What is Spiritual Wellness?

Health, as defined by the World Health Organization, is “the state of full physical, mental and emotional well being and not just the absence of illness and infirmity”. A wide variety of definitions have existed over the years. For instance, being healthy at one time may mean having had a heart attack, having cancer, or surviving the flu. Now these things are things that we all want to survive, but many times are not actually a part of what being healthful really means. Being healthy in the sense of a general sense goes beyond life expectancy and death. Some would define health as not dying because you do not get sick, and there is hope that you will one day be in a place where you are fully functioning.

A key component in this definition is wellness. Wellness in the context of spiritual wellness encompasses a person’s physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health and well-being. Holistic wellness, on the other hand, considers the entire person; body, mind, and spirit. Just as when you have your “proper” balance of mind, body, and spirit, you have your “proper” balance of wellness. When you are striving toward a healthy perspective you are not only working toward getting healthy, but you are also striving toward wellness.

Achieving wellness requires making changes in your lifestyle and habits. These changes can include eating healthy foods, getting regular exercise, and adding spiritual wellness to your daily life. Holistic health and wellness require that you take responsibility for your own health and your own well being. You must make lifestyle and diet choices that promote healing in mind, body, and spirit.