wellness

WELLTH: Redefining Value In Our Lives. {sponsored book review}

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I was talking with a friend not long ago about a hefty thought experiment; we were discussing the plausibility of redefining wealth within a capitalistic society.

Is it possible, we wondered, to change the meaning of wealth into something which has no basis in monetary principles?

What would we use as currency in a society without money? What would we value? What would we work for, and how would we meet our needs? Even more curious, in a post-capitalistic society, how would we measure wealth, if money were no longer a driving factor?

It was an entertaining and enlightening discussion, and led me to reassess my own personal wealth, both financial and otherwise.

Just a few days later, in one of those twists of fate that actually seem more routine than exceptional, I was presented with the opportunity to read a copy of Jason Wachob’s new book entitled WELLTH.

It was quite an affirmation to learn that Wachob, Founder and CEO of mindbodygreen.com, was also seeking to redefine our concept of wealth.

It’s no mystery that the world needs more successful leaders and entrepreneurs who are willing to challenge the status quo. We are desperately lacking role models who are willing to forsake their fortunes in exchange for an honest set of values that the rest of us can relate to. Could Wachob be that guy?

Could one man, with influence over millions of readers each month, really be calling for a more sustainable idea of worth in the world?

I was a bit skeptical. What could this successful businessman, with more ways and means than I could hope for, possibly know that could lead me to richness? I’ve always considered myself blessed, but traditional wealth is something I’ve never possessed.

In fact, as a widowed mother of three, I struggle to merely stay sane and afloat most days, relegating wealth attainment to those who are interested in climbing corporate ladders and building businesses from the ground up.

I’m happy to hold the ladder and offer my services, but I don’t subscribe to the same ideas of success as some of my counterparts.

Regardless of my bias, I was intrigued from the outset, and happily dove into reading. As soon as I finished the first chapter, I breathed out a heavy sigh of relief and let my inner cynic relax. I could tell from the start that WELLTH would bring benefit.

Through an honest accounting of his life, his choices and the numerous lessons he has learned, Wachob introduced his concept of WELLTH with an earthiness and simplicity that was refreshing. This was not some flowery show-and-tell session of positivity, sparkles and sunshine.

Instead, it’s an accounting of one man’s efforts to achieve holistic happiness along with an easily read roadmap for the reader to follow in similar fashion.

As a busy woman, who has to sneak in self-care wherever I can, I value realism when it comes to wellness. In WELLTH, I was not admonished to incorporate hourlong workout routines or eight-mile runs into my life. There were no expensive juicing recipes that would require me to special-order fruits from out of state.

Nor were there any long-winded metaphysical explanations about how adopting a certain type of spiritual practice would bring real and lasting happiness to my life.

Thankfully, Wachob presents a well-written personal account of what realistic wealth, when redefined as WELLTH, looks like.

Wealth

noun | \welth\ Derived from the Middle English welthe: meaning well being and happiness

a large amount of money and possessions

Wellth

noun | \welth\ A new and more valuable life currency

a life exemplified by abundance, happiness, purpose, health and joy

 

The essence of Wachob’s book WELLTH is simple and easy to digest, and offers a glimpse of what we might all experience, were we to redefine our life’s currency.

WELLTH is a story of finding the beauty in the mundane, sticking to one’s goals, and adhering to the basic principles and values that result in well-being. Wachob recounts personal stories of success and failure, love and loss, missteps and moments of grace that allowed me to connect with him on a human level.

As a busy working mother, I can relate to simple steps toward success that can be achieved in five minutes or less. That’s why I found myself both digesting and reflecting upon WELLTH with a sense of peace and satisfaction.

WELLTH is a reminder of how simple realizing abundance can be when one is willing to define wealth as a whole mind-body-spirit attainment. Even more satisfying were the feelings that resulted from reading about the small deposits we can put into our wellness accounts each day. These small steps compound.

Gratitude and perseverance gain interest, and multiply faster than any other kind of future investment. Each chapter built upon the previous one to exemplify the principles of lasting happiness — those riches we all possess that encompass much more than bank accounts and retirement plans.

I kept thinking as I read, “I have every thing I need in life. Period.”

There are few books I’ve read, especially those touting any sort of self-help or success-making claims, that have left me with such a sense of easy peace and optimism. It was like finding the map I had inadvertently tucked into my back pocket just as the streets became unfamiliar.

WELLTH outlines all of the valuable gifts and attributes we already possess, and Wachob uses his personal stories to serve as reminders to simply start cashing in on them.

Each chapter outlines an asset. Whether related to mind, body, relationships or career, the asset management tools are simplistic in nature. So simple, in fact, one could take them purely at face value, using them as a daily guide for how to live and reap reward.

 

Breathe? Check. I will breathe and be mindful of each breath.

Move? Check. I will move my body in ways that benefit it.

Ground? Check. I will ground myself firmly.

Explore? Heal? Love? Feel?

Check. Check. Check.

Every day.

 

More than anything, WELLTH is a reminder of the basic principles that already bring value to our lives. Meaningful work, laughter and connection… these are the basic platforms upon which success is built. Eating right, giving and receiving love, moving our bodies… these are the keys to healthy living.

Giving thanks, being in nature, and believing in something larger than ourselves… these are sustenance for a soaring spirit.

WELLTH, the redefined notion of wealth, is different from having a surplus of money and possessions. We all know that those things don’t make us happy or healthy anyhow. And unlike wealth, WELLTH is readily attainable for each one of us.

Even cash-strapped stressed-out single mothers can attain WELLTH, despite the conditions of our society. My coffers are already overflowing, and if I choose to use a well-backed value set like that outlined in Wachob’s book, I may find even more riches to come.

Wachob’s book, unlike my thought experiment, requires no alteration of society. He already redefined wealth to encompass abundance in ways that exceed material possessions. Becoming WELLTH-y simply requires that we tune in to what we are already blessed with, and capitalize on those blessings.

The ways in which we choose to move though the world, combined with mindfulness and intention, can bring us an abundance of riches if we are wise enough to just realize and take hold of them.

 

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more.

It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity.

It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.”

~ Melody Beattie, The Language of Letting Go

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

In his first book, WELLTH: How I Learned to Build a Life, Not a Résumé, mindbodygreen.com founder Jason Wachob redefines successful living and offers readers a new life currency to build on, one that is steeped in well-being — WELLTH.

 

“Many of us aren’t satisfied with just trying to accumulate the most money and toys. The good life is no longer just about the material — instead, it can be found in a lifestyle that is devoted to mental, physical, and emotional health.

A WELLTH-y existence is one in which happiness is attainable, health is paramount, and daily living is about abundance. It’s a life in which work is purposeful; friendships are deep and plentiful; and there’s a daily sense of richness or overflowing joy.

But since there’s no one-size-fits-all definition for a WELLTH-y existence, I hope this book will serve as a guide to help you embark on your own personal journey that is both unique and meaningful.”

 

Eat. Move. Work. Believe. Explore. Breathe. Connect. Love. Heal. Thank. Ground. Live. Laugh.

 

These are the building blocks of WELLTH. In this blend of memoir and prescriptive advice, Jason Wachob shows us all how to enjoy truly WELLTH-y lives — lives that are deeply rich in every conceivable way.

Through his experience and personal story, as well as in exclusive material from popular expert contributors (including Dr. Frank Lipman, Dr. Lissa Rankin, Joe Cross, Charlie Knoles, Kathryn Budig, Dr. Aviva Romm, and Dr. Sue Johnson), we learn how we, too, can embrace this new movement, while exploring what we can do to make frequent deposits into our own WELLTH accounts.

What’s your life worth to you? Come and explore it.

WELLTH

 

PRAISE FOR WELLTH

“Health begins with what’s on your plate. But ‘wellness’ is alchemy — an elusive and delicate ballet of body, mind, and spirit ever striving for perfect harmony.  Deftly leveraging the wisdom and experience of the world’s greatest wellness experts, WELLTH is a brilliantly composed, highly engaging memoir and easy-to-digest primer on exactly how you, too, can be healthy and happy, live your best life, and thrive. A must-read!”

~ Rich Roll, wellness advocate and bestselling author of Finding Ultra and The Plantpower Way

 

“I love Jason’s work, and his first book is a personal, smart, and informative read. WELLTH shares his deep wisdom and helps you enjoy a more exciting, energized, healthy, and ultimately well-lived life.”

~ Dan Buettner, National Geographic Fellow and New York Times bestselling author of The Blue Zones Solution

 

“WELLTH is a folksy distillation of what we need to know about living a rich and fulfilling life. Written in a humble, trustworthy voice, complex and often contradictory knowledge is made accessible and clear.”

~ Fred Luskin, Ph.D., director of the Stanford Forgiveness Project

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jason Wachob is the Founder and CEO of mindbodygreen, the leading independent media brand dedicated to health and happiness, with 15 million monthly unique visitors. He has been featured in the New York Times, Entrepreneur, Fast Company, and Vogue. Jason has a BA in history from Columbia University, where he played varsity basketball for four years. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife, and loves German shepherds, Chuck Taylors, and guacamole.

 

LEARN MORE

Visit mindbodygreen.com for more info.

Follow @JasonWachob and @MindBodyGreen on Twitter

#WELLTH

 

If you’d like to enter for a chance to win your own copy of WELLTH: How I Learned to Build a Life, Not a Resume by Jason Wachob, leave your comments below. One (1) winner will receive a copy of Wellth.

Giveaway open to US addresses only. Prizing and samples provided by Harmony Books.

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SR Atchley

SR Atchley

A writer, artist & dreamer, Shanna has been potentiating talent since childhood. She is moved by nature, the arts, and academia, along with the vast mysteries of our inner and outer worlds. Shanna has a BSN, and has spent the majority of her career caring for others. It is possible to share your dreams & talents with Shanna by emailing her, or connecting via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If all else fails, she’ll likely find you in a dream, in which case, please feel free to introduce yourself.
SR Atchley
SR Atchley