Self-care practices that keep your mind and body at their best are commonly talked about.  I’ve written about them myself and I swap ideas about the best techniques with my clients, friends, and colleagues all the time.  But what about spiritual self-care?

It is an aspect of self-care that is often ignored or taken for granted. You might even consider it less important.  I’ll bet you talk with friends about the great massage you just had or the lovely lunch with a dear friend.  Those are two great ways to refresh your body and mind. But, when was the last time you talked about your morning devotional time, meditation session, church service or a quiet walk in nature?

 

A Sum of Our Parts

If you believe, as I do, that we are the sum of all our parts—body, mind, and spirit—then it stands to reason that we must take care of each one.  If you ignore one, you can feel out of synch, off-balance, misaligned.

I think we can talk about self-care of our body and minds more easily because they are often practiced with others. They are more public. You go to a day-spa for a facial, to a restaurant to share a healthy meal with friends, join a yoga class.  It’s active and social.

Spiritual self-care is more private. Quieter. At least it is for me. I don’t often share what happens in my alone time, even with my closest relationships.

As a result, it is time you could more easily set aside when you’re in a rush.  If no one knows about it, you can get away with ignoring your spiritual well-being for a day, or a week, or more.  There is no one to hold you accountable—except you and your whole being.

 

What is Spiritual Self-care?

It is a practice that deepens your connection with yourself.  Some refer to this as a connection with God, your Higher Self, your Inner Wisdom, or the Universe, to name a few.  For some people, it includes rituals that are religious or cultural.

A spiritual self-care practice can help you discover the authentic you deep inside and what is most important to you.  You may discover your soul.

And, it separates the real you from your ego and allows thoughts and feelings to flow, bringing you a sense of peace and calm.

 

Why We Should Not Ignore Spiritual Self-care

You know how important it is to feed your body with healthy food.  You also need to get enough rest to recharge and exercise to keep fit.  In the same vein, it is important to renew your spirit.  Here are six reasons why spiritual self-care should not be ignored.

1. Supports the well-being of your mind and body. It’s all connected because you are all connected.  When you spend time in spiritual self-care, like meditation, it is soothing.  It can bring a calmness to your body and create peace of mind. From this relaxed state, you are open to receive and give freely.
2. Brings meaning to your life. Especially when you are facing major life-events that threaten to rock your world, focusing on your spiritual well-being can give you direction.  Life-changing moments may leave you wondering who you are now that you’re divorced, lost your job or buried a loved one. Finding a faith-based community that supports you and shares your beliefs can help you see beyond your own misery and connect you with a power bigger than your own.
3. Helps you find your life purpose. You may find yourself going through your daily life doing what other people think you should do. Being who they think you should be. If this does not excite and delight you, it might be time for a change.  Getting in touch with who you really are, what you value most and what you want your life to be like is an outcome of spiritual self-care.  It could start with a gratitude practice, being grateful for all that you’ve learned till now. You might follow that with finding a mentor or coach who can help you discover who you are and what it is you’re meant to do in this lifetime.

 

The Best Part

1. Aligns you with your Core Values. When you minimize distractions and become quiet, it is the best time to ask yourself some meaningful questions about what you value most. Walking in your favorite place in nature is a perfect idea to accomplish this.   Leaning into those core values and letting them guide your choices and decisions will become the guidance you need to move forward. Your values become the foundation for the bridge you build to become your best self.
2. Clears the way for Vision. When you practice spiritual self-care, along with care for your body and mind, it brings clarity and your vision for the future can emerge.  It helps you to become calm. From that place, you create peace of mind.  This allows you to see that there is a power greater than you, discover your life purpose and honor your core values.  From this point, a crystal-clear picture of where you are going come into view.
3. Energizes you into Action. You will find a steady diet of this kind of self-care is motivating. In other words, momentum starts to build, so you can be propelled into taking the steps you want to take to make your vision a reality. You develop a passion and a purpose.

 

It is Not a Fad

Self-care is not selfish.  Moreover, it is necessary if you want to be the best version of yourself.

It is a practice that is particularly hard for women.  Can you relate?  That is because you are so busy and take on so much responsibility, with career, family, caregiving, community and more.  You may often put your own self-care on the back burner and sometimes never get to it at all.

Ensuring that you have a balanced self-care practice, including spiritual self-care, will help you to navigate the daily trials and tribulations of life.  Moreover, it will be a saving grace when those major events that turn your world upside down.

 

Step Onto Your Bridge

When life-changing moments flip your world upside down, I create a bridge so you can turn chaos into calm. You build resilience and learn to live a life guided by your own values and vision. Are you ready to take the first step onto your bridge? Do you want to explore how change can impact you? Would you like to learn how to move through it with more dignity and grace?  I’m here to help. Get my free ebook From Darkness to Light: Learning to Adapt to Change and Move Through Transition.