THE WELLNESS WHEEL – Emotional Wellness – Guest blog post by Leslie McKenzie
Leslie McKenzie is the owner of Wellness Defined and an instructor at the Westend Seniors Activity Centre. With over 25 years in the fitness industry, Leslie has a long career in Edmonton and area, teaching yoga, fitness, meditation, Ayurveda, and other wellness classes. We are thrilled to share her blog post series on The Wellness Wheel
The theme for this week is to disconnect
As much as we can from technology, and instead connect inward with ourselves and outward with those around us. Herein lies our ability to create balance in so many areas of our lives. There is still time to join the personal development on-line classes – these classes and this community will help you gather the tools and support to find this connection and balance.
In today’s blog, we get the chance to meet, see, hear, understand and eventually embrace our ego-self. With this awareness to our personal connection wellness wheel we intentionally integrate the last two wellness wheel teachings and awareness’s to find freedom and our happiness.
We go inward to connect with ourselves and our ego AND we go outward to connect with friends, family and the rest of the world around us.
We unplug
In order to truly connect inward we need to first commit to disconnecting from technology. This means we “unplug” from our phones, TV’s, computers etc. and we get really cozy with ourselves. This week is all about feeling connected personally within and letting ourselves truly belong in the world around us – no matter where we are, who we are with or what is happening.
For many of us, our ego has spent a lifetime fitting in or doing all that is needed to feel like we belong or are in control. For others, our ego has rebelled against fitting in and has done all it can to convince us we don’t want or need to belong anywhere. Either way, our ego is acting out of fear and is ALWAYS sure it is protecting us.
Let’s begin with some questions that need to be answered honestly
There are a lot of questions here – they are to be answered at your own pace and over time – they are meant to equip us with some internal inquiry to converse with our ego-self and shine some light on our Soul. Be still, connect to your breath, let yourself feel the questions, and go deep – avoid answering the questions too quickly – the ego-self likes to “get it done”, the Soul likes to relish in the awareness, understanding, and clarity.
- What is the state of your personal life? Do you make time to connect with your feelings and emotions? Do you make time to connect with your desires, your passions, and your creativity?
- Do you have an open, healthy, and respectful personal connection with yourself, with both your ego (fears), and your Soul’s (heart) – Can you feel the difference?
- Do you allow yourself some alone time, just you? Do you enjoy being alone? Do you often seek the company of others to avoid being alone?
- How is your connection with others? Do you make time to connect with friends and family? Do you have close friends that you can count on in a pinch, and are you that close friend to others? Do you get along with others pretty well? Do you get along to keep the peace, fit in, belong, or please others? Do you feel like you belong somewhere, anywhere, or nowhere?
- Do you feel safe in your body? Do you care for your physical body with respect, acceptance, and love?
- Do you feel safe in your relationships and life? Do you feel loved? Can you express love freely? Do you like who you are? Do you know who you are? Do you feel most of the people in your life really “get you”?
- Are you overall pretty happy? Do you allow yourself to have fun, be fun, and enjoy life? Do you laugh a lot?
- Do you feel free to be who you are, in all environments (at work, with friends and family, out at social events,) or do you find you shift parts of your personality in order to fit in and belong within some of these environments? Can you adjust and adapt within any environment, without losing sight of your own values? Are you comfortable in your own skin?
- Do you agree that every person on this planet is equally worthy of love, respect, and acceptance? Or do you believe that one needs to earn it (making love conditional)? Do you judge others who do not see things the way you do? Are you confident speaking up for yourself or others, without worrying about being judged, criticized, or ridiculed?
- Do you feel like you are often being pulled in a million different directions? Do you often feel underappreciated and/or overwhelmed? Do you often feel as if there is not enough time?
We recently chatted with Leslie to review the above questions and dig a bit deeper into them.
Q: What’s the purpose of these questions?
A: These are powerful and sometimes uncomfortable questions meant to help us face our truths, our fears, our ego, and our Soul. They’re intended to move us away from distraction and into deeper self-awareness.
Q: Why do these questions feel so intense or triggering?
A: Because they invite us to get very real about our physical and human experience. They might stir up mental defenses (like the urge to explain or justify), or emotional responses like anger, anxiety, or even a desire to shut down.
Q: What’s the benefit of asking these questions?
A: They help us integrate the past two weeks of the wellness wheel work into our lives, and they prepare us for the next five wheels. Ultimately, they guide us toward balance, healing, and deeper self-connection.
Q: Can these questions really change how I live?
A: Yes. Over time, reflecting on these questions can help you live more freely and authentically—beyond ego and fear—with greater ease, fewer struggles, and more joy.
Q: How should I approach this process?
A: Print out the questions. Set the intention to reflect in stillness—maybe during a quiet walk or sitting peacefully. Take one question at a time. Be honest, vulnerable, and non-judgmental. Let yourself be seen, heard, and loved by you.
Q: What if I’m not ready to go deep?
A: That’s okay. Move through the questions at your own pace. Return to them when you’re ready. There’s no rush—just a gentle invitation to connect with your truest self.
WANT TO LEARN MORE?
Be curious, be gentle, and be loving. Show up for yourself and connect inward to understand the ego-self within
By showing up for ourselves, we intentionally bring our Soul to the forefront of this process
We can then show up for others on a deeper level
