Where are you in your spiritual wellness journey?

I just finished listening to a talk on spiritual health and it is something that really struck a nerve with me. It really made me question, how much time am I really devoting to my own spiritual health?  Is my time and attention to my spiritual health anywhere near the other areas of  my wellness?

As some background, many experts agree that there are 9 dimension of wellness.  These include: physical, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, social, environmental, occupational, financial, and cultural.  The concurrence is that to achieve true whole wellness as an individual, wellness needs to be achieved in each mentioned area.

Out of all those areas or dimensions…spiritual wellness interests me the most. What exactly is spiritual wellness?  This is not so black and white as the definition as spirituality can mean different things to different people. I think there are some commonalities.   It’s base is in finding life’s purpose and includes the :

• Combination of religious faith, values, beliefs, principles, and morals.
• Capability of being able to of understand that others may have a distinctly different set of guiding principles.
• Ability to integrate beliefs and values into actions

I think of my own kids. Am I modeling and teaching them how to become strong in their spiritual wellness?  As a teacher, it was amazing to see how a lack of spiritual wellness in students affected so many aspects of their lives.    Honestly.  Students who came from homes where spiritual health was overlooked or not modeled were obvious to others in the way they acted, in what they said, and how they reacted.

How can you achieve better spiritual health?  It can involve things such as meditation, prayer, affirmations, or specific spiritual practices that support your connection to a higher power or belief system. It also is having and teaching compassion, the capacity for love and forgiveness, altruism, joy, and fulfillment.

Feel that you spiritual wellness is the best it can be?  Take time to see.

• Do you make time for relaxation?
• Do you make time for meditation and/or prayer?
• Do my values guide my decisions and actions?
• Am I accepting of the views of others?

If you are looking at where to start strengthening this key dimension of wellness?

• Practice acceptance
• Live in a way that is consistent with your core beliefs and values
• Take time for quiet, reflection, prayer or meditation
• Build awareness through journaling, quiet, or yoga
• Become more aware and mindful of the deeper meanings of everyday events
• Stop and take 7 deep breaths for no reason

Blessings and peace.