Commentary: Our personal tie-downs for weathering the storms of life Published Jan. 25, 2012 By Lt. Col. Chris Callaghan 71st Operations Support Squadron commander VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- With the continuous demands and stressors generated in our personal and professional lives, we need some things to give us stability. Some might call this stability "wellness." The term wellness is pretty broad and means different things to different people based on their experiences, position, responsibilities, family status, age and so forth. But there are some universal elements to wellness. I like the analogy of aircraft tie-downs that the Air Force chaplains have developed. Tie-downs are what secure an aircraft to the ramp during turbulent weather conditions. In that same way, there are five tie-downs which help keep us secure during turbulent times. The tie-downs are mental, physical, emotional, spiritual and social. Although some of our tie-downs may look like those of others, ultimately they must be adapted to who we are and what works for us. Mental -- Like the others, this element means different things to different people. I see the mental tie-down as our ability to maintain a healthy outlook on the things that trouble us. Remaining objective about our problems, looking at them from a different perspective or changing our attitude about them can be very effective means to keeping a healthy outlook. Ultimately, a positive mental outlook is more likely if we pursue solutions to problems. In other words, focus on finding some aspirin rather than on how bad the headache is. Physical -- Physiologists talk about nutrition, hydration, fitness and rest. Sounds like a pretty complete list. Finding the right combination of what we eat and drink, how we exercise and the quantity and quality of sleep we get pays huge health dividends and gives us the physical capacity to be at our best. If you go to the Fitness Center or track, you'll see folks doing a lot of different things. Some are prepping for their physical training test. Others are running, lifting weights or attending a Spinning or Zumba class. The point is these folks have found something to help them stay in shape and relieve stress. Find something that works for you, especially if your PT test is coming up soon! Emotional -- I think our emotional tie-down hinges on how we handle and express both the good and bad feelings that we all naturally have. This tie-down relates to our self-control and our response to things around us. Not taking ourselves too seriously is key to keeping our emotions in check. I think a good indicator of emotional wellness is being able to accept both positive and negative feedback as a means to improve ourselves. Spiritual -- Some people see spiritual as a religious element such as prayer, attending organized religious activities and the like. For those, Enid has more than 140 churches to help with spiritual pursuits. For others, the spiritual element can come from just having quiet time to think, or getting away from the office or out of the house for a while. Any of these can be all the spiritual experience some people need. Social -- Being with family and friends is important in both good and bad times. These are the people we tend to trust most, which is central to this tie-down. Family and friends are the first people we want around us to help celebrate an achievement or to cope with trouble. They're also good for us to be around during all those times in between. I think these five elements are interrelated. For example, a person who's physically fit generally has more energy to get through the day which allows them to tackle complex issues more clearly. Likewise, people with a strong social network are likely to find the emotional support they would need during difficult times. All of these tie-downs contribute to our wellness, and the good news is we have professionals right here at Vance Air Force Base with the expertise and resources to assist us. Examples include the personnel at the Health and Wellness Center, the Chapel, Family Advocacy, Airman & Family Readiness Center, Outdoor Recreation and the Vance Collocated Club. While helpful in dealing with tough times and stressors in life, these tie-downs also help us enjoy the good things. The bottom line is that ensuring these five elements are appropriately addressed in our lives is vital to helping us be better Airmen, to achieve personal and professional success and to help ensure our long-term well-being. Find what works for you and reinforce these tie-downs as part of your everyday routine.