October’s Theme: Spiritual Wellness

When I started this year long wellness challenge I didn’t put a ton of planning into how each month would go or when we would focus on different themes, but the timing of this month’s challenge feels just right. October’s theme is spiritual wellness. At a time when there seems to be so much uncertainty, focusing on connecting with something greater than ourselves is a welcome adventure. So what exactly is spiritual wellness? The answer depends on where you look, but in my research the common theme looks something like this “spiritual wellness connects us with something greater than oneself and provides us with systems of beliefs, values, principles and morals that guide our actions and give us purpose and meaning in life.” Why is spiritual wellness important? It can help ground us, particularly in the face of adversity and during periods of change. I’ve been talking a lot lately about finding my own purpose, and yet I never really thought of it in a spiritual sense.

Spirituality can mean different things to everyone and I’m not here to tell you what is right and wrong. Some may find spirituality through religion, others through nature or personal relationships. It’s a lifelong journey with ebbs and flows, sometimes it may feel more prevalent or important. Wherever you are in that process, today I am going to share some questions to ask and actions you can take to explore this aspect of wellness. I am also really excited for two posts later this month from women that I think will be offer to able some really great insight and advice on spirituality and finding purpose.

I think there’s a lot of attention on finding and getting a sense of purpose from our career, and I don’t think that’s necessarily important. Of course you want to be fulfilled, but what gives our lives meaning and purpose can come from many different things. The key is discovering what that is, and finding ways to incorporate it into our lives.

Questions to ask yourself

1. What gives my life meaning and purpose?

2. How do I get through difficult times and where do I find comfort?

3. Am I tolerant of other people’s views about life issues?

4. Do I make attempts to expand my awareness and understanding of those different from me?

5. Do I make time for myself and for relaxation?

6. Do my values guide my decisions and actions?

As I said before spirituality looks different for everyone. These are just suggestions to help get you started.

Meditation.

Some helpful phone apps for meditation are Headspace and Calm. Another form of meditation I’ve been exploring is using crystals and either tarot or spirit guide cards. I really love collecting crystals and placing them around the house. Some books I like are Elemental Energy and High Vibrational Beauty. I typically prefer to buy crystals in person but Etsy is also a good option. The Wild Unknown Animal Spirit Deck and Guidebook is really good (the same author also has a tarot deck and guidebook). I also received this Goddess Guidance deck as a gift and I love it and I bought this tarot deck over the summer.

Yoga.

Craig and I use YogaGlo and I’ve also heard great things about Find What Feels Good with Adrienne. Of course you can also go to a local yoga studio. I tend to like Hatha and Vinyasa classes, this is a good list explaining what some of the different classes are like.

Journaling.

This was something I wanted to do at the start of the year and I STILL haven’t done it. I have the 5 minute journal which, as part of this challenge I plan to pick up and start using this week. I recently discovered Spirit Daughter and ordered her Moon workbooks which I plan to use this month.

Spending time in nature.

This is always one of the best and easiest ways for me to feel more centered and connected to myself. Whether it’s a walk at the beach, a hike through the woods or a few days in the mountains, nature is always good for the soul.

Volunteer.

Giving your time and energy to help others is incredibly rewarding and can give a great sense of purpose. Participate in a local beach clean up, spend time with animals at a shelter or find out what your local women’s shelter needs. There are always organizations looking for volunteers.

Stay tuned for more on this topic and feel free to chime in below. Would love to know if you’ve thought about this at all and if there’s any other suggestions for working on this.