Holistic health encompasses more than just the body. When taken as a whole, people need to reach for wellness physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Spiritual health is difficult to define but can lead to a better sense of purpose and belonging. When all aspects of health care in balance, it becomes easier to find joy in everyday life.
So, what is spiritual health? In general, spirituality is the ability to have faith and recognize the connections between you and the people around you. Ready for a spiritual health quiz?
Answer these Questions to Understand Your Spiritual Health
A sense of connection is a major tool for those in recovery. Some studies show that one of the leading causes of addiction is the inability to form healthy connections with other people. When people can connect openly and with security, the need to seek pleasure and stimulation from chemical sources diminishes. Take this spiritual health quiz to find out more about spirituality in daily life. There’s no specific science to spiritual health, but more and more researchers are recognizing the importance of connection in long-term rehabilitation. Answer each question below, then expand the explanation to understand how your response is important.
1. Do you have a well-defined faith or set of beliefs?
Taking the time to codify what you believe can be helpful when trying to make life-changing decisions. Understanding morals and ethics based on your beliefs allows you to make choices that don’t lead to guilt and negative emotional spirals. Being proud of your decisions is an important part of your holistic wellness, and a solid foundation of faith is often a part of the process.
2. Do you regularly commune with a higher power or spend time on meditation?
For some, prayer is a form of meditation that involves reaching out while also looking inward. People may meditate on their actions and ask for guidance for repeating situations. The quiet practice of introspection is an important aspect of spirituality. Mindfulness meditation teaches the practice of awareness without judgment. As Dr. Bruce Goderez describes it in his Psychiatric Times column, meditation is “the art of not taking our own thoughts too seriously.” By learning to acknowledge thoughts without obsessing over them, the same skills translate into everyday activities. Something that may have turned into an all-day stressor before meditation may become a momentary mood change. Plus, the things that may have once caused anxiety have no purchase to continue dragging down your day. Instead, an altercation or other stressor becomes something you notice, but not something you focus on.
3. Do you sometimes feel hopeless or alone?
While depression is often correlated with addiction, feelings of hopelessness can also be an indicator of poor spiritual health. When you lose hope or feel like there is no one around you who cares or who would miss you, it’s not true. What is true is that you may have lost touch with the people who do care or trusted the wrong people with an emotional connection. Part of developing a strong spiritual foundation often begins with building relationships that matter. Solid friendships and mentors who share the same beliefs can play a key role in helping to combat negative emotions when they crop up.
4. Do you have a clear sense of how you contribute to society?
Feeling like part of the community often starts with a sense of your place within it. For example, a person who volunteers at a local nursing home or acts as a Big Brother or Sister to young child has more ties to the community. Those ties are important and also help with feelings of self-worth. While no one should need a reason to exist, having a higher purpose can help those in recovery find meaning in their lives, particularly on days when sobriety is more difficult. Becoming a role model or being the person someone depends on to get groceries or mow their lawn means you have strong ties to your community. Your contributions matter. So, take some time to think about what you already do and how you can expand on your contributions. The rewards are often immediate and paid in happiness.
5. Do you have a strong and supportive network of friends and mentors?
If you have lots of friends, it might feel like you have a strong support network, but not all relationships are created equal. Solid friendships are the relationships that don’t break, even when under strain. Good friends are those who can tell you hard truths and hope you understand that they speak from a place of love. Good friends build you up and help you reach out. They are part of the fabric of your life, and developing these relationships is crucial to developing a strong sense of spiritual wellness. Long-lasting, meaningful relationships are some of the best defenses against relapse. When the people around you care and are invested in your success, the result is dozens of people putting their energy toward the same goal. Finding the right group of friends or family can be challenging, but spirituality often plays a role, giving all parties a shared set of beliefs.
6. Have you researched different religious beliefs to find the one that speaks most clearly to you?
Spirituality and religion are not always intertwined, but for many people, religion is the most comfortable framework in which to explore the spirit. Religion takes beliefs and faith and codifies it in ways that are more accessible to groups of people. Within a religion, you might find prayer an easier mediation medium, or you might look to a religious figure to help you better define what spiritual health looks like for you.
7. Can you separate spirituality from religion?
Yes, spirituality can be separate from religion. Some people may find a shared religion to be comforting and helpful in building support networks, while others may find the framework to be a barrier to spiritual health. Mindfulness and meditation can add value to your lifestyle, regardless of your religious beliefs.
