Wellness Redefined: Tradition meets Technology
Wellness Redefined: Tradition meets Technology
Discover how BrainSpark redefines wellness by blending tradition, technology, and personalized care—making health accessible and fostering genuine community support
“I keep six honest serving-men (They taught me all I knew) ; Their names are What and Why and When And How and Where and Who."
—Rudyard Kipling, Just-So Stories (1902), The Elephant's Child
(found in Dr. Halbert L. Dunn’s, High Level Wellness)
[This is a revised version of an article I originally published on Substack when I first started writing. To view the original article, click here.]
Wellness, when not responsibly developed, can be a real mess. My own experiences with wellness practitioners have often been disappointing—perhaps due to my own high expectations—but I can't shake the feeling that many of these practices are more about profit than substance.
Does anyone else feel that wellness programs, sold at steep prices, are exploiting long-standing wisdom? These practices were passed down through generations as a gift, meant to enrich our lives, not line pockets.
Maybe it's just my aversion to profiteering, but it bothers me to see collective knowledge being commodified. In today’s money-driven environment, trying to provide for myself and my family while keeping my conscience clear has been a real struggle. Does anyone else feel this conflict?
A Vision for Inclusive Well-being: Balancing Wellness, Technology, and Integrity
The rapid rise of technology is helping address long-standing challenges in wellness, but it also brings conflicts.
Dean Kamen's quote about merging technology with old problems captures my experience of exploring health solutions today1.
While new wellness tech—like AI tools and personalized apps—can be transformative for people like me, especially those who are neurodivergent, there's a downside2.
The commercialization of wellness often makes it feel inaccessible and profit-driven, which inspired me to create an inclusive wellness platform—starting with free, valuable content for everyone.
My goal is to eventually offer deeper, paid programs without compromising accessibility or substance—balancing inclusivity with financial sustainability to ensure wellness remains genuine and available to all.
By using technology as a tool for empowerment, not exploitation, I envision creating a space where wellness is centered on genuine care, leveraging tech to foster meaningful connections with oneself and others.
Although my mind is still in the initial phases of development, some ideas I have so far include:
Define a clear vision for accessible wellness based on community values.
Create valuable free content on wellness topics for broad appeal.
Set up a simple website and social media profiles to establish presence.
Use social media to post engaging content and join related groups.
Build an email list by offering free resources in exchange for subscriptions.
Collaborate with micro-influencers for cross-promotion.
Use free tools for design, scheduling, and content creation.
Iterate content based on audience engagement.
Create tiered content: free basics with advanced paid options.
Stay authentic, using customer testimonials for credibility.
Regularly refine strategy based on audience needs and growth.
I want to eventually add the following:
Engage your audience through Q&As and feedback.
Launch affordable paid offerings after building trust.
Form partnerships for cross-promotion and growth.
It’s about making timeless practices like prayer, reflection, and stillness accessible, while keeping wellness rooted in integrity and community.
Exploring Wellness Through Technology
As someone who is neurodivergent, I often find traditional wellness plans unaccommodating and rigid3.
My focus levels and energy are not always predictable, making many structured wellness solutions unworkable for me.
The future of wellness is an exciting blend of personalized care, advanced technology, and holistic approaches, with tools like AI-powered health apps, mental wellness apps, and AI voice generators making wellness more accessible and approachable4.
This kind of personalized interaction makes a huge difference; it feels like these technologies truly understand my needs rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.
I want to extend this sense of possibility to others—neurodivergent or not—by creating a wellness publication that is inclusive, practical, and available to everyone.
There are so many great advances happening:
Offering these resources for free will build an engaged audience that values a diverse, empathetic approach to health, allowing for the future introduction of paid, personalized support programs.
Building an Audience That Cares
BrainSpark aims to build an informed and engaged community by offering free, diverse wellness resources that bridge the gap between emerging health technologies and practical needs, while planning to introduce personalized paid programs in the future.
When someone who is overwhelmed finds real relief from an AI-based mindfulness exercise or when a parent learns how wearable technology can help monitor a child’s wellness, I know the publication has done its job.
In the long run, I aim to build an audience that values my offerings, resonates with their needs, and ultimately invests in specialized paid wellness content—but it's about delivering genuine value, not just selling a program for profit.
The Heart of Wellness: Personal Experience and Shared Growth
This exploration of wellness technology has helped me realize that what matters most is how we use these tools to enhance our personal lives.
Technology alone isn’t the answer, but when combined with age-old wisdom on personalized care and balance, it becomes a lifeline—providing tools to tailor well-being to our unique needs.
At the end of the day, my wellness publication will be about more than just health tips; it will be about creating a supportive space where everyone—neurodivergent and non-neurodivergent alike—can feel heard, learn something meaningful, and grow.
I see a future where technology works alongside us, supporting our well-being in ways that were once unimaginable.
This publication is my way of helping others discover that future, creating a community of people who believe in growth, resilience, and the beauty of living a healthier, happier life.
Creating a platform that offers practical, inclusive health content and builds community is an exciting challenge, one that I’m taking on step by step.
It's about bringing innovation into wellness, making it accessible, and offering people a way to connect—with themselves, others, and their own health—in a meaningful way.
So, how do you feel wellness practices—like using technology, personalized care, or connecting with traditional wisdom—can genuinely enhance your well-being without becoming just another product to sell?
Leave your thoughts in the comments and let’s build a platform that benefits everyone, together!
The quote, "Every once in a while, a new technology, an old problem, and a big idea turn into an innovation," is attributed to Dean Kamen by sources such as BrainyQuote.
However, no definitive published source or documented speech has been identified. It is likely that this quote originated from one of Kamen's many public talks on innovation, often given at conferences, educational summits, and events like TED Talks, FIRST Robotics, or healthcare forums, where he frequently discusses his philosophy on technology and problem-solving.
Here are links to some of Kamen’s talks:
Out of these videos, I’ve been unable to find the exact quote I attributed to Kamen in my original article.
Wellness tech and personalized apps can be challenging for neurodivergent individuals. Many assume uniform use patterns and lack flexibility, making them frustrating when energy and focus fluctuate. Complex interfaces and excessive notifications can also increase anxiety. Without truly adaptive features, these tools often fail to effectively meet diverse cognitive needs, limiting their benefits.
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Examples of traditional wellness plans include:
Diet and Nutrition Plans: Structured meal plans focused on balanced macronutrient intake, often including calorie tracking, to promote physical health.
Exercise Programs: Scheduled physical activities like yoga, strength training, or aerobic exercises tailored to improve fitness.
Meditation and Mindfulness: Daily guided meditation routines to reduce stress and improve mental well-being.
Sleep Hygiene Practices: Establishing consistent bedtime routines, limiting screen time, and creating an optimal sleep environment.
Routine Health Checkups: Regular visits to healthcare professionals to monitor and maintain physical health.
Holistic Wellness Routines: Integrating practices like acupuncture, aromatherapy, or massage to address mind-body balance.
These wellness plans are typically designed to be consistent and help individuals maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Here are completely free options without tiers or trial limits:
AI-Powered Health Apps:
Google Fit: Tracks physical activity and offers personalized health tips.
FitOn: Provides unlimited workouts and health insights at no cost.
Mental Wellness Apps:
Insight Timer: Offers free meditations, talks, and sleep aids with no premium barrier.
MindShift CBT: Provides cognitive behavioral tools and anxiety management strategies completely free.
AI Voice Generators:
TTSReader: A text-to-speech generator with natural voice options.
NaturalReader (Free Web Version): Converts text to natural-sounding speech.
These options offer valuable wellness tools without any fees or subscription requirements.
Well written. As you said, the culture is money driven and it’s hard to spend hours researching a subject and not get paid for it as one has to account for those hours somewhat. It’s a wonderful conversation you’re opening up. Should we charge for old age wisdom that we got for free? Who knows.
Amazing and innovative concept! I truly believe it will be a success!