In addition to your physical health, your spiritual well-being is important and can have a strong impact on your overall health. Spiritual wellness can be obtained in many ways—through meditation, mindfulness, journaling or prayer—and significantly contributes to your life’s meaning and purpose. Here are five benefits of improving your spiritual wellness, as well as activities you can do to get started.
The opportunity to reflect
Often times, we become so caught up in our busy lives that we forget to take a moment to pause and evaluate our decisions, actions and choices. For example, a busy mom may be preoccupied with errands and school drop-offs and pick-ups to pause for a moment to reflect or appreciate the people, things and events around her. Taking time to reflect will help deepen the connection with oneself and create a stronger sense of self-awareness and mindfulness. So, the next time you find yourself overwhelmed with the day’s tasks, try taking time—in the morning or night—to say a prayer of thanks or use a journal to write down your thoughts and expectations of the day ahead.
Reduces stress, anxiety, and depression
Spiritual wellness can have an impact on your health by reducing stress and improving mental illness. Some spiritual practices such as yoga, walking or meditation can help manage stress while improving your mood. Whether it’s with your family, friends or by yourself, take a walk around your neighborhood or a local park to embrace the outdoors and feel a stronger connection with nature.
Brings you closer to God
A great way to improve your spiritual well being is by praying. Through prayer, you become closer to God and are more aligned with your faith values. Prayer can provide a clearer view of what’s important by offering a new perspective. It can help you focus on all the good things in your life rather than dwelling on the failures and problems. You can pray in the morning, at bedtime, or even take a few minutes throughout your day to say short, one-word prayers that will strengthen your faith and help you feel centered.
Gain a better sense of peace
A peaceful mind is a great benefit of spiritual wellness as it brings forth a sense of calm and reconnection. Find quiet places, such as a backyard or a park to gather your thoughts and feel more at ease with yourself. With a clearer mind, you’ll be more capable of handling tasks or responsibilities, be happier and concentrate better.
Improves relationships
People who are spiritually balanced can have deeper, more meaningful relationships with those around them. They are often better at handling conflict, offering support to those who need it, and having a good balance between their own needs and the needs of others. For example, a young couple navigating marriage for the first time can benefit from spiritual wellness because it allows them to have better communication and understanding of each other’s needs as they begin a new chapter of their lives.
