While one’s physical health and wellbeing is very important, having positive spiritual and mental health is critical as well. Engaging in spiritual practices each day can improve all aspects of a person’s life from mental to physical. They allow us to forge a deeper connection with ourselves, assisting us in understanding ourselves better on a deeper level.
When you have a solid understanding of yourself, it will also be easier for you to build and maintain positive relationships with others. Lots of benefits come from nurturing the body and soul such as stress relief, better sleep, easier time focusing, and more. Continue reading to discover spiritual practices that will exceptionally boost your overall health for the better.
1. Reflective Strolls
Ever heard the saying “nature heals?” This phrase mostly applies to the positive effects on your mental health. Taking a long walk in nature allows you to spend a long period of time contemplating your thoughts and feelings, both past and future. The silence in nature can bring peace to a frantic mind, allowing for a moment of respite from all of life’s greatest stressors.
Taking walks outside also benefits your physical fitness, especially your cardiovascular health. Moving your body gets your blood flowing and allows your body to get to work. Pick out a place that brings you joy, whether that be the woods, the beach, or even just your neighborhood, lace up your comfy shoes, and get strolling!
2. Soul-Searching Meditation
Life can get very busy at times, and sometimes we forget to pause for a moment to stop the bustle and just breathe. Meditation is an activity that can be done from the comfort of your own home. Meditation helps relax both the body and mind, minimizing stress levels.
When you take the time to sit with yourself and work through your emotions and thoughts, you have the time necessary to work through anything that you have been avoiding or trying not to think about. It allows you to face your problems head on and come up with solutions for them.
3. Contemplative Artistic Expression
Visual art is one of the most fun ways to express what’s going on in your head. It can be done with any medium, whether that be sketching, painting, ceramics, beadwork, photography, or any other art form. Find the method that brings you the most joy and experiment with it.
Creating art is a great stress reliever, allowing us to focus on the creation of something beautiful rather than any negative situations that occur in our day to day lives. You can even bring all of your supplies outside and craft in the comfort of the outdoors!
4. Soulful Journaling
If you’re someone who really wants to get in touch with your inner self, journaling is an exemplary activity for you. The only supplies you need are a writing utensil, a journal, and willingness to truly explore and express yourself.
You can journal about anything you want! Some examples could be what your goals are, details you’re grateful for, how you’re currently feeling, or challenges you face. This activity allows you to sit with just yourself and your thoughts, helping you prioritize yourself and your health. You will be able to gain further insight into who you are as a person.
5. Tranquil Yoga
Yoga is an affair that helps benefit both the body and the mind. You can visit a nearby yoga studio, look up a routine video on YouTube, or even just lay out your mat and stretch in a way that feels right for you! Pick a spot that makes you feel at peace: your backyard, your living room, a studio with others, or along the beach.
Pay attention to yourself only, working on your balance and using your body in ways you never thought you could. Through yoga, you can reach harmony between your mind, body, and spiritual soul. Relieve your stress through focusing on how your body feels in each position and don’t forget to breathe, of course!
6. Crystal Collection
While crystals are beautifully appealing to the eye, they also have spiritual benefits. Each crystal has a different purpose and leads to positive changes on all 7 chakras. Depending on what type of energy you want to attract into your life at any given moment, there is a crystal out there that is best for you.
Define what you want to focus on and change in your life, and select a crystal that works with that specific chakra. You can meditate with the crystal, place it within your workspace or home, or simply just carry it with you as you go about your daily routine. There are so many different crystals to explore and discover, each with its own characteristics!
7. Zen Gardening
There’s something to be said for the ability to put your energy into caring for another form of life. It brings peace of mind and a sense of calmness. Gardening allows you to spend time in nature, soaking in the sun and feeling the wind on your face.
You can garden in any way you want to, whether that be starting a vegetable garden, planting flowers, or tending to the lush landscape in your own backyard. Gardening encourages physical activity, manages stress, and creates a beautiful finished product. It also creates a long term project, giving you an activity to work at any time you need a quick stress reliever.
8. Mindful Music
Music not only sounds beautiful but also is peaceful to create. It is an activity that requires full focus, providing a situation filled with serenity and lovely sounds. Depending on the medium of music you create, you can connect with your culture and learn more about your identity.
Music can invoke very deep emotions, tapping into a deeper side of yourself. It is also a universal language, something everyone can appreciate no matter what their core beliefs are. Additionally, learning a new piece of music creates a sense of commitment and an outlet that you can continue to return to whenever you need to feel a sense of balance.
9. Community Service
A big part of spirituality is not only prioritizing yourself, but also giving back to your community. It provides you with a further sense of connection with the other members of your community, which brings comfort in the belief that you have a support system around you.
Engaging in community services often urges you to step outside your comfort zone and experience something new by inserting yourself in a foreign situation. Doing this leads to a major form of personal growth and teaches us about ourselves and what we value.
10. Practice Gratitude
In this day and age it’s very easy to get caught up in the future; work we have to do, goals we want to achieve, and places we need to be. It can be beneficial to your soul to sit down for a moment and have a brief respite to focus on everything you’re grateful for. This allows for a mindset shift that leads to counting blessings rather than what is lacking in life.
If you value the belief of a higher power, it acknowledges the work done by that power to assist you in achieving everything you have thus far, connecting you to your spirituality. Practicing gratitude connects us with the feeling of harmony, awakening our minds to what is right in front of us.
Get Started Utilizing These Spiritual Approaches!
The next time life catches up with you and you feel overwhelmed, attempt one of these vital spiritual practices to aid you in alleviating your stress. Fostering a more extreme sense of self understanding benefits us when it comes time to make decisions, practice forgiveness, and put our best foot forward wherever we go.
Many of these techniques don’t require very much preparation or materials. At its core, maintaining an intense spiritual connection simply requires an open mind and a desire for self reflection. Have fun exploring the deepest part of yourself!
