Wellness is a term that includes both physical and mental wellbeing. Most people, when they hear the word wellness, think in terms of physical fitness and eating a healthy diet. But wellness in the modern age is all about a holistic approach to the mind and the body and understanding that both these aspects of human life are fundamental to its existence. Typically, wellness has seven dimensions to it. These are physical, emotional, intellectual, social, spiritual, environmental, and occupational. As part of the keep calm wellness practice, at ZenOnco, we like to focus on spiritual and emotional wellness more than anything else. This is because they are both vital to keep your spirits high when going through an ordeal like cancer.

Many mental illnesses are characterized by a person’s inability to feel or express ordinary human emotions. Emotional wellness, therefore, refers to one’s ability to properly feel and express human emotions such as happiness, sadness, and anger. It also comprises the capacity to feel, express, and share love with oneself and others, and feel a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment in one’s life. A person who is emotionally well will have a sense of self-acceptance, self-love, optimism, and self-esteem.

Spiritual wellness is about having certain beliefs, principles, and values that can guide and help find direction in a person’s life. A spiritually well person will have a ton of faith, hope, and devotion in their beliefs, be it based on their religion or otherwise, that provide a sense of meaning and purpose in their life. It also encompasses the ability to find meaning and purpose in life, to question what is obvious, and to appreciate the things in life that do not have an explanation. Spiritual wellness is all about accepting what cannot be changed and finding that perfect balance between the inner workings of the soul and the powerful forces of the material world.

One research paper suggested that patients with Lung Cancer with more spiritual inclinations and emotional wellness had a higher sense of overall psychological wellness, and they also seemed to show lower distress from their symptoms. Another study showed that having a sense of purpose or meaning in life (found through prayer and spirituality) helped with the physical and psychological well-being of Breast Cancer survivors. Thus, there is evidence to show that emotional and spiritual wellness should be essential components in cancer treatments. However, such an approach is much lacking in typical cancer centers and hospitals in India. This is what drives ZenOnco.io to do what we do with passion and zeal.

ZenOnco.io can help cancer patients to achieve emotional and spiritual wellness with specially designed and personalized programs. We can help patients build up their emotional wellness through therapy and programs that provide support and teach patients to tune in to their thoughts and feelings, develop an optimistic outlook, learn techniques to manage stress, and above all, find acceptance and forgiveness for themself. We can also help patients in their journey to achieving spiritual wellness by teaching them meditation techniques, enhancing their curiosity, teaching them to find an opportunity to grow in challenges, and helping them see the greater picture and meaning of life.