EBRU ŞİNİK’S LIFE MOTTO
Be Well First, Then Let Happiness Find Its Place
Ebru Şinik
Wellbeing Coach, Ayurveda Instructor, Holistic Health Author & Chairwoman of the Wellbeing Association
Modern life constantly encourages us to pursue more: more success, more comfort, more visibility and more security…
At the end of all this effort, the goal we are expected to reach is often the same: happiness.
But is happiness truly something to be searched for outside ourselves and eventually attained? Or is it a state of wellbeing that naturally develops within us when we create a healthier balance between our body, mind and daily life?
What Does “Be Well, Be Happy” Mean?
“Be Well, Be Happy,” a phrase Ebru Şinik has used for many years, is more than a positive wish.
In two short statements, it expresses the shared perspective of wellbeing, Ayurveda, mind-body balance and lifestyle science:
First, support your wellbeing. Create the conditions in which happiness can grow.
Be Well First
The order of the motto is intentional. “Be Well” comes first, followed by “Be Happy.”
From a wellbeing perspective, being well means more than simply being free from illness. It means supporting the body’s natural rhythm, allowing the mind to rest, recognising emotions and being able to restore balance as life changes.
Sleep, nutrition, movement, breathing, stress management and social relationships do not exist independently of one another. Each affects the nervous system, energy, attention and the way we experience daily life.
Being well is therefore not a passive state, but a balance we consciously rebuild each day.
Happiness Is Not Something to Force, but a Result
Happiness does not mean feeling cheerful at all times, never experiencing difficulties or seeing only the pleasant side of life.
Genuine happiness means preserving our connection with ourselves during challenging times, appreciating small moments and being able to return to our inner balance even when external circumstances change.
Happiness is often not a performance achieved through effort, but the natural result of a well-supported way of living.
Before saying “Be Happy,” it is important to say “Be Well.”
“Be”
The Responsibility Within the Word “Be”
One of the most powerful aspects of this motto lies in the word “be,” which begins both statements.
“Be” does not suggest passive waiting. It calls for participation and reminds each person that they can take an active role in their health, life and emotional wellbeing.
Research in epigenetics shows that lifestyle and environmental conditions can influence the way genes function. Genetic predispositions matter, but daily habits, stress levels, sleep, nutrition and surroundings also play a role in health.
Small choices repeated each day can gradually change the direction of both body and mind.
Listen to Your Body
Notice your physical needs and support your daily rhythm accordingly.
Notice Your Breath
Return to your breath during challenging moments and create space for your mind and nervous system.
Support Your Rhythm
Build a more conscious relationship with sleep, rest and natural daylight.
Allow Yourself to Slow Down
Instead of always trying to do more, choose to pause when your body and mind need rest.
Returning to Your Centre
In Ayurveda, health is associated not only with the absence of symptoms, but also with living in greater harmony with one’s own nature.
When a person recognises their natural rhythm, listens to the body’s signals and balances their mental load, they develop a more grounded relationship with life. The outside world may not always be calm, but we can learn how to return to our own centre.
We may not be able to control every condition around us. Yet we can choose again how we care for our bodies, relate to our breath, organise our days and respond to ourselves.
Wellbeing Is Not a Destination
Wellbeing is not a project to be completed one day; it is a relationship with life that we rebuild every day.
Sometimes feeling better does not require doing more. Slowing down, resting, noticing the breath, listening to the body and understanding what we truly need may be enough.
Be well first. Happiness will find its place within a strong and balanced state of wellbeing.