“We are all connected; To each other, biologically. To the earth, chemically. To the rest of the universe atomically.” ~ Neil deGrasse Tyson
Many people are resistant to exploring their spiritual well being because they associate spirituality as a strictly religious experience and have become disenchanted or even angry with religion, God, or the people that profess to have the keys to eternal bliss. However, spirituality is the core of wellness and is first found inside of one's self, it is the core of who we are, what we believe, how we see the world and how we connect with it. A person must have an understanding of what their core values and beliefs are in order to have a healthy view of themselves and the world around them, which would be their emotional health. When someone understands their own beliefs and values how they care for their physical body is affected as well. Those who do not work on their spiritual health may struggle more with addictions or relationships with other people.
As far back as we can go in human history there is evidence that man has understood the importance of a spiritual self by artwork and sculptures that have been uncovered. (See Slideshow) History has proven that a culture that begins to abandon spiritual wellness has fallen. This is because when we lose our connection with ourselves, we lose that connection with other people, we become imbalanced and our priorities become confused. The greater the imbalance within us the more likely we are to overcompensate to fill a void leading to selfishness, alienation, self-judgement, apathy, emptiness, and so on. When someone has a healthy spiritual sense of self they are usually more accepting of themselves and others, they are forgiving, have a stronger sense of commitment and peace, have clear values among other positive feelings and emotions. To assess your spiritual wellness take this 10 question spiritual assessment.
When someone feels balanced spiritually they will also feel a strong connection not only with themselves and others but also with a force greater than themselves. This force can mean different things to different people including, God, the power of the universe, or the "source" to name a few. Someone can be devoted to a religious belief or be an atheist and still be spiritually balanced in a clinical sense. When we are focused on keeping our own spiritual health in tact through prayer, meditation, connecting with nature or practicing different forms of creating we are also concentrating on bettering ourselves and growing, leaving us little time to judge or condemn ourselves or others with greater opportunity for love, compassion, contentment, and peace.
Depending on an individual's needs and beliefs there are a variety of ways to improve your spiritual health. Many forms of energy and bodywork can help someone connect with their spiritual self without compromising their belief system or conscience although each practitioner may have a unique approach so you will want to ask them different questions to gain an understanding and rapport prior to having any healing therapies or Wellness Coaching done. Please visit MotionandPotion.com for more information or to have any questions on these different therapies answered.
“The greatest disease in the West today is not TB or leprosy; it is being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for. We can cure physical diseases with medicine, but the only cure for loneliness, despair, and hopelessness is love. There are many in the world who are dying for a piece of bread but there are many more dying for a little love. The poverty in the West is a different kind of poverty -- it is not only a poverty of loneliness but also of spirituality. There's a hunger for love, as there is a hunger for God.” ~ Mother Teresa, A Simple Path: Mother Teresa
What does spirituality mean to you? Please share in the comment section below!
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