World Health Organization defines “Health is a dynamic state of complete physical, mental, spiritual and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”.
Physical, mental and spiritual health, all the three are deeply intertwined and have a profound effect on one another. To be vital and healthy you need to have a spiritual life.
In last more than one decade, there has been scientific search for the relationship of the spirituality with intelligence, with emotions and also well-being. Like emotional quotient, spiritual quotient is assuming importance in scientific research and philosophical/psychological debates.
Definition of Spiritual Health
Spiritual health is a: State of being where an individual is able to deal with day-to-day life in a manner which leads to the realization of one’s full potential; meaning and purpose of life; and happiness from within.
Operational definition of spiritual health
Spiritual health is a state of health reflected through these three domains:
Self-Evolution
Self-evolution has been defined as a state of Becoming where the individual is analyzing and applying the self in terms of thoughts and actions with respect to the wider perspective and nurturance-art.
Self-Actualization
Self-actualization has been defined as reaching to a state of Being where the individual is consciously aware and responds to the situation, events, people and environment with engineering from within and Deeper Meaning-Purpose of Life.
Transcendence
Transcendence has been defined as a state of inner happiness and behaving accordingly through universal love-sublimating jealousy and considering oneself as a part of the supreme (beyond self).
Different Ways To Spiritual Health
Mindful Eating
“Mindful eating is not a diet, or about giving up anything at all. It’s about experiencing food more intensely — especially the pleasure of it.”
Importance of Mindful Eating
Study of type 2 diabetic patients showed that mindful eating improved dietary intake and glycemic control and led to modest weight loss. Possible inexpensive and safe tool for self-management of diabetes
Weight management & treating eating disorders
Yoga
Yoga is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India.
Yoga has been studied and may be recommended to promote relaxation, reduce stress and improve some medical conditions such as premenstrual syndrome. Yoga is considered to be a low-impact activity that can provide the same benefits as “any well-designed exercise program, increasing general health and stamina, reducing stress, and improving those conditions brought about by sedentary lifestyles”. It is particularly promoted as a physical therapy routine, and as a regimen to strengthen and balance all parts of the body.
Meditation
Importance of practicing Mindfulness:
- Reduced stress
- Improved management of chronic pain
- Reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression
- Improved immune function
- Improve quality of life for patients with chronic disease
- Substance abuse treatment
- Smoking cessation
Chi -Kung
Qigong (pronounced: chee-gun), which combines meditative and physically active elements, is the basic exercise system within Chinese medicine. Qigong exercises are designed to help you preserve your Jing, strengthen and balance the flow of Qi energy, and enlighten your Shen. In Taoism, chi refers to the living energy in all things. Kung is a term that refers to the achievements of long practice. Together, as chi kung, these words describe a relationship between someone who cultivates the chi and the discipline they use.