How does your well-being impact others?

As part of the "Find balance" campaign, we devote significant attention to topics related to well-being – taking care of well-being, managing emotions, and preventing burnout. These are key issues not only for our personal development but also for the quality of the relationships we build in the academic environment.

However, it's worth asking:

Does striving solely for individual happiness actually bring us lasting satisfaction?

Can a sense of well-being be more meaningful if it transcends the personal sphere and also encompasses others?

Two Perspectives on Well-Being

The Western approach to life – especially in cultures with a high level of economic development – ​​often emphasizes individual success and personal achievement. However, as research shows (Mauss, Tamir, Anderson, & Savino, 2011), excessive focus on one's own happiness can lead to frustration, disappointment, and, paradoxically, a lower level of happiness. When we over-analyze whether we are happy enough, we easily lose sight of what we already have. In many Asian cultures, however, greater emphasis is placed on harmony, spirituality, and interdependence. Research by Dr. Oscar Kjell and his team (2012) indicates that it is important to distinguish between life harmony and life satisfaction – although both concepts refer to well-being and express different dimensions of it.

Harmony and Satisfaction – Two Dimensions of Well-Being

Harmony is balance, flexibility, and an awareness of interdependence – the feeling that we are part of a larger whole. It promotes openness, acceptance, and the building of close, supportive relationships.

Satisfaction refers more to the achievement of personal goals, independence, and agency – it provides a sense of control and achievement.

Both these approaches are valuable, but they impact our functioning in different ways. Harmony builds relationships and community, while satisfaction enhances individual development. The balance between them can create a more comprehensive, holistic well-being that encompasses both ourselves and our surroundings.

Well-being in the Academic Environment

When we care for our own well-being, we gain greater space to notice the needs of others – students, colleagues, and the entire university community. In this way, individual concern translates into the common good.

In the teaching context, it's worth remembering that the following are key to well-being in the teaching process:

inclusion,

a sense of belonging,

opportunities for development,

access to support.

Incorporating these elements into academic practice fosters an atmosphere of safety, trust, and motivation to learn.

How can you support well-being in practice?

At the individual level:

Consider which teaching methods support student engagement and a sense of purpose. Do they provide them with space to express their opinions, make mistakes, and learn from them?

At the planning level:

It's important to organize the material and work time so that students can understand and reflect, and instructors can maintain a balance between the demands and the actual capabilities of the group.

At the communication level:

Do students know the course goals and what is expected of them? Clarity and transparency build a sense of security and empowerment – ​​the foundations of individual well-being.

At the level of teaching materials:

Ensure that materials are accessible, of good quality, and appropriate for the group's level. Knowing what students are using strengthens the learning process and reduces stress.

Well-being as a shared experience

Such reflections may seem like small things, but in practice they make a huge difference. A student who knows what is expected of them feels more confident, and a teacher who sees the group's engagement feels more satisfied with their work. Mutual respect, dialogue, and openness foster the well-being of the entire university community.

Individual well-being and communal harmony are not opposites – they reinforce each other. When we take care of ourselves, we are more willing to take care of others. When we care for the community, it is easier for us to find our own meaning and satisfaction.

In conclusion,

Each of us influences the emotional climate of the place where we work and learn. It's worth asking yourself:

What can I do to ensure both my own satisfaction and harmony in the community of which I am a part?

Because when the community grows, each of us grows too.

Sources:

https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/sustainable-wellbeing-in-teaching

https://www.aalto.fi/en/news/teaching-community-and-pedagogical-reflection-support-and-training-are-vital-for-teachers-wellbeing

https://swps.pl/nauka-i-badania/nasze-dzialania/badania-i-wdrozenia/36949-podrecznik-o-dobrym-zyciu-proste-cwiczenia-wzmacniajace-dobrostan-w-szkole