Well-being is a dynamic concept that includes subjective, social, and psychological dimensions as well as health-related behaviors. - Tricia A. Seifert, University of Iowa
In July of 2017, I came across a psychological assessment tool created by Carol Ryff from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. This tool focuses on measuring multiple facets of psychological well-being, which include:
- self-acceptance
- the establishment of quality ties to other
- a sense of autonomy in thought and action
- the ability to manage complex environments to suit personal needs and values
- the pursuit of meaningful goals and a sense of purpose in life
- continued growth and development as a person
Having experienced benefit with similar instruments, I decided to take it. My initial and follow-up scores (March 2018) are listed below along with supporting commentary. The maximum score for each category is 42.
Environmental Mastery July 2017 (23) - March 2018 (6; considerably lower) (14%)
Low scorer: Has difficulty managing everyday affairs; feels unable to change or improve surrounding context; is unaware of surrounding opportunities; lacks a sense of control over the external world.
While I typically feel a sense of control over my life, questions regarding residential, personal, and professional decisions are back in the forefront. Without having a clear sense of direction in these three areas, it is nearly impossible to achieve a high score; I consider this a natural effect.
Personal Growth July 2017 (39) / March 2018 (34; relatively unchanged) (80%)
High scorer: Has a feeling of continued development; sees self as growing and expanding; is open to new experiences; has a sense of realizing his or her potential; sees improvement in self and behavior over time; is changing in ways that reflect more self-knowledge and effectiveness.
Personal growth is a large part of my personality, so this is an area that doesn’t require much attention, at least right now.
Positive Relations with Others July 2017 (-15) / March 2018 (-7; improving) (-16%)
Low scorer: Has few close, trusting relationships with others; finds it difficult to be warm, open, and concerned about others; is isolated and frustrated in interpersonal relationships; not willing to make compromises to sustain important ties with others.
Unfortunately, nearly all of my closest relationships over the past decade have ended and all of these resulted in feelings of significant pain/loss/betrayal. Therefore, the fact that I currently score particularly low in this area is unsurprising.
Given this history, and the ease at which these same feelings/beliefs can permeate into all relationships, it is wise to take incremental steps to strengthen existing connections (at the very minimum).
Purpose in Life July 2017 (10) / March 2018 (-5; lower) (-12%)
Low scorer: Lacks a sense of meaning in life; has few goals or aims, lacks a sense of direction; does not see the purpose of past life; has no outlook or beliefs that give life meaning.
Those whose long-term goals are closely aligned with their current reality are likely to score highly in this category. Since my current score is low, it’s helpful to understand why. Perhaps there are two ways of looking at this.
Perspective A: I can assess my purpose in life by comparing my original mission with my current reality. Since it centered around professional flexibility, the two are very much aligned.
Perspective B: I can compare my current experience with those who have stayed on a “single track.” This approach does not add considerable value for reasons that should be obvious. However, this does not suggest that feelings of disconnection are abnormal.
Ultimately, of these two options, paying greater attention to “perspective A” is a psychologically healthier alternative.
Self-Acceptance July 2017 (-22) / March 2018 (3; considerable improvement) (7%)
Low scorer: Feels dissatisfied with self; is disappointed with what has occurred in past life; is troubled about certain personal qualities; wishes to be different than what he or she is.
I think the passing of time, exercise, and meditation have all helped boost my original rating since July 2017. I think that a continued orientation around “self-compassion” can boost this score even further.
Ideally, I would want nothing more than to score highly in all five areas. However, it is important to recognize that no score is impervious to change. Greater awareness of one’s condition and appropriate course correction can help to maintain a sense of stability.
What is important right now is to address these deficiencies in a purposeful and strategic manner, starting perhaps with mastery of one’s environment.