Spiritual Wellness, finding greater purpose

You probably know this, but spiritual wellness is about more than just religion. It is about finding purpose in your life. That can mean different things to different people, and it makes me think of Into the Wild, the movie about Christopher McCandless, the well-brought up Virginian that gives away everything he owns and goes hiking into the Alaskan wilderness. He was apparently smart, a good athlete, and had great job prospects, but he was searching…for something. He died in that Alaskan wilderness when he was just 24 years old, so we can’t question him about if he found his purpose. However, the legend he has become is a testament to the number of people who also seek purpose.

So how do you attain spiritual wellness?

The same way you do anything else. Start with small steps and keep at it. Here are some ways you might get started.

• Explore your spirituality. Ask yourself questions about who you are and who you’re meant to be.
• Write down what you value most.
• Attend a church service or other spiritual event.
• Look for meaning, and determine what you can control. Being aware of this can help you be happier.
• Vent. Expressing what is on your mind will help you stay focused. After a long day or a significant event, you may feel overwhelmed, underwhelmed, or just confused by how you feel. Writing down your thoughts can help you think more clearly and move forward.
• Go somewhere. Take time for yourself to travel. It can be to have a cup of coffee in the peace of a coffee shop or driving across the country to visit a friend from college. When you go somewhere, it helps you keep distractions out, and you can more fully reflect and rest.
• Think positively. Once you start viewing things in your life in a positive manner, you will find yourself thinking differently and refocusing your mind to a happy, healthy place. When you eliminate (okay, maybe just “work to eliminate”) negativity and re-frame how you think of certain things and situations, you’ll notice yourself being more relaxed.
• Take time to meditate or pray. Managing life can be hard. Check in with yourself through meditation and prayer on a regular basis. Set a reminder on your phone if you need to. There are some wonderful meditation tracks on YouTube that you can explore. Start with 3 minutes, and see where it takes you.