Connecting With Your Spiritual Self

What is spiritual wellness?

Spiritual wellness can be understood as expanding a sense of purpose and meaning in life. Spirituality is a broad yet personal concept, and can often mean different things for different people.

Examples of spiritual wellness can include

A feeling of connection to something larger than ourselves
- Searching for meaning in life
- A system of personal belief

Spirituality & Religion

How are they connected?

Spirituality can have some overlap with religion:
- Seeking comfort or strength in prayer, or a personal relationship with a higher power are examples of such.
- However, spiritual wellness isn’t only for the religious

However spiritual wellness isn’t only for the religious.

Seeking feelings of love and belonging by spending time serving the community.
Doing yoga, taking a walk outside, and practicing mindfulness are all examples of non-religious spiritual practices.

Why is spiritual wellness important?

Spiritual wellness can have a positive impact on one’s mental health

It can also improve our relationships by teaching us to have forgiveness, gratitude, self-control, and compassion toward ourselves and to those around us.

Experiencing a meaningful connection with something larger than ourselves can also give us positive feelings such as contentment, awe, acceptance, and hope.

Having a healthy spiritual outlook may also help us to find meaning in challenging circumstances.

Spirituality can provide us crucial resources that can help us cope during stressful time.

The feelings of peace and purpose that come with spiritual wellness can aid us when we’re going through periods of emotional stress or physical illness.

How can spiritual wellness help me to overcome difficult situations?

Being aware of our connectedness to the current moment, to others, and to the world around us can widen our perspectives.

For instance, rather than viewing a challenge as a result of bad luck and being demoralised, one may instead feel empowered to navigate such a challenge if they carry a sense of purpose, comfort, or hope.

Spiritual wellness can also put us in touch with our values, giving us meaning and direction, guiding our decision making, and giving us the willpower to overcome difficult situations.

What is my level of spiritual wellness

Holistic health encompasses more than just the body

Taken as a whole, people can reach for wellness physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Having all aspects of one’s health in balance makes it easier to find joy in our everyday life.

The aspect of spiritual health may be difficult to define, but basically, being spiritually healthy can lead to us having a better sense of purpose and belonging in our lives.

So what is spiritual wellness?

In general, spirituality is the ability to have faith and recognise the connections between you and the people around you.

A sense of connection is a major resource for those in recovery. Social isolation and the inability to form healthy connections with others is one of the leading risk factors for addiction. When people can connect openly and with security, the need to seek pleasure and stimulation from chemical sources diminishes.

There’s no specific science to spiritual health, but more and more researchers are recognizing the importance of connection in long-term rehabilitation. Let's take a quiz to find out more about spirituality in one's daily life.

Spiritual Wellness Test

Do you feel like you have purpose and meaning in your life?

Read each statement carefully and respond honestly by using the following scoring:

Almost Always = 2 points Sometimes/ Occasionally = 1 point Very Seldom = 0 points

I feel comfortable and at ease with my spiritual life.
There is a direct relationship between my personal value and daily actions.
When I get depressed or frustrated by problems, my spiritual beliefs and value give me direction.
Prayer, mediation and/ or quiet personal reflection is/are important in my life.
Life is meaningful for me, and I feel a purpose in life.
I am able to speak comfortably about my personal values and beliefs.
I am consistently striving to grow spiritually and I see it as a lifelong process.
I have a strong sense of hope and optimism in my life and use my thoughts and attitude in life-affirming ways.
I appreciate the natural forces that exist in the universe

Your score for total Spiritual Wellness: _

Understanding your response to the quiz

1. Do you have a well-defined faith or set of beliefs?

Understanding morals and ethics based on your beliefs allows you to make choices that don’t lead to guilt and negative emotional spirals. Being proud of your decisions is an important part of your holistic wellness.

2. Do you regularly commune with a higher power or spend time on meditation?

For some, prayer is a form of meditation that involves reaching out while also looking inward.

The quiet practice of introspection is an important aspect of spirituality. Mindfulness meditation teaches the practice of awareness without judgement. By learning to acknowledge thoughts without obsessing over them, the same skills translate into everyday activities.

Something that may have turned into an all-day stressor before meditation may become a momentary mood change. An altercation or stressor becomes something you notice, but not something you focus on.

3. Do you sometimes feel hopeless or alone?

While depression is often correlated with addiction, feelings of hopelessness can also be an indicator of poor spiritual health.

Part of developing a strong spiritual foundation often begins with building relationships that matter. Solid friendships and mentors who share the same beliefs can play a key role in helping to cope with negative emotions when they surface.

4. Do you have a clear sense of how you contribute to society?

Feeling like a part of a community often starts with establishing a sense of your place within it.

While no one should need a reason to exist, having a higher purpose can help those in recovery find meaning in their lives, particularly on days when sobriety is more difficult.

Becoming a role model or being the person someone depends on can create stronger ties to your community. Those ties are important and also help one’s feelings of self-worth.

5. Do you have a strong and supportive network of friends and mentors?

If you have lots of friends, it might feel like you have a strong support network, but not all relationships are equal. Solid friendships are the ones that don’t break even when under strain. Good friends are those who can tell you hard truths and speak from a place of love while doing so.

Good friends build you up and help you reach out. They are part of the fabric of your life, and nurturing these relationships is crucial to developing a strong sense of spiritual wellness. Long- lasting, meaningful relationships are also some of the best defences against relapse.

6. Do you have a clear sense of how you contribute to society?

A crucial part of spirituality is determining your life’s purpose and what makes life meaningful to you. Understanding this can help you reprioritise and align your life with your values.

7. Do I feel in harmony with the world around me?

The world around us has a massive influence on us, and it’s essential to understand how we’re engaging with the world.

Not being in harmony with the world around you can cause inner turmoil, and as a result, you may find yourself lashing out at others, feeling unhappy, or beginning to isolate yourself.

8. Do I feel at peace with myself?

Here are some signs by which to gauge whether you have inner peace:

You don’t rush to judge yourself or others
Your thoughts aren’t constantly racing
You worry less
You have an inner joy that you feel more regularly and deeply
You wholeheartedly love yourself and others

9. Do I feel at peace with myself?

The world is made up of different people whose personal experiences have led them to their own unique set of beliefs; it’s apparent in interacting with others that not everyone will share our beliefs. Everyone has a right to their own opinions and can offer a different perspective.

A differing opinion shouldn’t lead to conflict; a spiritually healthy and accepting person can listen to opposing views with an open mind and appreciate hearing a new perspective without having feelings of anger or rejection. Keeping an open mind with people helps you foster healthier relationships!

10. Perspective on your progress

One way to practise perspective on your progress is by journaling what you’re grateful for every morning. It can foster a positive mindset for the rest of the day and serve as a tangible reminder of how far you’ve come.

How can I improve my spiritual wellness

Both Physically & Mentally

Engaging in exercises to improve spiritual wellness

1. Yoga

Yoga can facilitate an improvement in our spiritual well-being and self-awareness, helping us develop an integrative worldview.
Incorporating yoga in your life fosters a sense of inner peace and freedom and allows you to connect with yourself.
Yoga also provides physical benefits such as an improvement to your physical fitness.
Start practicing yoga by signing up for a class. Or, you can also practice chair yoga indoors as an easier and more convenient alternative to more traditional forms of yoga.

2. Meditation

Devote some time to connecting with yourself.
Finding time to meditate amidst a busy schedule can be difficult.
Meditation can be as short as 5 to 10 minutes. Incorporating meditation into your routine can be as simple as meditating when you wake up or before you go to sleep. You can also start by finding time throughout the day to take a break and meditate; taking regular breaks from work can help improve your productivity.
Meditation lets you relax and destress while being mindful. When you meditate, you can clear and free your mind which empowers you to reach a higher consciousness.
Meditation is associated with mindfulness which helps us to develop skills such as learning to live life with a non-judgemental attitude.
Find a comfortable position and close your eyes
- It should be sufficiently comfortable, but not too comfortable to a point where you can easily fall asleep
Go with the flow of the meditation process
- There is no structure to meditation. Allow the process to take its natural course and do not worry about doing it right or the results.
Allow your thoughts to enter your mind but do not react to it
- We are constantly bombarded with many different thoughts everyday. These thoughts are also present when we meditate. Acknowledge these thoughts but do not let them control you.
Say a prayer
- A prayer need not be religious. It can be anything that has a positive meaning to you or something you enjoy. Observe your breathing and think about your prayer. Thoughts may interrupt but your prayer can redirect your attention back to your breathing.
Reflect
- Open your eyes and stay in the same position. Feel the lightness in your body and reflect on the entire meditation process and your experience as you meditated.

3. Serve the community

Engaging and serving others cultivates empathy and compassion
Listen closely to what others have to say and empathise with their experience and perspective. Put your focus towards listening to what the other person has to say , and away from what you want to say or what you stand to gain from the conversation.
Actively reflect on the positive qualities of others and try to see others as a whole. When we acknowledge a person as a whole, we better understand their complexities and see their potential for kindness and compassion.

4. Exercise regularly & eat a healthy diet

A nutritious diet will remind you that you care a lot about your own life and body.
We may sometimes overlook the impact of food and nutrition on our body and its functions.
Mindful eating allows you to pay attention to what you are eating to ensure proper digestion and maximize nutritional benefit. Mindful eating also helps you practice staying present in the moment as you are experiencing things.
When we are aware of the food we put in our body, we can make better choices with our food. It also slows the eating process down which allows us to destress and eat less, improving our digestion.

5. Engage in nature, art, music, or travel

Go outdoors and connect with nature. Take a leisure walk outside and engage with the aspects of nature such as the sky, wind, and trees. Connecting with nature is associated with lower stress, higher social interconnectedness, and a higher sense of purpose and belonging in the world.
Immerse yourself in music that you enjoy. Music can be a way to help you connect with your emotions and can evoke feelings of purpose, meaning, and hope.Spend time in a museum or art gallery and reflect on a piece of art that catches your interest. Reflect on why you are drawn to a particular piece of art and what it means to you. Travel overseas or take a day trip. Travelling enables you to relax and gives you the space to do some self-reflection. When you travel, you become more in tune with yourself, who you are, and your place in the world.

Improving spiritual wellness mentally

Exploring your spiritual core

Engaging with yourself and thinking extensively about who you are and your meaning. Questions you can reflect on:
- Who am I?
- What is my purpose?
- What do I value most?
- What drives me?
Many people have difficulty describing themselves and who they are.
You can partake in a value sort activity to better understand yourself. The Value Sort encourages you to reflect on what is important to you.
Self-reflecting helps you to be more aware of yourself and pick things up about yourself you've never noticed before.
Finding who you are or working towards becoming who you want to be can help you achieve fulfilment.

Manifesting feelings of love and belonging

Acknowledge and Verbalise your Thoughts
- Expressing your thoughts and feelings can help you focus on what is important.
- If you feel confused and are unable to understand what it is you are feeling, it can help to verbalise it or write down what you are experiencing. Externalising your inner emotions and thoughts can provide you more clarity on what you’re experiencing and how you can move forward.
Think Positively
- Reframe your perspective and try to think differently. Shift your focus towards the positive aspects of your life.
- When we remove negativity or reframe our perspective on things, it can enable us to feel more relaxed.
Practice forgiveness
- Forgiving and letting go can be difficult, but overcoming your negative feelings can allow you to achieve fulfilment.
- Reflect on your experience and emotions - How are your feelings affecting you? What is the cause of the emotions you are feeling?
- Forgiveness is personal. You don't need to take action to rectify your relationship with the person who you feel has wronged you. Focus on your feelings, be kind to yourself and let go of negative feelings

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