Picture this: You're caught up in the daily hustle and bustle, but deep down, you sense a void, a longing for something more profound. While that longing may mean different things, one interpretation is that your spirit yearns for attention.
Spiritual health is the complex, subjective, personal aspect of human health that is not always well understood (and thus is one of the 8 wellness dimensions that is frequently neglected).
Spirituality is closely linked to other aspects of health, meaning it is not limited to religious practices. It is more of an exploration of the inner self and personal values because it encompasses our essence—the connection to our inner selves, the world around us, and something greater than ourselves.
So, what exactly is spiritual health?
And why does spiritual wellness matter? Stay put as we get to the root of this important aspect of our lives.
Spiritual Health Definition: What Does It Mean?
While the spiritual health definition is broad, for simplicity, we can say it is anything that includes the well-being of a person's spirit—their inner being. It is a dimension of human wellness that connects to one's spirit and all dimensions of health, including physical, emotional, social, and mental well-being.
Achieving spiritual health is about discovering a deeper meaning in life, developing our altruism and ethics, and understanding how we fit into the greater universe.
At its core, spirituality is the glue that binds all the other dimensions of health and wellness together.
However, defining spiritual health goes beyond religious beliefs and encompasses a broader sense of spirituality that resonates with each individual. That's why one must comprehend the concept of spirituality before exploring spiritual health and its deeper connection to overall well-being.
What Is Spirituality?
The term spirituality comes from the Latin word "spiritus" (spirit in English), which means "breath" or "life." It is an expansive concept that includes beliefs, values, and behaviors associated with connection to something beyond the self. At its simplest, defining spirituality is about finding balance in life.
While spirituality describes a wide range of practices and beliefs relating to the divine, different worldviews and denominations within a religious tradition will lead to different spiritualities.
For instance, a Christian's transcendent experience differs from a Hindu's understanding of the “oneness” of all things being “God." Similarly, a Baptist Christian's experience of God in Scripture differs from a Catholic's experience of Lectio Divina. Each sect of a religious tradition will have its spiritual practices of interacting with the divine.
More importantly, a person does not have to follow any religion (or believe in God at all) to be spiritual. Yes, even an agnostic or atheist can be spiritual. Researchers at Columbia and Yale have possibly identified a spiritual part of the brain—"a universal, cognitive basis for spirituality.”
Is Spirituality the Same as Religion?
For many people, their sense of spirituality is connected to religion, but a person does not have to be religious to be spiritual. According to Pew Research, a little over one-quarter of Americans consider themselves to be spiritual but not religious.
Being spiritual means exploring your beliefs and practices of connecting to the divine—be it God, a higher power, the universe, awareness, consciousness, or whatever—in a way that resonates with you. It is a whole-person concept of "oneness" with transcendent power as a source.
Spirituality encompasses not only one's relationship to the divine but also our relationship to ourselves, others, and the environment.
It is a way of seeing our interconnectedness with all things beyond just the physical world. Unlike extrinsic religion, which tends to focus more on the dogmatic aspects of faith, spirituality often centers around five characteristics:
- Meaning
- Value
- Transcendence
- Connecting
- Becoming
In sum, one might argue that it is a form of intrinsic religion that brings people together despite their extrinsic religions. This is because it is less of intellect and more of a mystical quality expressed in practical action.
Spiritual Wellness: Connection to Other Dimensions of Health
Does spiritual wellness have a place in your overall health and well-being? Yes, it does!
As it relates to physical, mental, and emotional health, it's like we're constantly juggling different balls in the air, trying to keep everything in balance. We know that exercise, eating healthy, getting enough sleep, or engaging in meaningful relationships are all important for our overall health.
Spirituality is often viewed as an additional or complementary component of overall well-being. However, spiritual wellness can play an equally important role in our lives as other areas of our health.
Whereas other health dimensions focus more on tangible aspects of your body's well-being, spiritual health dives into the intangible elements. It's about connecting with something greater than ourselves, whether it's a higher power, nature, or the universe. It dives into finding meaning, purpose, and a sense of inner peace.
In other words, spiritual health is like a missing piece of the puzzle that brings everything together.
A good example is when someone experiences a traumatic event, such as a natural disaster, the death of a loved one, or a chronic illness. During those dark times, many people need to reach out for something greater than themselves, and that's when spiritual health comes into play by serving as an anchor of hope.
What Constitutes Spiritual Health?
According to surveys, “being more spiritual” is often among the top 10 New Year’s resolutions. But what does it mean to be spiritually healthy, and how does one become more spiritual? Before we can answer those questions, we need to define spiritual health.
Two aspects of spiritual health are essential in its foundation: experience of the divine and wholeness.
- Experiencing the divine encompasses having a personal connection to God, the Universe, or some higher power and feeling a sense of peace from that connection.
- On the other hand, wholeness is about having a sense of purpose and direction in life. This can be achieved by reflecting on your values, beliefs, and spiritual principles and leveraging them to create a meaningful and fulfilling life.
Being more spiritual is not something you do once and are done. Instead, good spiritual health calls for continual examination and exploration for:
- A sense of hope and will to live;
- Meaningful and fulfilling life experiences;
- Feeling of connectedness to God (or your personal higher power), which includes an ultimate concern;
- The sense of selflessness and an altruistic inclination toward others;
- Perception of the cause of the universe and its functioning;
- Acknowledgment and respect for the unknown or unexplainable powers beyond natural and rational understanding;
- Intuitive knowledge that transcends the need for literal explanation and requires faith; and
- A commitment to a power outside of yourself (for many, that’s God) and a deep-seated reverence for the divine.
Aspects of Spiritual Wellness and Spirituality
Besides the experience of the divine and wholeness, a few other aspects also contribute to spiritual well-being. Spiritual health encompasses four main areas:
- Spirituality serves as a unifying force that complements other dimensions of health. By bringing physical, mental, emotional, and even social aspects into a single whole, spiritual health creates an interconnectedness between all these areas of our health.
- Spirituality gives meaning to life. The sources of meaning can differ from person to person, but it serves as an inner drive for personal accomplishment and contribution.
- Spirituality transcends the individual. Spiritual health goes beyond our self-awareness and creates a bond between people, allowing us to relate to one another in an exceptional way. It also acts as a guide for our ethics.
- Spirituality is based on individual perceptions and faith. By acknowledging that there is some higher power at work, we perceive it to be the cause behind the natural workings of the universe. This helps us find pleasure and gives us the confidence to survive.
Why Does Spiritual Health Matter?
A solid spiritual foundation can bring you a sense of purpose and meaning, inner peace, and support during difficult times. Connecting with something larger than ourselves can also help us learn to accept what we cannot change and feel a sense of belonging, even in times of loneliness. It can also be an essential source of strength and courage when faced with life's challenges.
Here are some of the positive aspects that come from cultivating a sense of spiritual health:
Inner Peace and Happiness
If we learn to accept our imperfections and circumstances better, we tap into a sense of calm and serenity that can help us navigate the storms of life with grace and resilience. It's like having an anchor amid chaos. One way to do this is through spiritual practices such as meditation, mindfulness, or prayer.
Help Us Live in the Present
When spiritually healthy, we are more in touch with ourselves and the world around us. This connection helps us to appreciate being in the present instead of worrying about the future or ruminating on the past. We can be mindful and take pleasure in experiences, relationships, and activities we participate in. Spiritual health helps us to be more present and emotionally aware, which can help us lead more fulfilling lives and make better decisions while exploring life possibilities.
Deeper Sense of Purpose and Meaning
Connecting with something greater than yourself helps you uncover your passions, values, and what truly matters to you. It's like discovering a cognitive compass that guides your life and provides purpose.
Increased Resilience
While you can't always control what life throws your way, having a spiritual connection helps you better manage and recover from adversity. It provides the opportunity to draw on spiritual resources to cope with difficult times, including illness, and find balance.
Improved Emotional Well-Being
Taking care of our spiritual health boosts our emotional well-being. It helps us manage stress, cope with challenges, and cultivate positive emotions like gratitude, compassion, and forgiveness.
Self-Discovery
Exploring our spiritual and personal dimensions leads us on a journey of self-discovery. This may include uncovering our core beliefs, values, and purpose in life. Doing so helps us become more self-aware and mindful of how we interact with the world.
Fearless Life
Perhaps all we need to lead a fearless life is simply the recognition of our own spiritual power. Even the most challenging life circumstances can be faced with courage and resilience when our spirit is strong.
Balance
We must be able to balance our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being for us to flourish. When one aspect is out of sync, the whole system suffers. Some simple spiritual self-care practices, such as meditation and prayer, can be incorporated into our lives to achieve harmony.
Are You Spiritually Healthy? Signs of Spiritual Wellness
Even though spiritual health is very personal to each individual, there are some signs that one is developing a strong spiritual life. These can include:
- Feeling of contentment: A sure sign of being spiritually healthy is a feeling of contentment with one's life and the world in general. This often manifests as an inner peace that can be experienced even in the midst of chaos and hard times.
- A sense of purpose: People with good spiritual well-being clearly understand why they are here and what they want to do with their lives. They can use this sense of purpose to guide their decisions and actions.
- Compassion and empathy: Do you genuinely care about the well-being of others and try to put yourself in their shoes, offering support and understanding? If so, you're among the lucky few who exude this virtue.
- Moral compass: Knowing right from wrong and following a moral code is a sign of spiritual health. When you practice moral integrity and honor your values, it brings about a feeling of inner peace.
- Gratitude: Mindfully acknowledging what you have and the life experiences that have shaped you is a great sign of spiritual health. When you're spiritually healthy, gratitude becomes a natural part of your life. You appreciate the simple joys, the beauty around you, and the blessings that come your way. It's like having a heart overflowing with appreciation.
Factors That Can Impact Spiritual Health
Just like your mental, emotional, and physical health, your spiritual well-being can be impacted by a variety of factors. Here are some things that can have a negative effect on your spiritual health.
- External stressors: Things like a hectic lifestyle, financial pressures, or relationship issues can negatively impact how spiritually healthy you are. These factors make it difficult to take time out for spiritual reflection and practice and wreak havoc on your sense of inner peace.
- Internal stressors: If your inner dialogue is filled with self-destructive or negative thoughts, it can take a toll on your spiritual health and well-being. Too often, we focus on our weaknesses rather than our strengths, making it hard to access our spiritual power.
- Religious problem: Most people don't realize that religion can also be a source of stress. If your faith community is not supportive or if you have difficulty fitting in, these can lead to spiritual distress. Of course, we're not advocating that you choose a religious community solely based on how it makes you feel. However, it is important to be mindful of how your spiritual beliefs and practices impact your overall well-being.
- Social pressure: We live in a time when social media and digital communication influence is at an all-time high. It can be hard to separate what is "real" from what we see on our screens, and it can be difficult to know how our beliefs and values align with what is being said by others. This confusion can lead to feelings of guilt, shame, or confusion, which can hurt our spiritual and mental health too.
- Loss or questioning of faith: Another factor that can impact spiritual health is the loss or questioning of faith. Experiencing a traumatic event, the death of a loved one, or other life changes can cause us to question our belief system or even reject it altogether. This can be a difficult process and is often accompanied by feelings of grief, anger, or confusion.
7 Tips to Be More Spiritual and Achieve Spiritual Health
Whatever journey you're on, cultivating good spiritual well-being is a deeply personal and enriching experience.
It could be as simple as taking a few minutes each day to be mindful and reflect on your values, goals, and relationships. It could also be a journey of exploration and discovery as you seek to deepen your understanding and connection with yourself, the world around you, and whatever higher power or spiritual path resonates with you.
Below, we've compiled seven tips to help you cultivate spiritual health on your spiritual journey.
Make time for regular spiritual practice.
This could be anything from prayer, meditation, or daily rituals. It doesn't matter what it is—as long as it feels meaningful to you so that you can stay committed to it. A spiritual practice should bring you peace, comfort, and joy. So be mindful of what sparks those feelings for you.
Engage in self-reflection.
In order to achieve spiritual health, it’s important to take time for self-reflection to explore your beliefs, values, and inner self. Engage in practices like journaling, meditation, or quiet contemplation to deepen your understanding of who you are and what brings meaning to your life.
Be mindful and present.
Practice mindfulness to bring awareness to the present moment. Engage fully in what you're doing, whether it's a conversation, an activity, or a task. This helps you connect with the essence of each experience and enhances your spiritual health.
Nurture compassion and kindness.
Cultivating a good sign of spiritual health goes hand in hand with showing compassion and kindness to others. Be mindful of how your words, actions, and behavior impact those around you.
Connect with nature.
Nature can powerfully affect spiritual health. Get outside and observe the wonders around you — trees, plants, flowers, clouds, sunsets — and take time to appreciate them. Contemplating nature can foster spiritual growth and help you connect to something larger than yourself.
Practice gratitude.
Being grateful for your life and all that it contains is another great way to promote your spiritual health. Make time each day to focus on something positive in your life, such as your relationships, a memory from the past, or a simple pleasure like taking in a beautiful sunrise. Taking time to appreciate what you have can foster a sense of contentment and peace.
Take part in spiritual activities.
The activity depends on your beliefs but might include prayer, meditation, or attending a religious service. Connecting with the spiritual aspect of your life can help you find meaning and purpose in life.
Take Care of Your Spiritual Health!
Most of your spiritual health comes from within, and cultivating good spiritual health is an ongoing journey. It requires time to pause and reflect on what brings you joy, peace, and inner strength. Take time to nourish your spirit, nurture your relationships, and believe you can make a positive difference in the world.
The tips in this article are the first step towards achieving a sense of spiritual wellness and satisfaction in life.
And here's our bonus tip!
Consider taking the Enneagram personality test, which has spiritual undertones. It can provide insights into your personality, motivations, and behavior patterns, helping you on your spiritual journey. You can also access a wide variety of resources that will help you on your spiritual journey in the BrainManager free member area.
