What’s your definition of wellness?
Some think of wellness in terms of how physically fit they are. But wellness is more than that. Personal wellness encompasses one’s physical, emotional, social, intellectual, and spiritual health.
Now, you probably know how to work on the first four aspects. You know the importance of working out and expressing your feelings. You also understand why it’s important to connect with other people, as well as the need to engage in activities that stimulate your mind.
But what about your spiritual health? Do you know how to nourish your spirit?
Here, we’ll talk about why you need to develop your spiritual wellbeing and the ways to do it.
Looking Inward: Why Your Spiritual Health Matters
If you’re finding it difficult to have a spiritual wellness routine, you’re not alone. There are people who feel the same because spirituality is a personal matter.
You have to look deep within and figure out what gives your life meaning and purpose. For some, this means religion. So for them, being spiritual involves going to church, mosque, synagogue, and so on, and practicing their religious beliefs.
Others though don’t associate spirituality with a specific religion. They connect with their spiritual side through other means (e.g., meditation, yoga, affirmations, etc.).
No matter how you choose to get on the path of spirituality, one thing’s for sure: spiritual practices come with many benefits. These include increased compassion, empathy, and attention; stronger relationships (through participation in spiritual fellowship); better health outcomes, and more.
How to Improve Spiritual Wellness
What you want to achieve when choosing spiritual wellness activities is a life filled with purpose and meaning. That’s why if you’re still working out what spirituality means for you, it’s best to do a lot of self-reflection.
Ask yourself, “Who am I? Where is my life headed? What do I value most?” The more you connect with your inner self, the more you’ll see your place in this universe. This will allow you to check your actions and how they affect your life in the long term.
Introspection will also help you make better decisions and come up with a plan to achieve harmony within yourself. Other than introspection, you can increase your spirituality through:
1. Meditation
You don’t have to be a monk to meditate. That’s the beauty of meditation – anyone can do it. And you don’t even need hours to do it.
You can do it when you wake up, during breaks, or before you go to sleep. 5 to 10 minutes daily is enough for anyone to meditate.
Now, if you don’t know how to do it, you can start with the basics. First, find a comfortable place where you can sit still for a few minutes. Next, focus on your breath. If your mind wanders, don’t stress about it.
Just get back to focusing on your breathing and try to let it stay there for 5 minutes. You’ll get better with practice, and you can even try other types of meditation such as body scan or progressive relaxation, transcendental meditation, and so on.
2. Yoga
One of the best ways to increase spirituality, yoga isn’t just a series of poses to help you achieve a leaner body. Yes, practicing yoga offers physical benefits. But there are mental and spiritual rewards, as well.
These include reduced stress, improved focus, and self-healing, etc. Like meditation, anyone can practice yoga. You can join a class, work with a personal yoga trainer, or self-practice (e.g., you can follow yoga videos on YouTube, or do further research on its history).
To reap the spiritual benefits of yoga though you have to do it regularly. You can’t just attend one class and say you didn’t reach spiritual enlightenment and therefore it’s not effective. You have to find ways to fit it into your life.
And you have to set your intention and be sincere about practicing it. If your only goal is to get a thin yoga body, sooner or later you’ll get tired of it. To get the most out of yoga, try to see it as a way to cultivate awareness and connect deeper with yourself.
3. Prayer
Did you know that even non-believers turn to prayer in times of crisis?
The fact is you don’t have to be religious to pray. It’s something you can engage in daily like meditation or yoga. And you can do it by yourself or with a group.
Now, if you haven’t prayed in a long time there, try to explore your options. Visit a non-denominational church, read about other religions, join a prayer group, and so on. You don’t have to join anything if you feel it isn’t right for you.
As for believers, if you see your religion as the way to boost your spiritual health, make sure you don’t become a passive member. Reflect on your beliefs and don’t be afraid to question them. Doing this will either help you become more firm in your faith or put you on another track to spirituality.
4. Travel
You don’t have to see the world to connect with your inner self. But being in a new place, especially one that’s far away from distractions will help you reflect and recharge your spiritual health.
One way to do this is to go on hikes and walks that allow you to see more of nature. Spending quiet time, feeling gratitude for everything you see, will do a lot for your spiritual wellness.
In some ways, travel is the ultimate spiritual journey. It will help you broaden your perspectives, letting you place more value on experiences rather than things.
Need More Tips and Advice on Spirituality?
Now that you understand the importance of cultivating your spiritual health and the ways to do it, you should find it easier to develop a spiritual wellness routine.
And if you need more tips and advice on spirituality, feel free to check out the rest of our blogs. We recommend 8 spiritual quotes to inspire your week ahead and 6 practical ways to have a spiritual awakening and radiant life.