People are taking their physical health more seriously than ever before.
For example, almost 61 million Americans are members of gyms these days. That, according to the same source, is a mighty jump on years gone by!
But what about the other core elements of wellbeing? Physical health is, of course, a vital ingredient to a happy life. Yet there are plenty of fit, healthy, and miserable people in the world.
Clearly, it isn’t enough to tend only to our bodies. To truly take care of ourselves, knowing how to improve spiritual health is all-important too. Everyone stands to gain from looking inward and finding newfound meaning and purpose.
In a life that so often feels devoid of both, though, doing so can be easier said than done. Are you wondering how to enhance your spiritual health?
Read on for 5 key tips that should help.
1. Take Time Out
Most of us live frenetic existences.
We rush from one task to another, with no time to stop and pause. Aside from a vacation or two each year, taking a break feels unfeasible. We tell ourselves this incessant activity is helpful and/or necessary. Neither is true.
For one thing, levels of stress, worry, and anxiety can all reach debilitating heights. You start feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, and deeply unsatisfied with life.
But you end up with no space for stillness either. There’s no opportunity in your schedule to sit, be present, take stock, and gain perspective.
In other words, you stifle your spiritual health.
Having time and space to sit back and do nothing is vital in this regard. It gives you the chance to reflect- to realize how you’re really feeling, to figure out what you really want, and to understand more about your purpose in life.
Do what you can to cultivate these moments in your day(s). Succeed, and you’ll be well on your way to greater spiritual wellbeing.
2. Be Present
Being present is a cornerstone of spiritual health.
The past can be a useful teacher, but it’s also the domain of depression and regret. The future can be full of wonder, but it’s also a trigger for anxiety and fear. In other words, depression, regret, fear, and anxiety reside everywhere except for the present moment.
To be present is to be free of these debilitating experiences. It’s about centering yourself mentally and emotionally in what’s happening this instant.
And, of course, all we ever have is ‘now’! Every past experience was once the ‘now’; everything in the future is just a ‘now’ that’s yet to come.
All told, the present moment holds the key to your spiritual wellbeing. Work hard to root yourself in it wherever possible. You’ll feel less stress, more gratitude, and a heightened state of awareness that all facilitate the development of a sense of meaning in life.
3. Practice Meditation and/or Yoga
Spiritual people have been practicing meditation and yoga for millennia.
They’re both incredible spiritual wellness activities that can have significant mental, emotional, and physical benefits to anybody who partakes in them.
Mindful meditation, for instance, focuses your attention on the here-and-now. You direct your attention to your senses, allow thoughts to come and go, and relieve yourself of the burden of judgment. You bid farewell to stress and welcome a sense of inner calm and tranquillity.
Yoga incorporates a wide array of tools and techniques that can have a wide array of positive effects. Depending on what you do, you may feel energized and lively, or utterly relaxed. Overall, you’ll become more centered and in greater control of your experience.
Try either (or both) of these ancient practices in your bid for better spiritual health. With time and commitment, you’re sure to notice a profound improvement in yourself. This article will tell you more about how prayer and worship can have similar effects.
4. Go Traveling
Hitting the road for an extended period of time can have deep spiritual benefits as well.
You take time out for yourself, away from the usual bubble in which you reside. You leave your comfort zone, leaving friends and family in favor of unfamiliar territory (both literally and figuratively!).
Travelling takes you to a different space, surrounded by novel sights and smells. You do fun and energizing activities in the company of new and exciting people. You challenge yourself, make mistakes, and encounter strange and unexpected things, making memories all the while.
You gain a newfound sense of perspective on life back home. You’ll discover new things about yourself, your goals, and the wider world too. You may find answers to problems you’ve long struggled over and make peace with internal issues.
All told, travel’s about stepping back from the norm and entering a new reality that’s conducive to self-discovery. It’s natural for it to take you on a spiritual journey too.
5. Write a Journal
Writing a journal helps you a) record your day, and b) process anything that’s running through your mind. That second part’s important.
After all, thoughts and feelings are often elusive.
It can be hard to pin them down when they’re confined to your mind. It’s only by putting them into words that you figure out exactly what’s been going on in there! Everything becomes more concrete and comprehensible.
Recording your day delivers a more accurate insight into your internal world.
In essence, then, journaling’s about self-reflection, examination, and understanding- all of which are crucial components to spiritual health. After all, only by understanding who you are and what you want can you attain a sense of meaning and purpose in life.
Now You Know How to Improve Spiritual Health
People everywhere are beginning to give their wellbeing more attention. They’re going to the gym, eating healthier foods, and doing what they can to live a healthy lifestyle all-around.
However, the physical side of life can only take you so far.
To live a contented life that’s full of joy and love, it’s vital to consider your spiritual health as well. Hopefully, these tips have demonstrated how to improve spiritual health to help you do it for yourself.
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