The sixth area on the wheel of health is spirituality.
I define spirituality as attending to practices that support the essence of you...your spirit, chi, inner being, deeper self...whatever you want to call it. I realize this may be a non-traditional approach to spirituality and for many, organized religion plays a large part in their spiritual life. I grew up in organized religion, left as a teenager, and never felt drawn to return. For me, it was not a place to nurture my spirit. The single most important ingredient for spirit nurturing for me, is aligning my behaviour and beliefs with my values.
My values include:
Self-Care
Independence
Variety
Creativity
Beauty
Learning
Essence
Relationships
I view my essence as a combination of body, mind, and spirit, so I find spiritual experiences in basically anything I do where I am deeply present.
Because I value self care these practices are spiritual (BODY)…
Dressing in comfortable clothing I enjoy
Walking or any other movement that feels good
Planning and preparing food I love to eat
Eating a salad every day
Drinking tea
Taking a hot shower on a chilly morning
Because I value learning, independence, and essence these practices are spiritual (MIND)…
Reading
Writing
Problem Solving
Organizing
Learning
Systemizing
Because I value creativity, relationships, and beauty these practices are spiritual (SPIRIT)...
Being in nature
Spending time with family and friends
Creating something
Teaching
Helping
Dancing
Listening to music
Just being
The result of spiritual practices for me include:
Feeling more peaceful and present
Clarity about life and my visions
Feeling connected to myself and others
Feeling connected to a greater good
Surrendering to the unknown
Creating a safe haven for myself and those around me
If you are feeling spiritually unwell, try something simple. A walk, a bath, or some tea. We like to make things complicated, myself included, with lots of rules and expectations. Maybe helping your kid with their homework is spiritual and as an added bonus very practical:)
Resources used for this episode:
The Mindful Diet by Ruth Wolever, Beth Reardon, and Tania Hannon
Yours In Health,
