What Health Means to You A Psychologist's Perspective on Wellbeing

The Changed — and Changing — Definition of Health

I was recently asked to write a column on health by The Bold Space. Like anyone writing about a topic that’s been covered in countless articles, I found myself asking: What can I say about health—especially mental health—that hasn’t already been said?

The answer, I realized, wasn’t to find something new — but to make it relatable. Because health isn’t some rigid, universal checklist, it’s deeply personal. What health means to you may be completely different from what it means to someone else. For some, health is as simple as not getting sick or being able to go to work without pain. For others, it’s about staying in shape, keeping their weight in check, going to the gym, doing yoga, or taking a daily walk. Some define it by mobility, not being bedridden or dependent. Others link it to longevity or independence in old age.

The common thread? Health is almost always seen through a physical lens — how your body feels, looks, or performs. But here’s the thing: those definitions have changed. Interestingly, as far back as 1948, the World Health Organisation (WHO) proposed a much broader definition of health. They stated:

“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

That was over 75 years ago — and yet, only recently have we truly begun to embrace this idea.

Because it’s one thing to not be sick — and another to genuinely feel well, you can have no physical illness and still feel broken inside. You can be jogging every day and still feel empty, anxious, disconnected. And that matters.

What makes this shift so important is that the signs of poor health aren’t always visible.

Stress can show up as:

• Stomach issues

• Fatigue

• Skin breakouts

• Muscle tension

• Sleeplessness

• Irritability

• Brain fog
  

These aren’t "in your head" — they’re very real, physical symptoms triggered by emotional strain. The body and mind are deeply connected. One affects the other constantly.

The Brain–Body Connection: It’s All Intertwined

We often think of the brain and body as separate — as if one can be struggling while the other carries on unaffected. However, the reality is that they’re in constant communication.

Stress doesn’t just stay in your head. It seeps into your muscles, your gut, your immune system. Your thoughts can influence your heartbeat. Your emotions can affect your appetite.

Anxiety can mimic illness. Sadness can drain your energy more than any workout ever could. And the opposite is true too — physical movement, nourishing food, sleep, and breathwork can lift your mood, clear your mind, and bring a sense of calm that no productivity hack ever will.

Learning this — truly understanding this — has shifted how I think about health in my own life.

What Health Means to Me?

For a long time, I thought being healthy meant having a flat stomach, a slim waist, waking up early, and not having body aches.

But some of the moments when I looked the healthiest on the outside were the moments I felt the most disconnected from myself. I was exhausted, mentally scattered, and constantly trying to keep up. Over time — slowly, and not without resistance — I started listening to my body more.

I noticed how mental burnout showed up as body aches. How emotional stress affected my skin, my sleep, and even my digestion. And how peace, presence, and joy made me feel light, even on days when I didn’t “tick all the boxes.”

Now, health to me means feeling aligned — physically, emotionally, mentally.

It means knowing when to push and when to pause. It means checking in with myself, not just checking things off a list. It means making space for rest, softness, and imperfection.

Health isn’t a destination. It’s a relationship — with your body, your mind, your environment, your needs.

What works for someone else might not work for you. What worked for you last year might not work now. And that’s not failure — that’s growth.

So if you're still figuring out what health means to you, you're not behind.

You're human.

And maybe that — learning to be gentle with yourself in a world that’s constantly pushing you to optimise — is one of the healthiest things you can do. Expert contribution by Ms. Sakshi Saini, Psychologist, dedicated to promoting emotional resilience in professional spaces.