Wellness and spirituality

Michele Rae, RPh, MA, NBC-HWC is the founder of The Center Within, LLC and author of “Living From the Center Within: Co-Creating Who You Are Becoming.” She provides holistic coaching designed to accelerate and support personal, professional, and organizational transformation.

SANDRA JULIAN

Recently I have been invited to become a course director for the Integrative and Functional Medicine fellowship at the Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute. The topic for my course for the physicians choosing this program is “Introduction to Spirituality and Medicine.” This topic is near and dear to my heart as it combines my practice as a health coach, pharmacist, and spiritual director.

What does research tell us about the impact of spirituality on wellness?
Research on the positive impact of spirituality and spiritual practice on a person’s health and well-being is extensive and impressive. The article “Beliefs and Practices Regarding Spirituality as a Healthcare Strategy” concludes spiritual engagement helps to support a psychological outlook that is necessary for fighting and surviving diseases and coping adequately with life’s tragedies.
Research also shows that spirituality can cultivate positive beliefs, comfort, strong mental, physical and emotional health, and promotes healing. Surveys show people believe that their spirituality results in reduced anxiety, depression and suicide.

What is spirituality?
National wellness Institute has developed an interdependent model for the Six Dimensions of Wellness. They define spiritual as the development of an appreciation for the depth and expanse of life and natural forces that exist in the universe. The holistic flow model of spiritual wellness defines spirituality as the flow of life energy that allows individuals to be active in all dimensions of their life. It connotes an experience of connection to something larger than the person, living everyday life in a sacred reverent manner.
Spirituality can be shared in community and can enhance belonging, meaning, purpose, compassion, peace, care for the environment, and connection to nature. Spirituality often involves service and social justice. Some spiritual communities follow a particular religion which are most often based upon the lives, teachings, and beliefs of a historical or archetypal figure. Spirituality is inclusive and is a universal aspect of human beings that can be found in all cultures expressed in a variety of ways.

What is wellness?
Throughout time and across cultures, the term wellness has been defined and applied in many ways. Healing techniques vary from culture to culture. If you are a health care provider, educating yourself on cultural competencies is essential for preventing and treating illness.

We can consider wellness as:
• As multicultural and holistic, involving multiple dimensions.
• Resilience to function optimally and thrive within one’s current environment.
• Intentional, self-directed, and evolving process of achieving one’s full potential.
• Lifestyle, mental/emotional/physical/spiritual health, and the environment.

Is spirituality important to YOUR wellness?
If so, consider these strategies to support your optimal health and healthcare experiences.
For your mind
• Read sacred texts to learn about ageless wisdom
• Practice ritual and ceremony alone or in groups
• Utilize mindfulness techniques
• Journal regularly for deeper insights
For your body
• Move your body through yoga, tai chi, qi gong, or exercise
• Incorporate breath work
• Spend time in nature
• Sing and chant
For your heart
• Offer service through volunteering
• Practice acts of kindness
• Support others in your community in a time of need
• Spend time praying, meditating, or intention setting
Ask for what you need from your healthcare providers. (More on self-advocacy and your health the Southwest Connector March 20, 2024 issue). Let them know about your spirituality and ask it to be included into your wellness and treatment plans.
Research shows there are health benefits to incorporating spiritual needs into clinical practice. It enhances a patient’s ability to recover from illnesses. One study highlights the positive value of paying attention to spirituality in serious illness and in health as it shifts to whole person-centered care, not just a patient’s disease.
There is also evidence that better treatment decisions are made when spirituality is a factor in decision making. A study on end-of-life outcomes showed that spiritual support from a patient’s medical team resulted in greater hospice utilization, less aggressive interventions, and fewer ICU deaths.
You are a whole mind-body-spirit person. You know your values, meaning, and purpose better than anyone. (More on what values support community health in the Southwest Connector May 15, 2024 issue). Provide the best care possible for yourself and ask your care team to do the same.