The VITAL WorkLife Wheel of Well Being is a tool used to evaluate distinct areas of life and build overall well being through improving each dimension of well being. Your overall well being is made of multiple dimensions. Spiritual Well Being is one dimension contributing to your holistic health; you cannot achieve overall well being without having balance in each of the dimensions.
Spiritual Well Being
The Buddhists name spirituality as shamatha or “tranquil abiding.” Others describe spirituality as the spirit piece of our lives. This spirit is connected to the source of all life. It is the very breath we breathe. Body, mind and spirit is commonly used for identifying an inter-connectedness of our humanness. Others name spirit as the part of us connected to something much larger, something beyond us, yet within us. Perhaps your spirituality exists in, or has grown from a faith tradition that helped, or hindered, your early understanding of what it means to have a spiritual life. For our working definition of spirituality, we will use this statement as a foundation to build upon:
‘Spirituality is not about religion. Rather it is an acknowledgement of our spiritual essence by exploring our desire for purpose, meaning and an interconnection with others.’
But How Can You Achieve and Maintain Spiritual Well Being?
There is no ‘right’ way to nurture your spiritual life. What essential for your spirituality is the tending of your spiritual life. Much like a gardener who waters, feeds and weeds in order to have a healthy harvest, you tend to your spiritual life by first choosing to enter this journey. You can become a seeker of wisdom, nourishing yourself when you make space for the intentional nurturing of a stronger foundation of your spirit. You journey by paying attention and listening carefully to get in touch with the longing of your human spirit. Strive to live peaceably and justly with other human beings. Begin by taking many steps on this pathway to well being. With each step, you will soon understand the potential for a deeper connection to a richer and more brilliant inner life.
What Contributes to Spiritual Well Being?
Many factors contribute to spiritual well being, including adequate sleep and healthy eating, mindfulness, meditation, prayer or taking time to be silent to focus on inner exploration.
Case Study
Dr. Joe is an accomplished physician. His years of service have been peppered with accolades, consistent advancement in his chosen field and the respect of his peers. Dr. Joe’s financial situation is extremely comfortable and he has no pending malpractice suits or any other litigation. Dr. Joe is consistent in his efforts to exercise at least three times a week and he makes healthy meal choices, does not use tobacco or drugs, and his alcohol intake does not exceed five glasses of wine in any week.
From the outside Dr. Joe has an ideal life situation. What is not readily visible to others is Dr. Joe’s marriage has been strained for over a year now. In addition, Dr. Joe, although clearly accomplished in his career, is feeling a loss of joy in his professional life in a way he is unable to identify. His rational mind says it doesn’t make sense. How can he be feeling unfulfilled with a sense of emptiness he has never experienced?
Spirituality is a Lifelong Process
In the busyness of life, you may lose sight of the fact spiritual living is not an after work or week-end obligation. Rather your spiritual life becomes the very fabric of daily living and becomes the preferred way of being in the world. Even during good times, your spiritual life can suddenly express itself in the form of discomfort or dissatisfaction. Your spiritual foundation can help you return to a deep inner peace and calm while determining the source of the potential new frustration.
With a strong spiritual foundation, you can focus on what is truly essential. This strong foundation can support you in creating a new vision to see what opportunities are ahead, rather than hanging on to your fears and anxieties about change and what the future may hold. However you choose to nurture your spirit, this investment will ensure you have a consistent source of hope, strength, comfort, meaning and peace. You will want to continue to ‘tend this inner garden’ to ensure an ongoing, strong spiritual foundation.
To learn more about your Spiritual Well Being dimension, you can read from our recommended reading list.
We Can Help.
VITAL WorkLife supports all dimensions of your Wheel of Well Being. Call us anytime, day or night, for support of your Spiritual Well Being.
- EAP members call 800.383.1908 or access resources through your VITAL WorkLife App
- Physician Well Being Resources members call 877.731.3949 or access resources through your VITAL WorkLife App
Check out our video below to learn more about the Wheel of Well Being:
