Spirituality
is expressed in many forms, whether tied to a religion, a moral philosophy, or an
inherent sense of connectedness with something greater than oneself. In any form,
spirituality is always personal. The need for spiritual wellness is often downplayed
as less important than emotional, physical, or social wellness, but vital to the
overall wellness of every Service Member in the National Guard is a sense of hope
and belonging – of purpose.
What does “Spiritual Wellness” mean?
- Spiritual Wellness means making time to contemplating your purpose
in life and achieving greater mindfulness of your impact on the
rest of the world:
Contemplating your purpose in life helps put you in touch with
your potential to create, to affect change, and to proliferate good things in the
world - like love, compassion, and peace. For Service members engaged in the protection
of our Nation, connecting with a greater purpose strengthens morale and encourages
unity.
Achieving greater mindfulness is necessary in order to locate yourself
as a member of a global community. No man is an island, which means every person
has significance and importance to others, including family members, friends, peers,
your neighbors, and beyond. Spiritually well individuals sense their implicit connection
to others within their sphere of influence and outside it.
- Spiritual Wellness means achieving harmony with one’s surroundings
and balancing one’s personal needs with the needs of others:
Harmony with one’s surroundings is achieved when one’s actions
and intentions align agreeably with the environment to the benefit of all within
it. Considering the impact of your actions on your world can expand your perspective
and inspire acts kindness, compassion, tolerance and altruism.
Balancing one’s personal needs with the needs of others is part
of fostering healthy relationships. Spiritually well individuals consider the needs
of others in relation to their own needs so that they are neither acting only in
self-interest nor draining themselves for the sake of others. In other words, they
transcend ego and act in universal interest.
- Spiritual Wellness means having personal values and beliefs and
acting compassionately in accordance with those values:
Personal values and beliefs may change throughout the course of
a lifetime, taking shape through the influence of relationships, events, and personal
experiences. A spiritually well individual will take care to notice when their values
shift, when to readjust them, and when to reassert their importance.
Acting compassionately is the physical expression of spiritual
intention. Examples of compassionate action include prayer, efforts to find understanding
in the midst of conflict, mentoring a peer, expressing love and affection, and other
acts that cultivate mutual respect and nurture unity.
Signs of Spiritual Distress
- Loss of direction
- Sense of emptiness/feeling alone in the world
- Hopelessness and helplessness
- Withdrawal from family and friends
- Self-destructive language
- Bitter or jaded outlook on life
- Fearfulness, dissociation
- Anger at God/higher power
Tips for Improving Spiritual Wellness.
- Find some “quiet time”. It’s easy to feel encumbered at the end
of a long day, especially for Service members experiencing stressors related to
deployment or managing the balance between military and civilian life. Fit some
quiet time into your day to recharge your inner battery, where you can observe the
present moment, pray, or read something uplifting.
- Say something. Preferably out loud. Many faiths believe you can
shape your world by speaking aloud the world you want to manifest. In psychology,
the same idea is behind the recitation of affirmations. For many religions it is
achieved through prayer, chanting, liturgy, and singing among other audible modes
of expression. Whatever you believe, speaking your intentions out loud can change
your thoughts and ultimately affect your life.
- Ask the big questions. “What am I doing here?” “What does it all
mean?” The quest for greater truth begins with big questions, and you’re not only
allowed to ask, you’re allowed to answer. Contemplating the meaning of life and
seeking your greater purpose teaches the importance of the present moment and opens
you to the infinite possibilities that lie ahead for your life.
- Find out what you believe. Determining a set of values begins with
discovering what’s important to you. Is tolerance important? Is it important to
defend those who cannot defend themselves? Is love important above all things? Defining
your values gives you a framework to live by – and it’s important to revisit them
from time to time to see if they’ve changed.
- Be true to yourself. Living authentically can offer tremendous
benefits. When you honor your true self, you are stronger in adversity, a better
leader to your peers, and reap the added benefit of a clear conscience. Best of
all, your confidence will rub off on your friends.