December editorial: spiritual wellbeing

Wellbeing has many components including mental, psychological, social, emotional, and spiritual. Spiritual wellbeing is the ability to experience and integrate meaning and purpose in life through our relationship with others, the environment and ourselves.

Your version of spiritual wellbeing will look different to others — it might be spending time in nature, attending healing/talking circles, sweat lodges, engaging in meditation/prayer, and for others, spiritual wellbeing reflects a religious belief. Because everyone’s path to spiritual wellbeing may be different, everyone needs to explore what they believe and their sense of meaning, purpose and connection with others and the environment. Research suggests developing our sense of spiritual wellbeing and awareness helps in dealing with stress, physical and mental health and helps us navigate life ups and downs.  

Here are some ways spiritual wellbeing can be incorporated into your life:  

Meditation/prayer/affirmations

Take time to focus on yourself through consciously breathing and settling into the present that can help to induce feelings of calm and clear-headedness as well as hope, gratitude, and compassion. Here are some meditation resources you can access at UBC. 

Giving back 

Giving back and being of service to others can be another aspect of spiritual wellbeing. This is something everyone can do in any way they want to do it. Many of us give gifts around the holidays, but there are other things we can do to help others. You can find ways to support those affected by the flooding in B.C., volunteer for a charity, help out at a shelter, physically do something for someone you love or even a stranger. 

Community connections

During challenging times like this, some people often ponder deeper meaning in life, having a spiritual community, support group, grief group, a religious or cultural community can help to provide a sense of belonging and deepen one’s spiritual wellbeing. 

Practicing gratitude 

This holiday season, I invite you to be self-compassionate to yourself as well as those around you. Hone on factors that support your wellbeing, social connection, meditation, being out in nature, and spiritual practices that bring meaning to your life. You can also take a look at this recent article we published: Using gratitude to transcend holiday stress.

Listen to spiritual leaders 

Finally, you might like to attend this upcoming MindWell U webinar: Spiritual Perspectives on Mindfulness-in-Action (you may need to register with MindWell U, when you click the link to get access to the webinar). Taking place on Wednesday, December 8, this webinar will feature leaders from Jewish, Christian, Buddhist and Muslim communities who will discuss: 

• How mindfulness is a connective tissue between many world wisdom traditions 
• The unique ways in which finding presence is approached in each community 
• New outlooks and strategies to find stillness and well-being for all.  

References:  

Rovers, M., & Kocum, L. (2010). Development of a holistic model of spirituality. Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health, 12, 2–24.10.1080/19349630903495475 

Moberg, O. (2002). Assessing and measuring spirituality: Confronting dilemmas of universal and particular evaluative criteria. Journal of Adult Development, 9, 47–60.10.1023/A:1013877201375 

Lucchetti, G., Lucchetti, A.L., Koenig, H.G. (2011). Impact of spirituality/religiosity on mortality: comparison with other health interventions. Explore; 7(4):234-8. 

Joshua  Hicks, Laura King. (2021) Three Ways to See Meaning in Your Life Three Ways to See Meaning in Your Life