Spiritual Health

HOW IS SPIRITUAL WELLNESS IMPORTANT TO OUR OVERALL HEALTH?

In today’s fast-paced modern world, many individuals place a primary emphasis on their physical and mental wellbeing, inadvertently overlooking a crucial aspect of overall health: Spiritual Wellbeing.

But what exactly is ‘Spiritual Wellbeing’?

Spiritual wellbeing extends well beyond religious affiliations and can be best described as an almost soulful sense of connection to something larger than us. For some, that might be God, a higher power, nature, humanity, or even our Higher Self. It encompasses our profound connection to ourselves, to others, and to the Universe, and it drives a deep exploration of questions around purpose, meaning, values, and morality.

We can nurture our spiritual health through various practices such as meditation, prayer, mindfulness, self-reflection, and by engaging in acts of kindness and compassion. In fact, there is sufficient evidence that points to spiritual health being an important determinant of overall health, longevity, and quality of life because it connects us to a deep sense of purpose and inner tranquility and may even function as a guiding force towards achieving our personal and professional triumphs.

In my own experience, harnessing my spiritual wellbeing has enabled me to bolster my resilience and withstand many of the challenges life has thrown at me. In those moments when I have fallen hard, my connection to my spirituality has helped me bounce-back faster from life’s recurring tests.

As a holistic coach, an area I like exploring with my clients is their spiritual health because when we work at cultivating our spiritual health, we inevitably forge a deep mind-body connection – which scientific research has shown – reduces stress, enhances our immune function, and improves our overall health.

Furthermore, spiritual practices help nurture emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and the capacity to effectively manage our personal and professional relationships. We can easily operate from a place of integrity and ethics, and it propels us to make principled choices, whilst maintaining high moral standards. Best of all, it nurtures a deep sense of gratitude and contentment, shifting our focus from a mindset of lack, to one of Abundance.

Below are 7 ways that explore the interplay between our Spiritual Health and our Personal & Professional Success.

• Helps us to find Our Purpose/Direction – spiritual practices can act like a compass for our life’s journey and guide us in aligning our actions and goals with our spiritual values and purpose. In doing so, we attain an even greater sense of fulfilment because we feel naturally led to our true passions, talents, and strengths.
• Enhances our Resilience/Inner Strength – when times are tough (as they often can be), a robust spiritual practice (meditation, prayer, etc) is like a lighthouse. It serves to guide us through our adversity and help us stay afloat on those troubled and raging seas. It provides us the strength to persevere in the face of obstacles, maintain a positive mindset, and to still flow with qualities like gratitude, forgiveness, and acceptance as we navigate life’s great demands.
• Nourishes our Emotional Wellbeing – by encouraging us to explore our inner world and understand our values and emotions, it helps us develop compassion toward ourselves and others, and it also assists us in managing our stress and emotions effectively. When we act from a space of compassion, we attract healthier relationships, are better able to communicate our needs, and can manage conflict constructively.

• Fosters a Mind-Body Connection – spirituality recognizes the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit, and numerous studies have proven that engaging in spiritual practices can have a positive effect on our physical and mental health such as reduced stress, lower blood-pressure, better sleep, increased energy levels, productivity, and more fulfilling lives.
• Helps Cultivate Ethical Behaviour and Integrity by encouraging us to live in alignment with universal moral principles. When we strive to make ethical decisions that benefit the collective, the whole planet thrives. Spiritual wellbeing allows us to uphold our moral standards, treat others with respect and compassion, and build trust – qualities that are essential to personal and professional success.
• Fosters a Sense of Interconnectedness with others and the world and provides a sense of belonging. When we find our ‘spiritual tribes’ or like-minded individuals, we can build supportive networks to provide emotional support, guidance, and encouragement to others. These connections can lead to new opportunities, collaborations, and mentorships, helping us with our personal development and the attainment of our goals.
• Nurtures Deep Levels of Gratitude and Contentment for the present moment, and an acknowledgement of all the blessings in our lives. When we focus on all that we have, our attention shifts away from what we may not have, thus reducing feelings of envy, stress, and dissatisfaction which are easily brought on by social media. A gratitude mindset allows us to approach our goals from a place of abundance and optimism and enhances our ability to manifest our desires.

Here are ten ways to cultivate Spiritual practices(s) that can contribute to a broad spectrum of benefits.

1. Meditation – to help focus our attention on quieting the mind to achieve an inner state of calm, clarity, and mindfulness.
2. Prayer – communicating with a higher power, expressing gratitude, seeking guidance, and finding deep solace in moments of reflection.
3. Mindfulness – is when we become fully present to the current moment, even in the most mundane of tasks like washing the dishes. We become fully present to the feeling of the water on our hands, the soap suds as we spread them on a dish, the sensations that each moment evokes, and we do so with awareness and acceptance.
4. Yoga – combines physical postures, breath control, and meditation to promote physical and spiritual well-being. It helps cultivate flexibility, strength, and inner peace.
5. Journaling – is an excellent spiritual practice where we write down all our thoughts, emotions, and reflections, thus allowing deeper self-awareness. It also allows us to gain insights, enhances clarity, and encourages personal growth.
6. Nature – spending time in nature by walking, hiking, or just being in the presence of its wonder can contribute to a deep sense of connection, peace, and awe.
7. A Gratitude Practice – where we make the effort to consciously acknowledge and appreciate ALL the positive aspects of our lives.
8. Practicing Kindness – engaging in acts of kindness and compassion towards others helps promote a sense of interconnectedness, empathy, and spiritual growth.
9. Breathwork – using conscious breathing techniques such as deep belly breathing, or specific breath patterns can help calm the mind, increase focus, and induce a state of relaxation and spiritual awareness.
10. Serving Others/Volunteering – engaging in selfless acts of service and volunteering helps to deepen our sense of purpose and provides a sense of spiritual fulfilment. It also helps create compassion for the less fortunate and engenders a deep sense of Gratitude.

These are just a few examples of spiritual practices; each of us might resonate with different practices based on our own personal beliefs, cultural background, and spiritual journey, so it is helpful to try them out, and find a practice that works best for you. What is important is to persist with the practice(s) with Faith, which was best described by Swami Kriyananda to his disciples when he said “if you plant a seed, and then keep digging it up to see how it is doing, it will never be able to grow. You must leave it in the ground and water it daily; then it will surely grow in its own time.” The same principle applies to any spiritual practice we adopt. With consistency and practice, we will soon recognize the value of spiritual wellbeing to our overall health, and how nurturing a spiritual practice can help us tap into profound sources of inward strength, purpose, and resilience leading to us achieving our goals, unlocking our full potential, and living a more fulfilling and successful life.

Cynthia is a holistic life and career coach based in Dubai, UAE. She has spent over 15 years working in the Hospitality sector in different parts of the world and is passionate about all things pertaining to self-development, leadership development, holistic personal development, the impact of culture, and how to cultivate incredible people skills. Cynthia thrives on helping people leverage their talent, skills, and expertise to lead their best lives.

Contact Information

Email: bespokeresumes@aol.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/cynthiaharfoush

Header Image Credit: Natalie Bond. Find it here.