While working with middle year students in Saudi Arabia, I once asked them: “WHAT IS HEALTH TO YOU?”
The answers varied: sleep, hygiene, exercise, drinking water, limiting screen time, positive thinking, etc. To be honest, I was satisfied with what I heard. But at the same time, I noticed what was missing—almost no one talked about social relationships, emotional control, and spiritual connection. These are areas that social networks hardly touch, and if they do, it is not enough (especially among teenagers) . Therefore, they simply “disappear” from the overall picture and talking about them becomes taboo.
What’s even more interesting is that when you start talking about Spirituality, for example, everyone immediately thinks that it’s something magical, otherworldly, and few people understand its true meaning. No wonder the internet is full of all kinds of information that is interpreted as what someone thinks, but not what is scientifically based, not theory, but practical research.
And this is where my mission lies: to help people understand that health is not just the physical body. It has several layers, and once you understand them, it becomes much clearer where you really need to work.
Below, I will list four dimensions that describe what Health is, that is, our core.
| PHYSICAL Physical health is the foundation for our daily energy. It includes sleep, rest, movement, nutrition, hydration, and how our body functions — digestion, hormones, breathing, immunity, and circulation. When these elements work well together, we feel stronger, more stable, and able to handle daily demands. | MENTAL Mental health is our ability to think clearly, focus, and handle information. It includes inner thinking patterns — overthinking, perfectionism, and anxious thoughts — as well as our mental energy: how quickly we tire and how easily we calm our mind. Though invisible, it strongly shapes our emotions, choices, and reactions. When this area is balanced, we feel more stable, clear, and grounded. |
| EMOTIONAL Emotional health is our ability to notice, understand, and manage what we feel. It shows up in how we respond to stress, handle discomfort, and return to balance after challenges. It also appears in relationships — expressing our needs, protecting boundaries, and not absorbing others’ emotions. When this area is strong, we adapt to change more easily and feel steadier within ourselves. | SPIRITUAL Spiritual health is what gives our life direction, meaning, and inner peace. It’s our values, intuition, and the feeling of connection — with ourselves, others, nature, or life as a whole. It shows up when we feel “on the right path” and aligned with our choices. When this area is strong, we experience more clarity, calm, and confidence, and challenges feel like growth, not obstacles. |
All four of these dimensions are interdependent. Without balancing them, we cannot function in a balanced way and will feel that something is missing. Now I invite you to try the practical exercise below.
PRACTICE
Think about how multidimensional health manifests itself in your life:
1. Fold a blank sheet of paper in half twice to form four quadrants.
Label each quadrant with one dimension of health: PHYSICAL, MENTAL, EMOTIONAL, AND SPIRITUAL.
2. In each quadrant, WRITE DOWN YOUR CURRENT PRACTICES (e.g., reading books, spending time with friends, music festivals, etc.) that help strengthen that area.
3. THEN answer these questions:
– Which dimensions of health do you currently nurture the most?
– Which dimensions of health would you like to explore or strengthen more?
– How can this awareness help you take a more holistic approach to your health?
A brief reflection helps you get to know yourself better — thank yourself for taking the time!
P.S. Share your answers on social media, tag me — your example can inspire others. Also suitable for teenagers.