Ecosystems are the natural systems that we depend upon to support our well-being. They provide sustenance in the form of food, clean water and protection from disease and natural hazards. Most importantly, ecosystems are environments that support living things’ freedom to flourish and thrive. The lyrics of Jill Scott’s song My Petition beautifully capture this convergence between natural and human systems and their potential impacts: I want fresh fruit, clean water — Air that I don’t see — I want the feeling of being safe on my streets — I want my children to be smarter than me — I want, I want to feel — I want to feel, I want to feel free. After all, who doesn’t want fresh fruit, clean water, air that they don’t see? These are basic needs that allow us as humans to maintain and nurture ourselves as a species. The ecosystems and human well-being framework states that well-being exists on a continuum and relies upon provisioning, regulating, cultural and supporting services. The pathways between our ecosystem and well-being are direct—as with clean water and air—and indirect, in that they can be comprised of complex social, economic and political webs.
The Main Dimensions of Well-being and its Obverse, Ill-being
All facets of our systems–natural and human–are interwoven, and our physical, mental, social and professional well-being is strongly linked to our complex and ever-changing ecosystem. Many factors contribute to a sense of well-being across cultures and socioeconomic gradients. A safe environment, access to resources to pursue a viable livelihood, health, an ability to express cultural and spiritual values, freedom and choice are essential in cultivating a sense of well-being. However, our society is only as well as each of its members, and this has been spotlighted over the past 16 months. COVID-19 has exposed existing systemic inequities and highlighted the fact that well-being practices are not freely available to all. According to the World Bank (2004), “Equity, a more equal distribution of well-being among people” or “equality in the capability (or freedom) of different individuals to pursue a life of their choosing”. through an equity lens, well-being can be seen as a form of resistance that encompasses a sensitivity to the cultural and personal needs of the individuals within the natural and human systems. We are now called upon to make choices differently than those we have made in the past. Taking the best of our understanding and moving towards a paradigm that cultivates ecosystems of well-being requires that we ensure that all who desire well-being are able to access it without compromising others.
At BETA Coaching and Consulting we endeavor to meet each person and each organization where they are and collaborate with them on their journey to be their best self, their well self. Let’s co-create possibilities!