Finding Wellness: Maneuver Space (Volume 1, Issue 12)

If you served in the military no matter what branch of service you were in, you learned at some point the importance of having space to maneuver. Whether you were maneuvering pairs of boots, a tank, a ship, or a fighter jet, having adequate physical space was essential to executing maneuver smoothly and safely. Likewise, when we encounter challenges in life, our minds need maneuver space to mentally negotiate difficult moments. This series will highlight each month a different brief cognitive tool that you can use in your daily life to potentially create more maneuver space.  Remember having maneuver space, or space to think, is a gift in life. Once you create it, use it to your advantage!

Finding Wellness

Readiness is an essential component of our nations Armed Forces. Joint Doctrine defines readiness as, “The ability of military forces to fight and meet the demands of assigned missions.”[1] However, military readiness is not just measured in how well a unit can perform its wartime mission, a significant part is also individual servicemember readiness. Individual readiness is made up of many things such as personnel, physical, health, family, and even spiritual readiness. Whether its increasing your physical fitness or ensuring you are ‘green’ for medical and dental, these key components of individual readiness allow service members to ultimately be fully deployable and ready for whatever missions their units may be assigned.

In the field of wellness there are a variety of focused models that like military readiness, focus on the individual. The U.S. Department of Veterans affairs in particular embraced over the past several years the Whole Health model, ‘An approach to health care that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health, well-being, and live their life to the fullest.” Just as the military sees unit readiness made up of individual servicemember readiness, the Whole Health model, “Is fueled by the power of knowing yourself and what will really work for you in your life. Only youhave these insights and this knowledge.”[2]

Circle of Health

Whole Health uses the Circle of Health graphic below to illustrate the relationships and connections that our health and wellness have to a variety of aspects in our life.[3]    

Me

You are at the center of this model in that you are the sole expert in your health. 

Mindful Awareness

This is about noticing what is happening when it happens in the moment. Paying attention in the present and being non-judgmental as you are aware of your thoughts and feelings.

Self-Care

In military terms, these are the ‘readiness’ indicators or metrics of our health.  There are a variety of these, none more important than another, and they all mutually support each other. When we notice we are lacking in one area of self-care, we may notice how it impacts another area and vice versa. 

Moving the Body– This is not just exercise and is more about any movement or physical activity that provides energy and flexibility. It can include activities like walking, dancing, gardening, sports, lifting weights, yoga, cycling, swimming, and working out in a gym.

Surroundings– This builds the physical and emotional feeling of safety by having comfortable and healthy spaces to live and work.  This can be about increasing spaces in our life that have sustaining lighting, color, air, and water. It can also be about decreasing unpleasant clutter, noises, and smells.

Personal Development– This is about finding a balance between work and personal life responsibilities. It can also mean learning and growing as an individual by developing one’s talents.

Food & Drink– Nourishing and fueling our body means eating healthy balanced meals. It also means drinking enough water and limiting sodas, sweetened drinks, and alcohol.

Recharge– This can mean being refreshed by getting plenty of sleep, rest, and relaxation.

Family, Friends & Co-workers– As humans we all thrive in life when we can connect with those who we love and care about. Feeling listened to and connected through quality communication with our family, friends, and people we work with helps sustain strong relationships.

Spirit & Soul– This can mean different things to different people, but it is mainly about connecting to something larger than yourself in order to have a sense of purpose and meaning in life. This can help us find strength in difficult times and grow.

Power of the Mind– Our bodies and minds are very closely connected. Relaxing and healing can best be done when we strengthen and listen to our minds. Our mood significantly impacts our health.

Prevention and Treatment

This is made up of both conventional and complementary medicine and care. Conventional care teams can consist of doctors, nurses, mental health providers, medicines, and other clinically focused care. Complimentary care can be things like acupuncture, therapy dogs, equine therapy, yoga, being outdoors in nature, or meditation.

Community

Finally, there is the larger community around us. This consists of more than just the places you live, work, and worship. It extends out to all the people, connections, and groups you interact with. Those that you rely on and those that rely on you.

[4]

Whole Health = Individual Readiness

In the military, achieving a high level of readiness is an important component of daily life. However, the ability of a unit to achieve its wartime mission can only be built first with individual readiness. As we have seen, personal wellness models like Whole Health can provide the readiness architecture and mental maneuver space for servicemembers and Veterans to find balance in life and thrive. Whole Health ultimately centers around what matters to you, not what is the matter with you.[5]

About the Author: Mr. Bongioanni is a licensed mental health counselor who also works for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. He is also a senior leader in the U.S. Army Reserve. His professional interests include human behavior, applied psychology, and military cultural competence. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.

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[1] Joint Publication 1, Doctrine for the Armed Forces of the United States, GL-10, 2017.

[2] U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Office of Patient Care and Cultural Transformation. Whole Health: It Starts With Me, 2020.

[3] U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Circle of Health Overview, https://www.va.gov/WHOLEHEALTH/circle-of-health/index.asp, Accessed 19 January 2024.

[4] U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Office of Patient Care and Cultural Transformation. Taking Charge of My Life and Health Participant Workbook, 1-5, 2021.

[5] U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, What is Whole Health, https://www.va.gov/wholehealth/, Accessed 19 January 2024.

Check out past issues of Maneuver Space below:

Maneuver Space: Volume 1, Issue 1

Maneuver Space: Volume 1, Issue 2

Maneuver Space: Volume 1, Issue 3

Maneuver Space: Volume 1, Issue 4

Maneuver Space: Volume 1, Issue 5

Maneuver Space: Volume 1, Issue 6

Maneuver Space: Volume 1, Issue 7

Needs vs. Wants: Maneuver Space (Volume 1, Issue 8)

Marksmanship and Mindfulness: Maneuver Space (Volume 1, Issue 9)

Applying Counterinsurgency Tactics to Problem Solving: Maneuver Space (Volume 1, Issue 10)

Finding Your New Unit: Maneuver Space (Volume 1 Issue 11)

As the Voice of the Veteran Community, The Havok Journal seeks to publish a variety of perspectives on a number of sensitive subjects. Unless specifically noted otherwise, nothing we publish is an official point of view of The Havok Journal or any part of the U.S. government.