Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart.
Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens.
- Carl Jung

In today’s society there is a lot of emphasis on “being healthy” – eating the right foods, getting adequate sleep, regular check-ups, but how often do we make sure that we are spiritually in tuned? Spirit, as defined by the American Heritage Dictionary is “The vital principle or animating force within living beings.” One of the main teachings of spirituality is to look within yourself and find what you seek. By doing so you will gain a greater wealth of peacefulness, faith, love, and spiritual vision. Increased spiritual health is also linked with improved physical health and emotional well being.

 

To gain more self-awareness and to awaken your spiritual self, try some of the following exercises identified by Sharon Janis in her book “Spirituality for Dummies:” 1

1. Take a moment to observe yourself right now.
How are you feeling? Are you taking nice, relaxed breaths? Is your posture gentle but supportive of your body? Are you able to focus on the words you are reading, or is your mind flitting around from outer distractions to inner concerns and random thoughts?

2. Look upon yourself with a kind and friendly eye.
If you aren't as peaceful and focused as you'd like to be, don't fret -- fretting definitely won't help you feel more harmonious and peaceful. Just be aware of your inner state without judging it as good or bad.

3. Gently align yourself, adjust your posture if necessary, and put a little more effort into focusing on the ideas you're reading.
Sometimes not-so-spiritual thoughts come up while you're contemplating. If this happens, your mind may be doing a bit of housekeeping -- sweeping up some old clutter that needs to be cleared. Be receptive to your own sublime knowledge as it's churned by all this spiritual contemplation. If gifts of insights begin to come to you, take time to unwrap them.

4. Take a deep breath, allowing the oxygen and energy to fill your entire body. Breathing is how you make continual love with the universe around you. The life force pours into your body, mind, and soul with each inhalation and then rides back out on the wave of exhalation, merging into the outer air. You may wish to take a peaceful break right now by closing your eyes for a few moments and enjoying a few more deeps, slow breaths.

With practice spiritual growth happens and you will be able to find inner peace. It encourages you to develop a greater respect for even the smallest detail of life. It gives you the sense that the world is running itself quite well without anyone having to be responsible for all of it. The more insight you gain into spiritual health the healthier you will become in mind, body, and spirit.

Written by Karen Franklin, LCSW, Cracker Barrel EAP Counselor
July, 2005

 

 

Reference:
1Janis, Sharon. Spirituality for Dummies. New York: The Hungry Minds, Inc, 2000.

Other Resources:
Fields, Rick. Chop Wood, Carry Water. New York: Penguin Putnam, Inc, 1984.
http://www.spiritualityhealth.com/ - see the Spirituality and Well-Being Self-Test

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