Forgiveness
There is no greater catalyst for change than forgiveness. You have likely been wronged and you have probably wronged someone, too. To err is human, indeed. Holding onto the anger and pain will simply foster a grudge that is paralyzing you in negativity.
Whether you realize it or not, that grudge is negatively impacting you more than it is anyone else. Forgiveness isn’t always easy, but it is the right step to take for yourself.
Honesty
You have to be honest with others, but also with yourself. Spirituality, spirit health, these are subjective things. However, the power of spirit lies in the connections that you share with others. If you want authenticity, then you have to be open and honest. It will be easier to resort to be the version of you that you think others want.
It’s more powerful to be your authentic self. There is power in vulnerability and when you trust people truly you are willing to take the risk of vulnerability. Talk about your shortcomings, discuss your uncertainties, share secrets. Being accepted for who you are, just as you are, is vital to your spirit.
How can you do this? Why not invite a friend over for dinner and let them know you’re looking to get vulnerable. You could try attending an anonymous support group that allows you to open up. Or, you could seek therapy.
Inner-Self
You are your own person. A unique entity. You are worthy of time, love, and exploration. One of the key tenets of spirit health is getting to know you. To do so you will need to explore and question your inner self. What depletes you? What gives you life? When you possess this knowledge, you can create a life that serves your spirit health and lifts you up.
You can start exploring by keeping a daily journal of your feelings and looking for patterns. You can do so with meditation, personality tests, and meeting with a mentor. Tests like Myers- Briggs and Enneagram are available online and are totally free. This is a good starting point to learn more about how you view yourself and interact with people.
The Rules
You should have your own set of “rules” for life. It’s merely a guide that you should use to navigate life, it isn’t something you should beat yourself over the head with if you get it wrong. Like you, it should be fluid, so that you can dismiss practices that aren’t serving you.
What kind of rules do we mean? Quiet time, journaling, meditation, creative expression, prayer, silence, dinner with family, dinner with friends, spiritual retreats or gatherings. All of these are rules you can set for yourself to maintain spirit health.
It might seem daunting, but it isn’t. At least, it shouldn’t be. It may be if you repeatedly set yourself up to fail. So, when you set rules for yourself there are a few things to keep in mind. First of all, the practices that you embrace should fit into your schedule. If you are short on time you can’t escape for regular retreats. Adapt. Secondly, choose practices that line up with your interests.
If you aren’t a creative person, don’t choose creative endeavors. Finally, don’t be afraid to adjust as your needs change. What serves you right now might not serve you next month. Recognize what works and make changes as necessary.
