Self-Care Isn’t Selfish: Spiritual Self-Care

When was the last time you nurtured your spirit? We tend to focus a great deal of our energy and time nurturing the physical body through diet and exercise, but our spiritual health is often forgotten, ignored, or pushed to the back of our minds when we need to focus on something else.

What Is Spiritual Self-Care?
Spirituality has different meanings for everybody, usually influenced by the ideologies you grew up with. Many associate spirituality with religion or cultural traditions. Observing rituals, attending religious services or ceremonies, and studying religious texts are types of spiritual self-care for billions of people around the world.

For others, the concept of spirituality is experienced in nature, in personal relationships, or within oneself. It could be through art, music, and dance; anything that is meaningful and kindles a sense of sacredness, even if only felt by the individual. 

Spirituality is a personal practice. No matter what path is chosen, they all converge upon something you desire on some level—the need for connection, purpose, and happiness.

Why Is Spiritual Self-Care Important?
You can be the healthiest person but still feel off balance, both mentally and physically. Emotional and spiritual well-being have a deep influence that trickles down into and impacts the mind as well as physical body. 

Taking time for spiritual self-care encourages introspection and can offer clarity and comfort. Studies have shown how cultivating a spiritual life can have a very real impact for a person’s overall health. Spiritual self-care can help you to:

• Improve relationships and connections with others
• Experience more inner peace
• Gain clarity on what makes you happy
• Enhance feelings of oneness and universality
• Diminish feelings of isolation and loneliness
• Deepen relationship with self

Not sure where to begin? Here are a few spiritual self-care tips to get you started.

1. Meditate: Meditation is one of the easiest, most accessible spiritual practices to maintain. It may take a little encouragement to get started, but once you get going it’s hard to imagine life without it!
2. Practice Yoga: The intention behind yoga is to harmonize your body, mind, and spirit and is individualized according to what your needs are at the time.
3. Mindful Walking: Research shows that people who suffer from mental health conditions can benefit from simply going on walks! Any form of physical activity is beneficial, but walking is different. It allows you to press pause on life and just be in the moment. Breathing in the fresh air, feeling the pavement under your feet, and seeing the wide-open sky are subtle ways that ground and nourish the senses.
4. Clear Your Space: You are constantly exchanging energy and information with others, and it’s natural that you may end up being affected in some way. It’s hard to connect to your true self if you are feeling tired or dragged down with clutter, be that in your physical space, or your mental space. Take some time to tidy up a bit. The feeling of accomplishment can work wonders!
5. Connect with Community: Humans are communal by nature. Unfortunately, the lifestyle many people lead today does not often support this way of life. Connection, laughter, exchange of ideas, emotional support, and strength to persevere are some of what you can experience through community.
6. Journal: Journaling is another way to tap into the deep recesses of your mind and heart. The act of writing sifts and processes thoughts and emotions. Problems, worries, and negative emotions can crowd the mind and dampen your spirit. Get them out of your mind, and onto paper.
7. Read Inspiring Material: You are inundated with information from many places, and it’s not all positive. It can sometimes be hard to feel inspired or uplifted. Make it a point to have on your bookshelf or nightstand a book or other reading material that inspires you. Right before bed, rather than thinking about your day and any worries, have your last thoughts be positive.
8. Be in Nature: Nature heals. The smell of the earth, the sound of birds or water, the sight of trees swaying in the wind, or waves crashing on the shore make your senses come alive. You can’t help but disconnect from the day and bask in the healing that comes when surrounded by nature. You are in the moment and there is a sense of experiencing something greater than yourself. 
9. Unplug from Technology: While technology is a blessing, it also has the downside of being extremely distracting. Many of us pick up our devices and start to scroll without consciously deciding to do so. Being more mindful of our screen time comes with a slew of benefits: 
   1. More time to observe and reflect
   2. Increased creativity
   3. Improved relationships
   4. Better night’s sleep
   5. Better sense of self and needs
10. Practice Forgiveness: Life is too short and too valuable to remain stuck in patterns that don’t serve you. When you are unable to forgive someone, it holds you back from fully experiencing life. Much energy is diverted to maintaining a grudge or similar when that energy could instead be directed toward creating the life you want. 

It’s important to stay present and accept pleasure and pain as part of your journey to spiritual health and balance. It’s natural to lean toward pleasure and comfort. It takes concerted effort and discipline to begin exploring the truth of who you are, and to create a stronger connection to your true self. Try one or two things from this list. Keep it simple. If what you try doesn’t do much for you, try something else. This is a sacred journey and there is no right or wrong path! The most important thing is that you stay true to yourself while exploring new and exciting ways to self-care.​

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