Spirituality is often times looked at as over-rated in todays culture leading many to have a mis-conception of what spirituality wellness really is.

“The spiritual dimension is your center, your commitment to your value system. It draws upon the sources that inspire and uplift you and tie you to timeless truths of humanity.”

Stephen Covey

To begin understanding spirituality, lets look at the word “spiritual” referring to one’s innermost core detentions such as having a sense self, where you came from, where you’re heading and how you might get there.

Spirituality takes on many different meanings. For some it means traditional religious values as for others it means the quality of personal relationship (including yourself) or love for nature. Finding meaning and purpose in life is important for reaching towards your wellness goals.

Healthy Spiritual Wellness: Behaviors associated to those with healthy spiritual wellness include volunteerism, social responsibility, optimism, contributing to society, connectedness with others, feeling of belonging/being part of a group, and love of self/reason to care for self.

Other signs include a positive outlook on life, acceptance of death, forgiveness, self-acceptance, commitment, meaning and purpose, clear values, sense of worth, peace, worship, prayer, and meditation.

Spiritual Atrophy: Behaviors associated with poor spiritual health include emptiness, anxiety, loss of meaning, self-judgement, self condemnation, apathy, conflicting values, and irritation.

Here are some helpful tips to improving and becoming more aware of your spiritual health.

• Be Quiet. Set aside time to be still and quiet. Our spiritual truths come from a quiet voice within.
• Be open to the spiritual. Look at the spiritual side of events such as gardening or talking a walk in nature.
• Be inquisitive and curious. Keeping an active searching mind increases your spiritual centering. Trying a silent retreat may renew your optimism and enthusiasm. Meditation and yoga may provide that same effect too.
• Be receptive to pain and grief. Life without pain leads to a shallow existence. Pain explores the widest part of our being.
• Be playful. Being playful breeds spontaneity enthusiasm and celebration. This is found listening to music, dancing, playing, laughing singing and much more.

For more information you can visit: https://studentwellness.uni.edu/spirituality