Curated by Renee Moorefield, CEO of Wisdom Works Group
and member of the Advisory Board for the Global Wellness Institute

Rich’s family had very little. They were poor, even homeless at times, and their access to healthcare was lacking. Yet, there was an abundance of love and affection in his Hispanic household, and his mother was a beacon of hope. She taught herself to speak five languages and, at the time of her death, was teaching herself Japanese. She told Rich the most important thing she owned was a library card because it connected her knowledge and cultures all over the world. She taught him to channel the injustices, prejudices, and other hardships in his life into a passion to contribute to a healthier, more equitable, and peaceful world. And to all our benefit, she nurtured the Global Wellness Institute’s colleague and friend, Dr. Richard Carmona, 17th Surgeon General of the USA and steward of The Wellness Moonshot: A World Free of Preventable Disease.

What can we learn from Dr. Carmona and his mother about bringing acceptance into our wellness leadership?

• We can accept that we need to grow. There is always new information to incorporate into our perspectives, such as new technologies for transforming our mental health or new insights for solving our global health inequities. Our capacity to learn helps us be adaptable as wellness leaders, rather than locked into narrow biases.
• We can accept the shared humanity of all people. At the end of the day, people around the world generally want the same things—a healthy family, good friends, safety and security, and meaning in life. Wellbeing is a human right—and a human drive. Embracing this idea as our foundation will lead us to create more inclusive and impactful wellness approaches.
• We can accept we are worthy of respect. Dr. Carmona’s mother had a talent for accepting her realities yet not be defined by them, holding herself with dignity no matter her circumstances. When we embody this stance from the inside out, we are more apt to lead wellness with generativity, openness, and wisdom.

CARMONA HAS A POWERFUL STORY TO SHARE. DO YOU?

This year, The Wellness Moonshot: A World Free of Preventable Disease initiative is doubling its reach to advance #WellnessForAll. Do you have a #WellnessMoonshot story you want us to feature? Check out the monthly wellness themes for 2022 and let Kendra Kobler ([email protected]) know how you are bringing one of these themes to life in your region of the world. And remember to invite your wellness colleagues to our Wellness Moonshot celebration on February 18! 

Next month, we’ll touch on what the topic REFLECT means to leading wellness. Until then, check out each of these Wellness Moonshot articles from past years with science insights and strategies to support you on your wellness leadership journey.

RESOURCES TO EMPOWER YOUR WELLNESS LEADERSHIP

• Learn more about Rich Carmona’s perspective on why The Wellness Moonshot: A World Free of Preventable Disease is so needed today
• Check out the GWI’s Africa Initiative, Beyond GDP, World Happiness & Wellbeing Initiative, Clean Water Initiative, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Initiative, Mental Wellness Initiative, Supporting UN’s Sustainable Development Goals Initiative, Workplace Wellbeing Initiative, and Women in Leadership Initiative.
• Donate to the new Susie Ellis Scholarship for Diversity in Wellness
• Participate in The Doctor is INclusive webinar series.
• Bring the pioneering Children’s Moonshot to schools in your region.
• Use insights from GWI’s Resetting the World with Wellness white paper series, produced in collaboration with the Vatican.
• Learn about The Wellness Moonshot activities in China, Israel, and India.
• Customize The Wellness Moonshot branding assets and educational materials to meet the needs and aspirations of your company, community, or country. Contact Kendra Kobler ([email protected]) for more information.

Save the Date