Spiritual wellbeing is not easily defined, because spirituality itself is diverse, and in addition, we are all individuals with differing needs and expectations. If I was pushed, I’d say spiritual wellbeing is being content in the moment, rather than replaying past traumas, worrying about what may happen in the future, and expecting too much from yourselves and others. Buddhists loosely define spirituality as ‘living in tranquility,’ and that works for me as well.
Spiritual wellbeing has nothing to do with religion, it’s more of an ongoing personal project. Concentrate on the things that really matter to you, rather than allowing yourself to be told how you should live, feel and think by those who know little or nothing of the intricate workings of your soul. If the way you live feels right for you, then it is right, so focus on the things that give purpose and meaning to your life, and make time for reflection. You don’t always need to be seen to be doing something; even when you are apparently doing nothing, you are still being you, after all!
Self-care isn’t selfish, it’s essential to your health and happiness, so rest when you need to, say no if you have to, and set boundaries to protect your time and energy. You’re not here to please everyone else, you’re here to live your best life, and leave this world a better place for your presence here. Our default setting is to put the needs of others ahead of our own requirements, and spiritual wellbeing encourages us to focus on our own needs first and foremost. It’s self-centred, but in a nice way that benefits ourselves and everyone around us.
The key to spiritual wellbeing is maintaining a positive outlook. That doesn’t mean going around with a fixed grin on your face when things are falling apart around you, it’s a matter of acceptance. If you can change something, do so, but if you can’t, find a way to live with it rather than letting it spoil your life. Don’t waste precious time on regrets; that’s just stealing your joy in the present moment. Life is a balance, and it’s forever changing, so flow with the change rather than try to halt it. We tend to focus on what we lose when something changes, but if you can shift your thinking to look for the benefits in the change – and I promise you, there will be good things about it – you’ll accept it more easily.
Gratitude is also important to spiritual wellbeing. Under the Law of Attraction, whatever you focus on is returned to you, so if you are grateful for what you have, you will attract more blessings into your life. Likewise, if you worry that you don’t have enough money, for example, you’ll find you have more things to worry about. That’s because the Universe only understands two energies, love and fear. Fear is the energy of lack, love is the energy of gratitude; it’s as simple, and as complicated, as that!
Spiritual wellbeing is all about making the changes that will help you live in tranquility. It’s about knowing yourself, knowing your needs and finding ways to meet them and enrich your life. It’s about self-care, self-respect and self-love.
