The Re-Generation of Wellbeing

I often speak about regenerative wellbeing and I would like to clarify what it means. We are now moving towards a new paradigm that embraces holistic perspectives. Integrative doctors understand that the body is a sum of interconnected parts that influence and affect one another. We are not only focusing on individual mechanisms but also on the relationships between things. As a yoga teacher, I have found that most injuries or restrictions are rarely caused at the site of the problem but rather by the chain of compensation caused by something else, often far away from it. The same applies to people within their environments. 

This is also the essence of living systems, which is where my passion for ancient and indigenous wisdom comes from. 

Living systems refer to life forms, which are commonly known as living things. These systems are treated as a whole and are believed to be self-organizing, open, and interactive with their surroundings. The maintenance of these systems depends on the flow of energy, matter, and information. Numerous theories have been proposed to explain the functioning of these living systems.

Regenerative is defined as relating to the improvement of a place or system, especially by making it more active or successful, or by making a person feel happier and more positive. In essence, it is "life-affirming". 

Well-being is a reiteration of the above. Wellness should no longer be offered in isolation. Wellness is not just about spas, and sustainability is not separate from wellness. True well-being is a whole ecosystem that is life-affirming, and life-affirming means leaving things better than how you found them. 

If you want a thriving, life-affirming, and sustainable business, you should look at integrating regenerative wellness into your establishment or business. 

reluctance within corporate structures to modify policies and invest in sustainable products due to the initial cost factor. However, if a business aims to become sustainable in the long term, it must keep adapting to changing conditions. A truly regenerative and life-affirming business has the potential to generate significant financial profits. In fact, this year, The World Economic Forum published an article stating that companies that focus on active regeneration, instead of reactive resilience, enjoy higher profitability and growth. The numbers are clear on this.

Through the practice of biomimicry, we see this within super-organisms like termites, bees and ants in nature. One of my favourite biomimics, Dr. Tamsin Woolley-Barker, teaches in her book Teeming, that all of these self-organising communities can show us how to create infinite wealth with infinite resources. In their case, carbon and sunlight, in humanity's case, human potential, collective intelligence and diversity. The truth is, your original clientele is likely an ageing generation, with younger generations with different values coming online as consumers in the global marketplace every day and one of the biggest drivers in thriving communities like the super-organisms I mentioned before, is legacy; they are building for the future. Also, the planet we are living on cannot sustain itself with the current measure of extraction. Here are some tips if you want to start positioning yourself in a thriving, life-affirming way. 

Start from the inside out. 

PURPOSE & PRODUCT 

• What is the greater purpose you want to serve? 

• How can your business become a force for good? 

YOUR PEOPLE

Your employees create the soil that will create the conditions conducive to life. If you give your employees what they value the most (time, sovereignty, money, etc.), they will give it back to you at the very least, in equal measure. Employees don't leave jobs, they leave unhappy environments and toxic work cultures. 

• Are your employees thriving? 

• Are they feeling fulfilled with a sense of purpose in their work? 

• Are they self-organizing and empowered? 

• Are they growing? 

• Do they feel appreciated? 

• Are they paid accordingly? 

• Do they have a healthy work/life balance? 

• Are their boundaries respected? 

• Are you paying women and men in the same roles the same? 

• Are you honouring the seasons and cycles in their lives? 

• Are you allowing more flexibility and sovereignty? 

YOUR CLIENTS & GUESTS

• Are you providing a valuable product that enhances your clients' well-being? 

• Are your product offerings planting seeds to inspire others to use their business as a force for good? 

• Are you providing an environment that is conducive to thrivability? 

YOUR ENVIRONMENT

Your land and sense of place should be honoured. 

• How are you contributing to the replenishment of the environment from which you rely? 

• How are you giving in equal measure to what you are extracting? 

• Are you measuring your sustainability initiatives? 

• Do you have a sustainability vision with goals?

• What are you doing toward conservation? 

YOUR COMMUNITY

• Are you using local resources? 

• Are you procuring natural, sustainable, and local products? 

• Are you supporting community initiatives? 

• Are you supporting local businesses? 
  

These are just some fundamental ideas that can be easily woven into your organisation. If you need additional motivation to start exploring what this could mean for you, earthly.org, a regenerative consultancy published these top benefits in a recent article:

1. Environmental stewardship.

2. Social Impact.

3. Economic resilience.

4. Brand reputation and customer loyalty.

5. Regulatory compliance and risk mitigation.

6. Employee engagement and productivity.

7. Ecosystem health.

Are you ready to start utilising your organisation as a force for food? It all begins with you. Email me at romy@wellnessweaver.co