What is the Spiritual Self?
You may have heard of the term ‘holistic health’ which refers to wellness as a whole being. The four quadrants of holistic health are physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. It’s believed that taking care of ourselves in each quadrant can help us to achieve balance.
Physically, we exercise or eat healthy; mentally, we do crossword puzzles or learn a new language; emotionally, we attend therapy or do something fun. It is the spiritual self that is often overlooked.
Due to reasons such as society assuming that spirituality must be tied to religion, or people being pressured into spiritual practices, there can be a lot of doubt around the idea of a ‘spiritual self’.
So, what is the spiritual self?
Spirituality can include traditional religious practices; however, it's not limited to them alone. The spiritual self is different to the other selves because it is more fluid and unique to each individual. This part of you is where you feel most authentic, connected, and resilient. Your core values, personality, and inner wisdom are part of your spiritual self. By discovering your spiritual self and learning to care for it, you can choose how you wish to show up in the world according to your values.
Connecting to Your Spiritual Self
In this fast-paced world which is too often focused on striving, performing, and achieving, you can forget to slow down and be present in your life. Spiritual self-care helps you to do so – to sense your inner values, give you perspective, and help you to find meaning.
Here are some ways to practice connecting to your spiritual self:
Daily meditation
Set aside some time daily to include meditation in your routine. Start with five minutes and slowly build up to a time that works for you. With practice, meditation can help calm the thoughts in your mind and clear the way for you to tap into your intuition.
Identify your spiritual values
Reflect on what values are most important to the way you wish to live your life and what actions can help guide them. Values could include kindness, patience, engagement, acceptance, calmness, empowerment, and more.
Spend time in nature
Being in nature can create balance on a holistic level by reducing stress and increasing your energy. It gives space to connect with something higher than you but not separate to you. Think about how you feel connected to the beauty and strength of nature around you.
Help out in the community
Helping your community can develop your spiritual self through kindness and compassion. Building community is also a way to feel connected to others in a meaningful way.
Connect to your intuition
Learn to tune into that ‘gut’ feeling, the inner wisdom that exists within us all. Listen to what your heart wants and align with it. This can take some experimenting, so be curious and open during this discovery.
Practice gratitude
Showing appreciation for who and what you have in your life brings your focus to the present and not on always searching for something new. Spread your appreciation and care by simply smiling or saying hello the next time you see your neighbour.
Make space for creativity
Tapping into your creative side can feel spiritual as it can ground you in the present. Listening to music, engaging in a paint night, taking photos while on a walk, reading an interesting novel, writing in a journal are all ways to bring creativity into your life.
Be accepting of others
Try seeing those around you on a human level, beings on their own unique journey. Allow them to be where they are without judging them based on your own values. Know that you may not always be aligned with others, and it’s okay to decide when to support them or not.
Practice self forgiveness
Be kind to yourself as you continue on your spiritual journey. Let go of any judgments of where or who you have been. This can lead to finding freedom and peace within yourself and may help you approach your relationships differently as well.
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