The Four Walls of Wellbeing
Te Whare Tapa Whā – Hauora
This morning, as I sat down to think about this, a tiny green cricket appeared on the leaf of a plant I have on my desk. It was small, gently swaying, slowly preparing to jump.
It felt like a tohu a reminder that wellbeing and abundance often begin in small, almost invisible movements. One tiny movement, one quiet choice, one leaf, one jump. Master Boon refers to Lao Tzu’s quote “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
In te ao Māori, hauora (wellbeing) is often described through Te Whare Tapa Whā the four walls of a whare or house. If one wall is weak or neglected, the whole whare feels it. When each wall is tended to, we feel more grounded and plenished.
I’m offering a simple way to look at your own whare using four walls:
Taha Wairua: Spiritual / Soul wellbeing
Taha Tinana: Physical / Body wellbeing
Taha Hinengaro: Mind / Emotions wellbeing
Taha Whānau: Family / Relationships wellbeing
And then a gentle self-check using a Wheel of Life style reflection so you can see where you are now, and what might need care.
Each category is invitational, choose the ones that feel aligned for your life and your vision.
Taha Wairua | Spirit & Meaning
Taha wairua is your spiritual dimension. It’s the unseen, the felt, the part of you that knows there is more to life than productivity and outcomes.
In everyday life, this might include:
Spiritual practices (karakia, prayer, meditation, ritual)
Time in nature / land connection
Moments of contemplation and stillness
Noticing tohu (signs) and trusting your intuition
Journaling for reflection and self-enquiry
Creative ventures that feel like “soul work”
Gratitude practices
Reading or study that nourishes your inner world
This is your sense of meaning, connection, and inner guidance. It is how you stay in touch with what feels true and sacred to you.
Taha Tinana | Body & Daily Rhythm
Taha tinana is your physical body and the rhythms that support it. The way you care for your vessel shapes how you can show up for your vision.
This might include:
Nourishing your body with food that supports you
Movement and exercise (walking, stretching, dancing, gym, sport)
Rest and sleep
Hydration and daily routines
Medical/health care and check-ups
Gardening and placing your hands in the earth
Home environment that feels safe and calm
Time away from screens / digital boundaries
This is your physical health and the way you live in your body day to day. It’s the energy, strength, and steadiness that holds everything else.
Taha Hinengaro | Mind, Feelings & Inner Dialogue
Taha hinengaro is your mental and emotional world, which includes your thoughts, feelings, stories, and the way you speak to yourself.
This might include:
Journaling as a way of processing thoughts and feelings
Emotional regulation and self soothing
Therapy, coaching, or guided support
Language learning and mentally stimulating activities
Planning and organising your life and work
Money mindset and your relationship to earning/spending
Creative thinking, problem solving, ideation
Setting boundaries to protect your mental space
This is the quality of your inner world involving how you think, how you feel, and how you relate to your own mind and emotions.
Taha Whānau | Relationships, Care & Belonging
Taha whānau is your relational world. The people you share your life with, and the communities you are part of.
This might include:
Looking after your children / caregiving responsibilities
Having fun and joy with your children
Partner or significant relationships
Close friendships and chosen whānau
Wider community connections (neighbours, community groups, online communities)
Work relationships, colleagues, collaborators
Mentors and people who support your growth
How you give and receive support
This is your sense of connection and belonging. It is the web of relationships that holds you, and the way you show up in those spaces.
A Four-Walled “Wheel of Life”
Instead of the usual many slice wheel, we will use the four walls of Te Whare Tapa Whā as a simple reflection tool.
Step 1. Draw Your Whare
On a blank page, draw a square or a simple house shape.
Label each wall:
Taha Wairua
Taha Tinana
Taha Hinengaro
Taha Whānau
Under each, write 3–6 categories that feel most relevant to you from the lists above (or your own). For example:
Under Taha Tinana: sleep, movement, nourishment
Under Taha Hinengaro: journaling, planning, money mindset
Under Taha Whānau: partner relationship, kids, close friends
Under Taha Wairua: spiritual practice, nature time, creative expression
Step 2. Self-Rate Each Wall
For each taha, give yourself a score out of 10:
10 = This feels aligned and alive. Not perfect, but exactly where I want it to be in this season.
1 = This needs urgent attention. It doesn’t feel good, and I’m longing for change here.
Trust your first instinct.
You can write it like this:
Taha Wairua: 6/10
Taha Tinana: 4/10
Taha Hinengaro: 7/10
Taha Whānau: 8/10
Step 3. Gently Notice
Ask yourself:
Which wall feels strongest right now?
Which wall feels most neglected or fragile?
How does this match how I’ve been feeling lately?
No judgement. Just noticing.
Step 4. Choose One Small Shift
Pick one taha that is calling for attention.
Then ask:
“What is one small, kind action I could take this week to support this wall of my whare?”
For example:
Taha Wairua: 10 minutes of quiet each morning before my phone.
Taha Tinana: one nourishing meal planned ahead of time.
Taha Hinengaro: 15 minutes of journaling before bed.
Taha Whānau: one unrushed catch up with a friend or playtime with my children.
Keep it small, doable, and real.
Notes
Life moves. Seasons shift. Some walls will feel strong while others need aroha and repair. Your whare is alive within you.
This Field Note is an invitation to pause, to look at your life through a hauora or holistic wellbeing lens, and to honour where you are.
Like the tiny green cricket on the prosperity plant. One small move, one strengthened wall, can change the way your whole house feels.
