In Love, Wellness, and Happiness, Dr. Bacchus presents a synthesis of positive psychology, wellness practices, and the practical applications of love. Starting with a foundation of understanding four Greek words for love (eros-love, storge-love, philia-love, and agape-love), this book leads the reader into a process of self-exploration. Self-examination leads to self-understanding, greater self-acceptance and self-management, with an outcome of higher self-actualization. This process is a life-long cycle for personal growth.
Personal growth is applicable to all humans regardless of the belief system. All humans (with few exceptions) naturally seek to love and be loved, to enjoy optimum health, and to feel happy and fulfilled in life. Love, Wellness and Happiness leads its readers through a review of constructs that explain how a person is a functional whole; how love on the physical, mental, psychosocial and spiritual levels leads to happiness; and how to use ten practices to promote high level wellness. Each of the wellness principles is associated, by analogy, with a principle for spiritual growth.
The Jungian concept of archetypes (symbols that embody a specific set of qualities) is used to challenge readers for personal growth in positive qualities. The archetypes used are the Warrior, Miracle-worker, Lover and Ruler. For believers in Christianity, and for authenticity with the author's beliefs and experiences, the archetypes are used to point to Christ. Love, wellness and happiness are focused towards life-long growth to "maturity in Christ" as the ultimate goal of wellness, the best way to love, and the greatest happiness for this life and beyond. The book emphasizes that for all humans, the science, psychology, and spirituality are the same. Believers in different religions can adapt common principles to serve their growth needs.
Love, Wellness and Happiness is packed with practical "Tips and Strategies (T&S)" for promoting personal growth as a whole person. T&S in the physiologic dimension include a test for proper hydration, eating like the longest-living humans on earth, optimizing sexuality, and preventing major chronic diseases. T&S in the mental dimension include stimulating creativity, use of mental imagery for stress management, and practicing mindfulness. T&S in the psychosocial dimension include building habits in savoring life, forgiving self and others, intentional kindness, and gratitude. T&S in the spiritual dimension include understanding and protecting the spiritual DNA, spiritual reproduction, and spiritual nutrition. Together, these T&S lead to effective stress management, regular self-examination, increased emotional health and wellness, overall personal growth, and, for Christians, growth to maturity in Christ. Agape love is held as the ideal to strive for.
Love, Wellness and Happiness is also packed with stories from the author's life experiences that illustrate the use of specific T&S, or give background to the birth of the ideas and concepts unique to this book. For example, after dealing with a stress-induced spastic colon syndrome for several years, he learned "The Relaxation Response," and was able to quit using prescribed medications. Also, he was able to overcome extreme hot-tempered impulsiveness that could have ruined his life-he came close to killing one brother. Overcoming negative traits and destructive tendencies is one major outcome of love in action.
