Spiritual Wellness

Spiritual wellness is an important aspect of overall wellbeing, but what do we mean by spiritual wellness?

Sometimes we use the words spirituality and religion interchangeably, but they are different. Spirituality refers to the ways in which we seek meaning, hope, purpose in life, and connection with something bigger than ourselves. Religion is an organized set of practices and beliefs that address these spiritual issues.

As humans, we all have spiritual needs, whether or not we practice an organized religion. Spiritual wellness affects and is affected by our physical and mental wellness. Cultivating spiritual wellness in our everyday lives enhances our overall well-being and can help us be more resilient in times of stress.

As a chaplain, my professional practice involves assessing people’s spiritual wellness vs. distress and assisting them in moving toward wellness. I use an assessment tool developed by Dr. Annette Gildemann which focuses on five areas of spiritual wellness:

1. Hope includes people’s connection to awe, mystery, the sacred, and expectation of good.
2. Autonomy refers to one’s sense of purpose, identity, and ability to carry out one’s purpose in life.
3. Relationships include interconnectedness with other people, the divine, nature, and sense of belonging.
4. Peace refers to a sense of calm and inner contentment whatever one’s circumstances may be.
5. Meaning involves understanding one’s life experiences in relation to one’s own values and belief systems.

Spiritual practices help us cultivate spiritual wellness in these five areas. For people who belong to a particular faith group or religion, practices such as prayer, reading sacred texts, devotions, and attending communal worship services can be important for maintaining spiritual wellness. There are also many non-religious spiritual practices available to people of all backgrounds, traditions, and experience levels.

Some practices that can boost spiritual wellbeing include:

Gratitude

A simple practice of writing down one thing you are grateful for each day can improve mood and lead to a greater sense of peace and hope. You can keep a gratitude journal on paper, but for the more digitally inclined, gratitude apps are available. I keep a “Good Things” jar in my kitchen with sticky notes and a pen nearby, so each member of my family can write down good things that have happened and place them in the jar. We periodically review them, reminding us of all the things that have happened for which we are grateful. It doesn’t matter what format you use; the practice of noticing and recording things you are grateful for helps develop a more positive outlook on life.

Meditation

Mindfulness meditation has been found to enhance physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing. There are many great resources online for getting started with mindfulness meditation. One of my favorite meditative practices is walking a labyrinth. At Boone Health, we have a labyrinth located at the southeast corner of the intersection of Williams and Walnut streets that is open to the public. Learn more about the labyrinth with instructions for doing a labyrinth walk at www.boone.health/labyrinth.

Nature

Spending time in nature, even for just a few minutes, is a great way to feel more peaceful, happier, and more focused. Connection with nature enhances our overall sense of connectedness and belonging, creating greater spiritual well-being. You don’t have to travel to somewhere with an awe-inspiring, Instagram-worthy view to experience the benefits of nature. Try taking a short walk in your neighborhood with the intention of noticing things in the natural environment. Snap a photo of anything that catches your eye – a colorful flower, a squirrel, an interesting rock, etc. There’s no need to do anything with the photos. It is the practice of noticing that helps increase our attentiveness to the beauty and mystery all around us.

Engaging with the Arts

Art is for everyone, whether you consider yourself artistic or not! Doing creative activities, such as drawing, painting, collage, playing music, or dancing, and appreciating the arts by going to a museum, concert, or play both increase wellbeing. Creative activities increase dopamine and serotonin levels in the brain and can contribute to a feeling of connection with the sacred and finding meaning in one’s experiences. The purpose of art activities for wellness is not to create something “good,” but to simply engage in the act of creating. You can find many ideas online for simple art activities that enhance wellness and use materials you probably already have.

Just as we need to devote time and energy to maintaining our physical wellness, we also need to tend to our spiritual wellness for the best possible health outcomes. As with physical exercises, spiritual practices get easier the more we do them and doing them with others increases their benefits. Take a few minutes today to try out a new spiritual practice or revisit one you haven’t done in a while and enjoy your journey on the path of spiritual wellness.

By Rev. Dr. Kim Leon, Boone Health Chaplain