Today we explore:
“Taha Wairua – Spiritual Wellbeing”
Spiritual wellbeing can mean many different things to different people. For some people, spirituality may be heavily entwined with religious beliefs. Others may describe it as some sort of deep connection to the world around us. As for myself, I am not religious, but spirituality is still an important factor in my life which influences my beliefs, values, and wellbeing.
Finding comfort with your spiritual identity can help you feel secure and confident with who you are. Here are some ways for you to try and explore taha wairua – spiritual wellbeing:
IDENTIFY YOUR VALUES
Take some time to write down a list of values that are most important to you. I know what my personal values are. I also know that I am happiest when I live strongly by these values and practice them on a daily basis.
FIND MUSIC THAT UPLIFTS YOU
I struggle to define exactly what spirituality means to me. It’s something I just feel from time to time. When I listen to music there are some songs that make me feel a certain way. These songs have something about them which I can only label as spiritual. Maybe you have a song that makes you feel this way too. For me, it’s The Fall by Imagine Dragons. Put together a playlist of songs which lift you up and listen to them whenever you need a boost.
TAKE TIME OUT TO REFLECT AND PLAN
Take a breath and reorient yourself. Are you heading in the right direction? How are things going for you at the moment? Schedule in time at least once a week to reflect on how your life is going. Are things going good? Great! Keep doing what you’re doing! Are you feeling a bit stuck or lost? That’s ok too! This is an opportunity to try a new approach or change direction. Make time for regular check ins with yourself and set goals for the future.
TALK ABOUT SPIRITUALITY
Have a discussion with someone close to you about what spirituality means to them. Nearly everyone has their own twist on what it means. Listening to other people’s thoughts with an open mind could help you further understand or discover what spirituality means to yourself.
That concludes my blog post series for Mental Health Awareness Week 2019! I hope these posts have inspired you to take action towards exploring your way to wellbeing. There’s no need to stop now, continue doing some of these activities every day. Be a role model for others and encourage them to do the same. We’re all in this life together, so help each other out.
For more information, visit https://mhaw.nz/
HELPLINES
Need to talk? – Free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor
Lifeline – 0800 543 354 or free text 4357
Suicide Crisis Helpline – 0508 828 865
Youthline – 0800 376 633
POTENTIAL 