“All that we are is the result of what we have thought.
The mind is everything. What we think, we become.”
- Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, founder of Transcendental Meditation
The mind is everything. What we think, we become.”
- Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, founder of Transcendental Meditation
Overview
Spiritual Wellness is becoming increasingly more popular and mainstream. Even now, though, the concept of spirituality still seems a bit hokey to many people. The simplest way to describe spiritual wellness is that it is a realization that all of us are connected to a single source of creation. It involves seeking meaning and purpose in our human existence. One of the biggest questions on the topic is if spirituality and religion are the same thing. I found this distinction from Patrick Moore, Health Expert for Yahoo! that I thought was interesting:
"A fundamental difference between spirituality and religion is that spirituality is individual. 12-step programs operate by "attraction rather than promotion" whereas organized religions often promote their values with missionary zeal. In spiritual programs, my faith is exactly that - mine. It does little good for me to try and coerce you into my belief system."
And spirituality isn’t just something we keep at home anymore. Workplace spirituality is something more and more corporations are seeing the value in. Things such as helping employees assess their passions and values in pursuit of meaningful work are some of the ways companies are opening their business doors to spiritual wellness.
3/24: Three things you can do in the next 24 hours to get the ball rolling"A fundamental difference between spirituality and religion is that spirituality is individual. 12-step programs operate by "attraction rather than promotion" whereas organized religions often promote their values with missionary zeal. In spiritual programs, my faith is exactly that - mine. It does little good for me to try and coerce you into my belief system."
And spirituality isn’t just something we keep at home anymore. Workplace spirituality is something more and more corporations are seeing the value in. Things such as helping employees assess their passions and values in pursuit of meaningful work are some of the ways companies are opening their business doors to spiritual wellness.
Create a positive affirmation
I use affirmations with my coaching clients in their career impact process. An affirmation is a positive statement designed to counteract a negative belief that you possess. It is a powerful component in eliminating self-limiting thoughts and words, and can be used to apply to all your life goals. In his article, "A Time to Work and a Time to Play!" Ronnie Nijmeh highlights the differences in balance needs of single people, couples without children, and couples with children. He also offers the following list of possible affirmations you can use to help you achieve work-life balance:
I keep work and play in a healthy balance.
I deserve to spend time relaxing.
I deserve to spend time enjoying my family.
I have a balanced life.
I cherish the time I have to enjoy my spouse.
I enjoy my work and the excellent job that I do.
I enjoy my time to play with my children.
Don't limit yourself to these statements - use them as a guide and make them unique to your own personal goals. If you are new to using affirmations, at first it may seem a bit awkward, but this is a very normal reaction to something that is new and that requires a paradigm shift.
Meditate
Try this basic meditation session from Create-Health-and-Wellness.com
• Pick a Positive Affirmation or sound that you believe in 100%, such as, “one”, “Love”, “Good Health”, “AH” or “OM.”
• If you don’t feel comfortable with a word or sound, just concentrate on every breath you take, in & out.
• Sit quietly in a comfortable position. Avoid interruptions, like the telephone. Place both feet on the ground.
• Close your eyes or focus on a small object, like a flame, put your right hand over your left hand and place them gently in your lap.
• Breathe slowly and naturally, and as you breathe out, say your word or sound out loud or to yourself.
• Don't worry about your performance. When thoughts (or chatter) come to mind, simply say to yourself, "Oh well," and gently return to your repetition.
• Do this as long as you like.
• Do not stand immediately. Continue sitting quietly for a minute or so, allowing other thoughts to return. Then open your eyes and sit for another minute before rising.
Self-awareness in your career
A career that is fulfilling is usually one that provides us with more than just big bucks. After the novelty of money wears off, you’re left with, well, the job. And if the job isn’t satisfying, you need to dedicate time to really getting to know yourself. To begin, spend a few minutes thinking about and writing down your values. Then, pull out your resume or job description. How much of what you are doing or what you have done is a reflection of those values?
Tools & Resources
Spiritual Wellness Assessment
A New Earth online classes – based on Eckhart Tolles book, these online classes are featured on Oprah.com
Marianne Williamson’s Miracle Thought Podcasts
