Our industry is unique in its focus on the positive. There are no others which put wellbeing, peace, prevention and personal responsibility at their heart.

This means we’re in a position to be a force for good in the world at a time when there are some very dark things happening which need to be countered.

Some say spa and wellbeing and a focus on health are a self-indulgent distraction and that at times of division and political and social unrest, there are more important things to be focusing on. But I don’t believe this is the case, or that these things are disconnected.

Wellbeing is scalable, it starts with the individual, extends to the family, the community, the nation and then to the wider world. For each part of humanity to be well in the widest and truest sense, we must be at peace, feel energised in our own skin and have clarity of purpose. We also need to have good intentions to take the world forward in a positive direction based on understanding and compassion, rather than selfishness.

There is much we can do as an industry to shore up positivity and help people to not only deal with the darkness, but also to begin to turn the tide of it.

We can fight for what we believe is important, work to bring communities together and extend our reach to ensure that knowledge about healthy living and wellbeing is shared where it’s most needed.

Much of what is going adrift in the world at present is as a result of lack of education, lack of opportunity and lack of love and it is well within our remit as an industry to make our contribution to addressing these issues.

All require us to commit to self-care in body and mind and for those in a position to create life-changing chances for other people to do so at every opportunity.

The ultimate goal being a world which is able to keep refocusing on the things which matter – tolerance, collaboration, mutual support, fairness, compassion, peace, love and a commitment to making each day better than the last for everyone on the planet.

This industry is represented by outward looking, well travelled and right-thinking people who form a powerful global network. We are a community and we have many opportunities for collaboration and to exert a wide range of influences for good around the world.

What can be done? Education and community outreach sit at the heart of this and in our annual Spa Foresight™ report on page 50 we highlight ‘social good’ as a key trend which we think the industry can embrance going forward, to open up opportunities for others.

I urge you to look to your own business and to think about how you can reach out and share the philosophy and knowledge that underpins the work of wellbeing.

Liz Terry, editorial director @elizterry