Spiritual Wellness – what is it, and how to work on it

It wasn’t that long ago, being ‘well’ was something we took for granted. There was no need to give thanks for it (unless of course we were recovering or escaping from an illness). In fact, all being ‘well’ really meant, was there was no need to head to the doctor.

Fast forward to what is now known as ‘wellness,’ a term with origins in the shift from the relatively natural way of living most people engaged in a few decades back (think backyard veggie patch, home cooked meals, hand knitted jerseys, and well-defined gender roles) to today’s city living (instant meals, TV, internet, and industrialised almost-everything; plus more undefined gender role changes than you can poke a stick at.) Suddenly, the stress of daily life meant being ‘well’ was no longer to be taken for granted.

Today, stress has taken such a toll on our physical and mental health, it is now thought wise to head to the doctor (even if we’re feeling fine) for an annual ‘wellness’ check-up. But that’s not where it ends because, on top of this, many also work hard to maintain what is regarded as ‘spiritual wellness.’

Not that the spititual side of life is new. Even those who wouldn’t describe themselves as ‘religious,’ have almost certainly, at some stage in their life, if not ongoingly, asked some of the big questions beset by humans: “Who am I in relation to the world and those around me?” “What are my values, ethics, and morals, and how do I live them out?” In fact, this search for purpose in both personal and community life, is often what keeps us grounded.

In an endeavour to maintain a healthy spiritual dimension to life, many people turn to a wide variety of practices. These often include small daily rituals to calm the mind and help us connect ‘self’ to those around us, and nature. If you’ve never considered engaging in these routines, the pre-retirement and retirement years can be a good time to begin. These are periods when we have more time to quietly consider ourselves in relation to others, and to think about how we will engage with the next stage in our life. If you haven’t taken this time out for yourself, you might like to start doing so by beginning some of the following activities:

• Slow, thoughtful, mental and physical exercise in the form of yoga, tai chi, or mindful-movement.
• Mood tracking – teach yourself more about your moods as they fluctuate throughout the day (and night). This simple art can help you find ways to combat negativity in your life. An app that can help, is Daylio.
• Meditation and mindfulness – the art of mental training which helps you slow racing thoughts, find calm, and let go of the negative aspects sometimes become habitual. Headspace is the app many have found helpful in learning these new skills.
• Prayer and contemplation – learning to engage with something greater than yourself. Those who haven’t tried connecting with their spiritual side in this way, may like to talk to trusted friends or family who have, to see how they go about it.
• Journaling – taking time out each day to note down, in writing, your thoughts, feelings, aspirations, and intentions, can put you in touch with your authentic self rather than the self you feel obliged to present to the world.
• Volunteering – putting others ahead of yourself, through volunteering, can help you to see where and how you fit in to your community.
• ‘Nature bathing’ – spending time in nature, through walking in the countryside or on the beach, or gardening or tree planting, is an anti-dote to stress and anxiety.

Spiritual wellness isn’t something to be taken for granted. Thinking about it consciously, and seeking to enhance it, can make us calmer, happier people. Try it for yourself!