Why Well-being isn’t a Priority

Why Well-being isn’t a Priority

On a recent deep dive into TED Talks, I was exploring the wide range of topics because I was in the mood for learning something new or interesting about my passion, well-being and was surprised to discover that ‘well-being’ isn’t a topic within TED.

This sparked my curiosity and I started googling well-being to see what would come up without any other keyword. I mostly saw results for wellness or work-life balance, workplace well-being and a definition by the WHO (World Health Organisation):

“Well-being is a positive state experienced by individuals and societies. Similar to health, it is a resource for daily life and is determined by social, economic and environmental conditions. Well-being encompasses quality of life and the ability of people and societies to contribute to the world with a sense of meaning and purpose. Focusing on well-being supports the tracking of the equitable distribution of resources, overall thriving and sustainability. A society’s well-being can be determined by the extent to which it is resilient, builds capacity for action, and is prepared to transcend challenge.”

Perhaps I’m naive but I was stunned by the limited search results.

Why isn’t well-being a priority?

Without well-being, on an individual and global level, we suffer and can’t thrive as a species.

The fundamental concept of Well-being is coherently explained above, in the definition by WHO and is discussed extensively in philosophy even with scientific support.

Every time you open a social media app, you’re bound to see a quote based on well-being to sell you anything from an idea through to a lipstick.

Why are we so frivolous with something so profound? What will help us take well-being more seriously?

Despite its critical importance, well-being isn’t always widely cited or prioritised in various contexts for several reasons which I’m exploring in this post today.

I hope that by the end of reading, you’re more able to make an informed decision to move to prioritising your well-being for the benefits to you, your loved ones and everyone else.

Reasons Why Well-being isn’t a Priority

1. Subjectivity and Complexity

Well-being is a multifaceted concept that includes physical, mental, emotional and social dimensions. Its subjective nature makes it challenging to measure and standardise, unlike more tangible metrics like GDP or productivity. This complexity often leads to it being overlooked in favour of more easily quantifiable data.

Let’s put this reason into some context. The scientists can create rockets that fly to planets in the vast solar system, while happily working for years to achieve these feats but well-being is too complex?

Wisdom from the past has already laid out what’s required for optimal well-being that benefits all, there isn’t even a need to create anything new. Civilisation ‘simply’ has to choose to prioritise it.

And is quantifiable data the only way to prove that people are well? A society that is connected, vibrant and thriving can also be proven evidence.

2. Economic Focus

Societal and organisational metrics often prioritise economic growth, productivity and efficiency. These metrics are more straightforward to measure and have been traditionally valued over holistic well-being. As a result, well-being may not receive the same level of attention or resources.

In this current society of consumption, well-being would adversely affect the big players of industry who rely on the destruction of each other to sell more stuff! By this simple explanation, there may not be any chance of change.

However, if the majority of people are well, if the majority are thriving, could they not contribute better to the advancement of economies? After all, if there are more people that are well, the sheer will to get the ‘job’ done more efficiently and with benefit to all, may even be heightened.

3. Cultural Norms

In many cultures, there’s a strong emphasis on hard work, achievement and success, sometimes at the expense of personal well-being. This cultural bias can lead to the undervaluation of well-being, as it is often seen as secondary to professional and economic success.

Is this about culture or economics? We are currently living in a mental health epidemic where astoundingly in the 1960’s the average age for the onset of depression was 45 and yet today, it’s just 14 years old!

How is this progress? With well-being not being a priority for many cultures, we’re actually contributing to the demise of our species rather than questioning deeply what isn’t serving us.

4. Lack of Awareness and Education

There can be a lack of awareness or education about the importance of well-being. People may not fully understand how critical well-being is to overall health, productivity and quality of life. This lack of understanding can result in insufficient attention and resources being allocated to promoting well-being.

This reason makes me think about where we place importance in our societies. The person who has the largest number of followers through to those making 6-7 figures in their sleep! The age of the internet has created an unhealthier worldview because we still have civilisations without clean water or food!

Contribution to the conversation is too often focussed on media, social media influencers, celebrities and business tycoons who make up a small percentage of people to learn from. With the exception of a few, many of those who are influencing are doing it for their own gain rather than for the world to gain.

People and organisations who genuinely want the world to prosper are often ignored or virtue signalled for their contribution to awareness and education.

5. Stigma Around Mental Health

Despite growing awareness, mental health issues still carry a stigma in many parts of the world. This stigma can prevent open discussions about well-being and hinder efforts to prioritise and address it. People may be reluctant to acknowledge or address their own well-being needs due to fear of judgment.

This is where media and influencers – in any form – can help to shift narratives and truly affect change. Rather than merely saving the conversation for ‘awareness days’ or trending topics, real change happens at ground level. By raising awareness in smaller communities, a ripple effect can occur that moves to affect the masses.

6. Short-Term Focus

Organisations and individuals often focus on short-term goals and immediate outcomes, such as meeting quarterly targets or daily tasks. This short-term focus can overshadow the long-term benefits of investing in well-being, which may take time to manifest.

Short-term focus also relates to milestones and external goals that we feel we need to achieve such as buying homes, extending families, travelling etc. However, with focus here, we lose sight of the bigger picture which includes how we contribute to the world for the generations after us.

This short-term thinking means that many can easily ignore the bigger changes that need to occur to help everyone thrive. It can also make you feel overwhelmed and pressurised to achieve things that in the grand scheme don’t matter as much as your longevity.

7. Lack of Policy and Infrastructure

There may be insufficient policies and infrastructure in place to support well-being initiatives. Without strong support from leadership and adequate resources, efforts to prioritise well-being can falter.

Policy is tied into priorities as a whole. If well-being doesn’t benefit the current socio-economic plan, then change will not occur.

I believe that at a granular level, if each person who is ready for a better experience of life can optimise their well-being, personal growth will spark global change through a ripple effect. This effect may not be experienced in our lifetime but the generations after us can continue the plight.

Changing the Narrative to Prioritise Well-being

To elevate the importance of well-being, it’s essential to do the following:

• Educate and Raise Awareness: Promote understanding of the comprehensive benefits of well-being for individuals and communities.
• Integrate Well-being into Metrics: Develop and use metrics that include well-being as a key indicator of success and progress.
• Encourage Cultural Shifts: Encourage cultural shifts that value balance, mental health and holistic well-being as much as economic markers of success.
• Support Policies and Initiatives: Advocate for policies and initiatives that prioritise well-being in workplaces, schools and communities.

Quotes from Ancient Wisdom on Well-being

I love a quote and am always inspired by the wisdom before us from those that have tried to make our world better for all. Here are some of the key quotes that have inspired my work:

“Be the change that you wish to see in the world” – Mahatma Gandhi

“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself” – Leo Tolstoy

“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” – Rumi

“Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.” Carl Jung

“We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.” – Dalai Lama

“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

The Benefits of Well-being as a Priority

Embracing well-being as a movement can profoundly change the world by contributing to healthier, happier and more connected communities.

When individuals prioritise their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health, they become more resilient, productive and compassionate. This collective shift can reduce societal issues such as burnout, mental health crises and social isolation.

By promoting well-being, we can create a ripple effect that enhances quality of life, strengthens relationships and builds more supportive and thriving communities, ultimately leading to a more harmonious and prosperous world.

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