“When you lose touch with inner stillness, you lose touch with yourself. When you lose touch with yourself, you lose yourself in the world.” Eckhart Tolle
A very important component to spiritual wellness is to live in a way that is consistent with our own values and beliefs, to take time to explore and connect with our innermost truths and then to align with and act from that place of truth through our actions, words and choices in life. Health and wellness today is not only defined in terms of physical health but inclusive of the mind, body and spirit. At Balance Health, our intention is to provide support for individuals with all these aspects of health in order for a holistic approach to healing. We often focus on the body and mind, but may neglect the spirit dimension of health. For some, spirituality may be following a traditional religion or practice but for others, it may be connecting with nature, meditating, yoga or prayer. According to the National Wellness Institute, spiritual wellness could be defined as “a personal matter involving values and beliefs that provide a purpose in our lives. While different individuals may have different views of what spiritualism is, it is generally considered to be the search for meaning and purpose in human existence, leading one to strive for a state of harmony with oneself and others while working to balance inner needs with the rest of the world.” Taking time to quiet and slow down allows us to unplug ourselves from the messages, beliefs, images, ideas and hectic rush of daily life to really hear our own inner voice and to create peace and calmness in our lives.
Here are some suggestions for re-connecting with inner stillness:
1. Take Time For Daily Meditation
Whether it’s upon waking or in the evening, meditating helps to clear your mind of stressful thoughts and create clarity of mind for more peace and focus during the day.
2. Spend Time in Nature
Spending time in nature to connect will quiet the mind and open the heart and body. Nature has the ability to re-energize, heal and awaken.
3. Remember to Breathe
Whenever we become stressed or rushed, it is common to hold our breaths or engage in shallow breathing. Consciously remind yourself to stop and take some deep belly breaths to ground and connect.
4. Flow Writing
Upon waking, try to flow write for 3 consecutive pages without lifting your pen off the paper, this method helps to clear the mind of thoughts and allow for more focus and clarity throughout the day.
5. Practice Yoga
Yoga helps to bring awareness to your body through movements and deep breathing; creating flow, stillness, relaxation and peacefulness.
