What Defines SPIRITUAL HEALTH

Resilience

Caregiver burnout affects not only mental, physical, and emotional health, but spiritual health. Spiritual health adds depth to our life experience. Connection with spirit and community add hope, meaning, and purpose to a caregiver’s life. Chronic stress is at the core of caregiver burnout. When physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health are neglected, this leads to further stress, leading to burnout (Liester, M. B., 2024). Spiritual health is found in different ways: a spiritual way in which the person practices prayer, meditation, and/or mindfulness alone; or on a shared communal path; and/or communing with Nature or God as he/she is known to the individual or group (Fisher, 2011).

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Spiritual or Religious Belief

The presence of God (whether it is the Christian God or another deity) and the act of turning to God in prayer for help when experiencing difficulty and heavy burdens, helps to alleviate stress and anxiety. The presence of God is often experienced as love. The Bible has many passages about relieving burdens, strengthening you, and leaving your cares with him. In spirituality, an individual might turn to Goddess, Divine Mother, other deities, angels or spirit guides, different beings or a Higher Power to help light the way. Activities and practices such as meditation, mindfulness, prayer, yoga, or journaling about your spiritual path, are some ways to experience the healing presence of God [or Higher Power] and peace (Ringen, 2024. “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; do not quench the Spirit. Hold fast what is good”. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22. Denison quotes a Mayo Clinic article as also calling for gratitude, looking for the good around you. Ringen highlights spiritual practices such as prayer as a source of peace. Sounds like a prescription for anxiety.

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Inner Peace

Inner peace allows us to be in the presence of ongoing or acute stressors and still experience calm. Inner peace can be invoked through mindfulness or meditative practice. Through these practices, we begin to understand what we control and what we don’t. This frees us from distressing emotions that disrupt our inner peace. Ringen (2024) says that studies show that “religious and spiritual practices can affect brain activity…and provide social connection and support.”

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Meditation/Mindfulness

Leister (2024) suggests that there are many practices that caregivers can add to help manage caregiver burnout and add inner peace. Leister (2024) suggests that taking time for prayer, meditation, or a favorite spiritual practice can help you to build a reservoir of peace. Delagran (2024) suggests that contemplative practice is good for developing compassion, empathy, attention, and quiets the mind. Meditation increases the brain’s gray matter density. Other practices are prayer, yoga, and journaling. . “Spiritual practices like meditation are linked to increased levels of feel-good chemicals like serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins; and decreased levels of cortisol and noradrenaline, which are associated with stress.” (Mental Health America, (MHA), 2024 in Ringen, 2024). Leister (2024) further suggests that in order to build your spiritual health and inner peace, it might be helpful to: take a walk outside and connect with the natural world; make a gratitude list; notice your natural compassion to others and to yourself; contemplate how your current distress can help to bring forth your transformative wisdom (Leister, 2024).

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(Influence on Others)

The best way to have your spirituality influence others is to keep making personal spiritual progress. DeLashmutt (2017) indicates that spiritual progress might look like how you communicate with others; how you conduct yourself; growing in loving others, loving God (whoever you conceive him/her to be)—and loving yourself; and growing in faith, purity, and character. DeLashmutt comes from a Christian perspective. Quakers feel that “silent worship has a powerful uniting influence in the deep unconscious regions of the soul (Brinton, 1957).” As a quaker, an individual takes part in a shared spiritual influence. What is your idea of spiritual progress?

(Spiritual /Religious Community Involvement)

Many spiritual traditions encourage participation in a community. Spiritual fellowship, such as attending church or a meditation group, can be sources of social support which may provide a sense of belonging, security, and community (Delagran, 2024)”. Additionally, many religions feel that worshiping together has a powerful uniting influence on the soul and on the group (Brinton, 1957). Strong relationships increase well-being and bolster life expectancy, which may be why church attendance is associated with improved mood, health and well-being (Delagran, 2024). Brinton, H. H. (1957) Quakerism and Other Religions (Wallingford, PA: Pendle Hill, 1957), 7–8. Delagran, L. (2024) Why is spirituality important?

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(Sense of Purpose)

The search for meaning and purpose in life is at the core of spiritual well-being. Meaning and purpose can be found in life through contemplation and being in and with art and nature and through experiencing a profound sense of connection beyond the self. University of Virginia Student Health and Wellness (2024) indicates that “it can benefit our overall well-being to cultivate both our sense of inner understanding and our sense of place. Spiritual well-being can help our mental health by getting to know ourselves and cultivating motivation, peace, and a sense of self-worth.” Some ways to engage your sense of purpose are to go within. Take a walk, sensing your connection to nature or others; set aside time for yourself and contemplate questions of what you are grateful for, what went well, what can you do for yourself or others today? Join with others either to practice spiritually together or to gain support in such a practice. Be grateful; and look for places where you can give, and where you can engage with others.

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Intentionality

Many find that worshipping at a church or other sacred place, such as a mosque, synagogue, or other sacred place, where they can worship according to their beliefs, is helpful. This can add community to your life, which is recommended for mental and emotional health. Some create an altar or other sacred space within their home (Fisher, 2011)

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Tithing, Offering, Philanthropy

Donating can benefit your physical and spiritual health. Albers (2022) indicates that you can increase physical and mental benefits through giving. Mental benefits include increases in serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin. These regulate mood, increase pleasure, and offer a sense of connection to others. Physical benefits follow with lower blood pressure, longer life, less stress, boosts self-esteem, and elevates happiness. Giving is not only money. Giving can be an act of kindness, or sharing your creativity, your time (possibly volunteering at a hospice, gallery, or really, anyplace that needs help.). Furthermore, “studies have shown that regular volunteering improves mental health and cognition. Short-term healthcare experiences have the potential to revitalize caregivers who are at risk of or already experiencing burnout while meeting the needs of medically underserved communities—a virtuous circle (Davis, S., March 15, 2024).” And the bonus is that the gift of your heart and time can help others. Giving adds to your sense of purpose and spiritual well-being (University of Virginia, Student Health & Wellness (2024). Tithing in the Bible is for the support of travel to Jerusalem for certain festivals; for support of the priests who were not allowed to have land (and in modern times to support your local church) and a third tithe was to support widows, orphans and others who could not support themselves (Kessler, n.d.).

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