The wellbeing flower

What is our wellbeing made of? Meet the wellbeing flower.

When we talk about happiness, health, or harmony, we often focus on one thing, such as money or physical condition. Wellbeing is a wider living system, and every part of it matters.

The Psychosocial Reference Centre of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) adapted the “wellbeing flower” metaphor from the model of Williamson and Robinson, 2006. It shows that a person “blooms” only when every area of life is nourished.

The petals are areas of the inner and outer world:

Biological: physical health, sleep, food, and how the body feels.
Cognitive: thoughts, the ability to learn, to think critically, and to concentrate.
Social: relationships with people close to us, friends, and colleagues, and a sense of belonging.
Spiritual: values, faith, direction in life, and the search for meaning.
Emotional: understanding one’s feelings, coping with stress, and feeling joy.
Cultural: identity, traditions, roots, and art.
Material: financial stability and access to basic things — food, housing, and clothes.

The leaves are the base for growth. The flower will not hold without a strong stem and leaves:

Safety: a sense of protection from physical and psychological threats. Without safety it is extremely hard to sustain the other areas.
Participation: the chance to influence one’s own life, to make decisions, and to be an active member of society.
Development: room for personal growth, new skills, and moving forward.

Look at this flower. Which petals are blooming now and giving you strength? Which ones may have wilted a little and need care? Looking after yourself is not selfishness. It is filling every petal with energy, so you have the strength to shine for others.