouragement to ponder 🤔
Kindest 💞Joh
So glad to have you back in my podcast feed and to find you here on Substack! I've been a follower of you for years, you might even have been my first serious podcast commitment. You and Ben should check out the podcast If Books Could Kill - they have a great episode on Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus.
I have been a bit behind in my listening, but I recently caught up with this episode and it just resonated so much with me. I have had cancer twice, once in 2015 when I was 38 (colon cancer), then again in 2019 when I was 41 (breast cancer). Both times I had surgery and chemo, then with the breast cancer I had radiation and immunotherapy. After colon cancer, I was able to "recover" as you say to my previous self is some ways. Mainly, I was able to return to running half marathons and felt great. But I was not the 38 year old me anymore, I had major surgery that changed my diet. Then came breast cancer and with it a challenge mentally. I was forced into menopause at an early age, suffered rare side effects of my drugs, and "recovery" was not in the cards. I struggled with the fact that my body was different and it wasn't going to do things the same anymore and that was not in my control (is it ever?). It has been 3 years since I finished the LONG treatment for breast cancer and I am learning to honor my body and all it has fought for and celebrate where I am now. Your comment about recovery versus healing really described what I have been dealing with. I will never be who I was before these cancers and I wouldn't change that for the world. I feel so lucky, lucky to have gone through what I have because I learned so much about me, my family and friends, and what is important. So thank you for creating this space and community (as you mention in episode 3) because it has helped me for so long. I actually started listening to you and reading your books after my first cancer as I sought to refocus my priorities on what mattered most to me.