If you’re like most adults, you probably don’t spend undue time (or any time at all) worrying about the state of your spirit. After all, you have more pressing concerns like earning enough money to pay the bills, avoiding collisions during your daily commute, keeping your kids fed and getting them to school and their many activities, cleaning and maintaining your home, and so on and so forth. And that doesn’t even begin to cover other obligations on your plate, not to mention your physical and mental health, which you probably also neglect. In short, your spirit might be in a pretty sad state at the moment, and you could have no clue that the anxiety, depression, and anger you feel every day are actually a product of your spiritual malaise.
The good news is that becoming aware of the problem gives you the opportunity to heal your spirit and improve every aspect of your life. When you’re healthy, well, and content, life is just easier and more fun. And you have a lot of control over getting to that place in your life. Of course, there are certain obligations you can’t eschew, but by taking the time to really step back and evaluate your situation, you’ll find that there are changes you can make to cut back on the stress in your life and the many unnecessary demands on your time. This, in turn, will allow you to take back control of your life and really start to address the strain on your spirit.
The idea is that you need to take some time for yourself. If you’re constantly on the go, trying to please everyone else, eventually you’re going to be in such bad shape that you’ll start to lash out at your loved ones, when in fact, the onus is on you to change. You need to start saying no to others so that you can find the time you need to take care of yourself. This could mean nothing more than a hot bath and an early bedtime. Or you might want to get into yoga, meditation, massage, or some other relaxing activity. You could also get back to a pursuit that you have a passion for but that you abandoned as frivolous when your many duties started taking up all your time. Think about what you love and what makes you feel good – just for you, not for anyone else. It might seem selfish, but for your own spiritual well-being, a little self-regard is not a bad thing.
Of course, you may need some support and guidance along the way, and there are professionals and communities that can give you the leg up you need to effect change of a spiritual nature. One way to see to your spiritual health is to speak with a qualified therapist. Sometimes what you need is to vent your problems so that you have room for a breath of fresh air. Or you could join a local congregation at a house of worship of your choosing, where a like-minded community is waiting to welcome you. You might even consider the alternative options offered by an organization like Oranum Spiritual Community. Remaining spiritually healthy begins by making a choice to focus on matters of the spirit, but it can be enhanced by having a solid support network in place to keep you on track.