Over the last three months, we have discovered ways to give back to ourselves through emotional, physical, and psychological wellness practices. In order to manage our stress and take on challenges as they come to us, it is important to dedicate time each day toward self-care. When we take care of ourselves and feel well, we are able to give more of ourselves to others too. This can create a ripple effect of positivity and giving that will hopefully empower others to take initiative and commit this time for themselves as well.
For the last month of our self-care series, we will be focusing on spiritual wellness. While this might be the most nebulous of the four dimensions of self-care, taking care of your spirit can be one of the most important and influential things you can do to improve your overall well-being. Spiritual wellness focuses on our connection with our essence, purpose, and meaning. Read on to discover three strategies to improve your spiritual health and reconnect with your inner self.
1. Start a journaling practice.
Journaling is a great step to connect more with your spirit. It can be a simple practice a few times a week where you write down your thoughts and feelings about the current events in your life. One way to do this is through stream of consciousness journaling which is where you write without pausing. This style of journaling allows you to write as you think without stopping to judge and can provide a lot of insight into how you are feeling subconsciously. With this approach to journaling, don’t worry about following typical writing parameters such as sentence structure and grammar, and instead, consider what you are learning through the process.
For those who prefer structured journaling, consider making a gratitude list each morning with three things that you are thankful for in your life. Try challenging yourself to not repeat any of the same things each week and you will begin to see all of the wonderful things in your life worth appreciating. You can also make lists of future aspirations, goals, or dreams and refer back to see the progress you are making at achieving each of them.
2. Connect with nature.
Being in nature can be an extremely spiritual experience for those who take the time to pause and recognize the beauty that surrounds them. In everyday life, it can be hard if you are rushing out to run errands or get to work, but try to be intentional in setting aside time to immerse yourself in nature as it can help center and ground your spirit.
Whether it’s going for a walk, sitting in a park, or even opening a window, spend time practicing active listening with the sounds around you. Whether it’s the wind, rain, or sounds of birds chirping, this time can bring incredible inner peace and introspection. Consider inviting a friend along with you for a picnic outside and see how this small act can feed your body, mind, and spirit.
3. Meditate regularly.
Meditation is a simple but incredibly effective practice with a plethora of health benefits ranging from reducing stress to increasing clarity and promoting happiness. The key to effective meditation is consistency. It is inevitable that our minds will wander and lose focus during meditation, but give yourself grace and gently remind yourself to come back to the area of focus.
For those just starting out, try using the free app, Insight Timer, which offers thousands of guided meditation practices at differing lengths. Insight timer also offers live classes and group sessions, so this can be a great way to connect with a like-minded community and friends. Over time with regular meditation practice, you will begin to notice your hard work paying off and will thank yourself for devoting just a few minutes each day to taking care of your spirit.
At Participate Learning, we want to empower our ambassador teachers to build connections and enhance their support systems, share their experiences and challenges, and take initiative in finding ways to uplift themselves and others. Check our Ambassador Teachers Community of Practice for more information on this month’s spiritual self-care activities, and share with us on Twitter how you are prioritizing your spiritual health this month @ParticipateLrng.
