Why do you feel sad when good things are happening in your life?

I've pondered this question many times myself. When good things are happening, I might still feel a kind of sadness with no seeming explanation.

When work was going well and my family was doing good, I still didn't feel satisfied. Something was missing. I felt off. But I had no clue what it might be.

So I poured myself into working more, setting bigger goals, burning the midnight oil, and hitting professional milestones. In return, I was financially rewarded. I thought that would do the trick. It didn't.

Working more led to physical exhaustion.

When I couldn't get up and out of bed, I found myself underperforming at work. That caused mental distress and emotional turmoil. So, I started using my financial resources to cope with my situation. It made me feel in control but that feeling never lasted.

My finances were in disarray because how I thought and felt about myself was causing me to spend on retail therapy.

My body was physically exhausted from working too many hours. I was also experiencing physical stress due to all the mental gymnastics and emotional reasoning I was doing. All this was causing me to spend less time with loved ones. I was self-isolating.

In the loneliness, I would be lost in my thoughts, wondering if I made the right choices. I knew deep down that something better existed. I was being pulled, but I was just too exhausted and drained to listen.

One day, things began to click.

Everything is connected.

The reason for my sadness could stem from one area of my life creeping into another. Without addressing that area, it seemed everything was the issue. But you can't solve everything. You can solve one thing at a time.

I began seeing how my finances were connected to my mental health. I saw how my mental distress impacted my physical body. I also knew working too much kept me away from having time to spend with loved ones.

It led to a revelation: I am multi-dimensional.

And I did research and discovered the eight wellness dimensions.

Understanding these dimensions is essential to living our happiest life. These dimensions are interconnected and overlapping and affect one another. When one suffers it has a ripple effect on other dimensions. But we can also use stronger dimensions to counterbalance a dimension that needs support.

Seeing my life parts in dimensions helped me solve the root issues I didn't even know existed.

And you are multi-dimensional.

The reason why you might feel sad when things are good overall might have to do with one part of your well-being suffers.

8 Dimensions of Wellness Explained

The eight wellness dimensions are different aspects of our overall well-being that contribute to a balanced and healthy life. They work together to create a complete picture of our health and happiness.

1. Mental Wellness: Engaging in continuous learning, critical thinking, and creative activities to keep your mind active and curious.
2. Emotional Wellness: Understanding and managing your feelings, developing resilience, and maintaining positive relationships.
3. Physical Wellness: Taking care of your body through exercise, nutrition, and proper sleep to stay strong and energetic.
4. Spiritual Wellness: Exploring your values, beliefs, and purpose and seeking inner peace and a sense of meaning in life.
5. Social Wellness: Building and nurturing meaningful connections with others, fostering a sense of belonging and support.
6. Occupational Wellness: Finding satisfaction and purpose in your work or daily activities while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
7. Environmental Wellness: Creating a harmonious relationship with your surroundings, promoting sustainability, and ensuring a safe and clean environment.
8. Financial Wellness: Managing your finances wisely, planning for the future, and reducing financial stress for overall stability.

These dimensions interact and influence each other, contributing to your overall well-being.

I refer to them as the happy dimensions in my book, Happy Money Happy Life.

The table below summarizes the principle messages for each dimension.?

Let's say you focus all your time and effort at work. It leads to achievements (occupational health) and monetary gains (financial health). You feel good about it. But all that hustle and grind is wearing you down. If you don't take care of your mental and physical health, it will affect your ability to work and impact your finances.

In the book, I specifically focused on how money weaves itself into these dimensions and how you can use money as a tool to support them. I share how you can transform your life for more health, wealth, and happiness.

I've learned that the pursuit of happiness is the pursuit of wellness.

Let me know your thoughts.

Want to learn more? Grab a copy of the book at your favorite bookstore. The book focuses on money's impact on the wellness dimensions but has key takeaways to help you in other areas oo. It's also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop, and Books-a-million.

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Hi, I'm Jason, a writer, creator, and wellness advocate exploring the intersection of money and happiness. I'm the founder of phroogal.com and the creator of the award-winning project, The Road to Financial Wellness.

I've written two books:

You Only Live Once: The Roadmap to Financial Wellness and a Purposeful Life

Happy Money Happy Life: A Multidimensional Approach to Health, Wealth, and Financial Freedom