Spiritual Self-Care: How To Practice It
It can be very easy for us to feel unbalanced and uncentered in the world that we live in. Taking care of ourselves in times of intense stress can set the tone for how we overcome difficult obstacles.
Moreover, taking care of yourself even when life is going well can help us maintain a healthy and happy mindset even when life doesn’t go our way. Read on as we explore spiritual self-care and what you can do to practice it.
What Is Spiritual Self-Care?
Spiritual self-care is taking care of yourself and connecting with either your higher power or your own internal power so that you can be the best version of yourself.
Spirituality can mean something different to every person that you ask. Whether spirituality is religion, faith, or simply living every day following your moral compass, every single person can benefit from spiritual self-care.
Because spirituality is such a significant part of many peoples’ lives, maintaining your beliefs and evaluating them every day is essential for spiritual self-care. Regardless of your beliefs, you must constantly check yourself to ensure your lifestyle is in line with what you believe is right.
Why Do I Need Spiritual Self-Care?
Everybody needs self-care. Self-care is exactly what it sounds like —taking care of yourself. But spiritual self-care can be especially important.
For many people, whatever spiritual beliefs they have often helped them feel empowered and peaceful. But if we’re not regularly maintaining that relationship with our spirituality and mindfulness, we might begin to feel drained. When this occurs, it can affect the way we function in life.
How Can I Practice Spiritual Self-Care?
Because every person is different, how one person practices spiritual self-care may be different than someone else’s method. The important thing to note is which practice can help you feel the most fulfilled and centered in your life.
Take Care of Your Physical Health
It’s difficult to practice spiritual self-care when you are not taking care of your body as well. Listening to what your body needs, and going easy on yourself when you need to rest, are essential for staying healthy in all aspects of your life.
Your body needs the right kinds of fuel and attention. High quality and consistent sleep, self-love, and spiritual self-care can set you on the right path toward living a peaceful and balanced life.
Exercise
Exercising every day, or as often as you can, can release endorphins in your body and help you to feel relaxed and uplifted. Endorphins are happy hormones and can help us maintain a happy mood when we release them every day.
In addition to exercise, getting outside and getting fresh air can also help to nurture your spirituality and mental well-being. Sunshine gives us vitamin D, which may help us maintain healthy energy and focus levels. This can give you a clearer sense of self and take care of your spiritual needs.
Meditation and Mindfulness
Meditation is a time for you to unplug from the outside world and focus on your mind, body, and spirituality. Mindfulness meditation has been shown to lower cortisol levels and reduce feelings of stress and anxiety, helping you to live a more peaceful and fulfilled life.
You might also consider meditating outside. Fresh air and sunshine can help to boost your mood and increase your vitamin D levels for better energy and focus support.
This can also help you feel more centered in nature and connect with your higher power to feel fulfilled and peaceful.
Taking the time to observe and appreciate what is going on around you is essential to practicing spiritual self-care. Allow the time to self examine your life and ensure that your actions and decisions are in line with the goals you have set up for yourself.
Be mindful of those around you as well. Surround yourself with good influences who can encourage you to make good decisions. Make sure you are a good influence to the people you are close to and don’t let negative influences corrupt your view of the world.
Nutrient-Rich Foods
Eating a well-balanced diet rich in essential vitamins and minerals can help to nourish every aspect of your life. Not only are you fueling your body with all the nutrients it craves to work properly, but these foods will also provide you with the strength and energy that you need to maintain your spiritual well-being.
It is easier to care for yourself and your spirituality when you are adequately nourished and well maintained. Foods containing nutrients including essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals, dietary fiber, and healthy amounts of protein can strengthen your body, mind, and soul from the inside out.
Stress Management
Having an outlet to manage your stress levels can help you maintain a happy and healthy spirituality. There are numerous ways to help manage your stress levels, some of which we’ve already discussed, but every person is different, so it’s okay to experiment with some trial and error to find the best method that works for you.
As we mentioned, exercise and meditation can help reduce stress levels by promoting the production of your happy hormones, including dopamine and serotonin. These hormones can help maintain increased feelings of happiness and relaxation, which are essential for spiritual self-care.
Having a hobby or activity that you can enjoy and feel fulfilled from is another great way to maintain your spiritual well-being and practice self-care.
Whether you enjoy a nature walk, your favorite movie, or a sport or game that you can play with your friends, having an activity that you enjoy can help you relax from the stress of everyday life and allow you to unwind.
Social Interactions
While not everybody is extroverted and enjoys spending significant time with others, we as people are social creatures, so a healthy amount of social interaction is an additional way you can practice spiritual self-care.
Surrounding yourself with one (or several!) people who share your spiritual beliefs can help to give you a sense of community with the people around you. Building a community for yourself gives you people to encourage you and lift you up when you need it, and you might be that person for somebody else.
Maintaining healthy relationships can be just as much work as building them, but they are more than worth it. These relationships give you people to celebrate your success and support you in your sorrow.
You can also do many of the spiritual self-care techniques we have discussed with your friends and loved ones. Taking a walk or practicing mindfulness with others can help to strengthen your relationship with your spirituality and with your community members.
In addition to maintaining your relationships with others, be sure to spend time with yourself as well. Take yourself on a date, eat your favorite meal, and listen to what your body needs. You have to take care of yourself in all regards to be the best possible version of yourself.
Therapy or Counseling
If you are struggling to maintain healthy spirituality in your life, consider talking to a therapist or counselor who can help talk you through any mental blocks or issues you are facing.
Many people may feel self-conscious when they go to therapy because they worry about being judged or embarrassed by what they discuss. Just remember, they are there to support you. Counseling is a safe place to express your feelings and seek unbiased and professional guidance.
Even if you are not facing any specific issue in your life, periodically seeing a therapist can help you check in with yourself mentally and make sure you are spiritually in a good place.
Conclusion
Spiritual self-care, just like spirituality, is personal for every single person. Depending on what you believe in, how you choose to practice spiritual self-care and maintain a strong connection with your higher power is completely up to you.
You know what fits your lifestyle best, so even if you have a try a few different methods before finding one that feels right, so long as you are trying and putting in the effort to take care of your spirituality, you are on the right track.
Effects of mindfulness meditation on serum cortisol | NCBI
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