Spiritual wellness is the ability to establish peace and harmony in our lives through a guiding set of beliefs, faith, values, ethics, or moral principles that provide meaning, direction, and purpose. It is also a search for meaning and purpose in human existence leading one to strive for a state of harmony with oneself and others while working to balance inner needs with the rest of the world. Spiritual wellness includes the development of characteristics such as, compassion, forgiveness, altruism, optimism, and happiness. It is also a sense of belonging to something greater than oneself, and may also include formal or informal spiritual practice, religion or faith.
Spiritual wellness includes, but is not limited to:
- Guiding sense of purpose and meaning
- Alignment with one’s own values/moral principles
- Belonging to something greater than oneself
- Spiritual practice/faith
- Capacity for forgiveness
- Optimism and hopefulness
- Idealism and altruism
- Compassion for others regardless of background
- Inner harmony, happiness, and peace
- Contributing to the greater good
Tips On Managing Spiritual Wellness
- Connect to a Religious Faith: Religion can be defined as organizational beliefs or adherence to institutionally based belief systems or dogma (PubMed). Spirituality, which can include believing in a higher power and individual meaning in self in a religious context, is often practised in religions, such as Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, or Hinduism (PubMed). It is important to note that to be spiritually well it does not mean you have to participate in a religious faith; spirituality goes beyond religion, and you can be spiritually well while being secular.
- Do some volunteering: giving back to a community, whether it is your local community or abroad, does not only help the recipient of the help, but can also help develop a sense of satisfaction and purpose in life; being able to do something meaningful and making a positive difference in others’ lives can feel like a big achievement to some. Whether it is a local animal shelter, a charitable organization, or just even something as simple as mowing an elderly neighbour’s lawn, volunteering can cultivate a culture of kindness and compassion.
- Practice Gratitude: Gratitude can be defined as affirmations of goodness: affirming that there are good things in the world, gifts and benefits we have received (Berkeley). This can include being thankful for the little things in life, good people, and anything worth being grateful for. Practicing gratitude can help shift your attention from negative emotions, and help you focus on the positive things in life (Berkeley).
- Do some mindfulness activities: mindfulness itself is the basic ability to be in the moment, aware of where you are and what you are doing, and not overly reactive to the things around us (Mindful). Focusing on everything that is happening in the present moment can help us experience pleasure when it’s there; imagine going on a hike but thinking about a small mistake you made at work the whole time, not enjoying yourself at all. Putting your attention to the present moment and experiencing pleasure when it’s there can help you practice gratitude and navigate difficult moments in life with acceptance and grace (Psych Central).
- Find your passions: seek out something you are passionate about, whether it’s a new hobby like painting or hiking or a social cause you want to fight for. Uncovering things you are passionate about can help guide a sense of purpose. Purpose in life can make you feel like life is meaningful to yourself and to others. Passion is what interests you and is motivated by energy and is the “what”, while purpose is motivated by conviction and is the “why” (Optimum Health). Volunteering, reading, and connecting to a community can help you discover passion and purpose in life.
Resources
Looking to enhance your spiritual wellness? Below are some resources both on and off campus, as well as general information related to spiritual wellness.