Everyone celebrates the holiday season differently. We can express our belief in the principles of Christmas in many ways. No matter how you celebrate you deserve to share happiness of the season. I wish everyone health and happiness as you wrap up 2019 and move forward to 2020. For my holiday blog, I share some thoughts on spiritual wellness.
We commonly define spiritual wellness as obtaining meaning and purpose in life. Zippo (2010) provides a framework for a wellness journey by stating:
Wellness encompasses a balance of the multidimensional journey that each of us takes at one time or another.
Each of our journeys is unique and different. We all strive to succeed as individuals who create our own paths in life.
Overall wellness, integration of body, mind, and spirit, is an intricate personal journey leading to an enhanced quality of life. Spiritual wellness depends on our beliefs and values. How each of us answer questions such as those below will guide this journey.
Is my life purposeful?
Is my spiritual growth defined and expanding?
Do I show trust with others and am I able to forgive?
Are my values and actions consistently presented?
Am I grateful and open to others’ beliefs & values?
A willingness to be inquisitive and curious as you explore your spiritual essence contributes to overall wellness, personal growth, and development. The goal is harmony between self, others, and the world. Finding ways to “practice” or apply your spiritual beliefs and values may contribute to your overall wellness; it may also improve the lives of those around you. The National Wellness Institute describes the spiritual connection of self and others. It is better to…
…ponder the meaning of life for ourselves and to be tolerant of the beliefs of others than to close our minds and become intolerant.
…live each day in a way that is consistent with our values and beliefs than to do otherwise and feel untrue to ourselves.
Putting your spiritual growth into practice may include:
**volunteering
**making social contributions
**fellowship experiences with others lead to optimism and belonging
**expressing compassion and forgiveness
So what is spirituality? American Nurse Today 2018 blog answers this question.
It’s about what inspires you, what gives you hope, and what you feel strongly about. Your spirit is the seat of your deepest values and character. Whether or not you practice a religion, you can recognize that a part of you exists beyond the analytical thinking of your intellect; it’s the part of you that feels, makes value judgments, and ponders your connection to others, to your moral values, and to the world. For this reason, spirituality frequently is discussed in terms of a search. Spiritual wellness is a continuing journey of seeking out answers and connections and seeing things in new ways. It also means finding your purpose in life and staying aligned with it.
Wrapping Up and Looking Forward
How do you define spiritual wellness?
How can that definition find expression in a meaningful practice?
How can you incorporate that practice into your life?
How can you use that practice to help you with the everyday stresses and anxieties?
Thanks for reading.