"The spiritual dimension is your center, your commitment to your value system. It draws upon the sources that inspire and uplift you and tie you to timeless truths of humanity." Stephen Covey

Wellness is defined today in the dimensions of mind, body, and spirit. Included in these dimensions are physical, mental, emotional, sexual, social, and spiritual health. We cannot have total wellness if we ignore any one of these dimensions.

What is spiritual health? The word "spiritual" refers to that core dimension of you - your innermost self - that provides you with a profound sense of who you are, where you came from, where you're going and how you might reach your goal.

You may not think much about spiritual health or well-being and what role it plays in your life, but its significance is stronger than you may believe. Spiritual wellness may mean different things to different people. For some, spirituality may be synonymous with traditional religion, while for others it relates primarily to the quality of personal relationships or love for nature. A basic foundation for spiritual wellness may be the sense that life is meaningful and you have found your place in it. The search for meaning and purpose in human existence leads one to strive for a state of harmony with him/herself and with others while working to balance inner needs with the rest of the world.

Many of the behaviors associated with wellness are key components of a healthy spiritual life. Examples include volunteerism, social responsibility, optimism, contributing to society, connectedness with others, feeling of belonging/being part of a group, and love of self/reason to care for self.

Signs of Spiritual Health Insightful and nurturing relationship with self and others Strong personal value system Cultivation and fulfillment of purpose in life Brian Luke Seaward

Assessing your spiritual health

Take a moment to assess your own spiritual health by selecting the words in each column that best describe your current spiritual condition. You decide which column more accurately describes where you are in your spiritual health.

Spiritual Health hope positive outlook acceptance of death forgiveness, self-acceptance commitment meaning and purpose clear values sense of worth peace worship, prayer, and meditation

Spiritual Atrophy emptiness anxiety loss of meaning self-judgment self condemnation apathy long "dry" spells conflicting values needing to improve myself worried/annoyed/acting in haste without rituals that touch me

"Finding meaning is the process of growing a deeper comprehension or understanding of events that are unquestionably aversive. But finding meaning is more than gaining understanding. It also involves discovering benefits, experiencing growth, or even thriving after major life reversals." Norman B. Anderson

Improving your spiritual health

So how can you improve your spiritual health? An article in the October 1992 Balance magazine lists five strategies to grow spiritually.

1. Be quiet. Spiritual truths often come in the form of a still small voice that is difficult to hear above the chaos and confusion of a frantic lifestyle. Set aside time for solitude and meditation.
2. Be open to the spiritual. Spiritual experiences often come in unexpected forms and packages. They surprise us. Foster a nonjudgmental attitude so you're open to the spiritual dimension in any life event - from hoeing the garden, to witnessing an accident, from watching a swim meet to reading the morning paper.
3. Be inquisitive and curious. An attitude of active searching increases your options and your potential for spiritual centering. Don't shut doors before you check out what is behind them. For example, the laying on of hands may be a powerful centering experience. A silent retreat might renew your enthusiasm. Meditation or yoga may very well allow you to experience tranquility and peace.
4. Be receptive to pain and grief. Pain helps us focus on the widest questions of our being. It's a deepener. A life without pain leads to a sparse, shallow existence. Allow yourself to feel your pain fully, then ask, "What is it trying to teach me?"
5. Be playful. Play is a pleasurable, freeing experience. It breeds spontaneous enthusiasm and celebration. When you make music, dance, laugh, sing - however you play - listen for sounds of the spirit.

Websites that may help you in your search for better spiritual health:

• Christiancrusaders
• Oneplace
• CollegeValues (The Journal of College and Character)
• Harvard Pluralism Project (The Pluralism Project Committee on the study of religion, Harvard University Studies, and documents the growing religious diversity in the U.S.)
• UNI Department of Philophophy & Religion
• UNI Department of Education (Spirtuality & Higher Education)

Prescription for Spiritual Health Take time for self-renewal Practice sacred rituals Practice acceptance and non-judgment Keep the faith, pray; don't abandon beliefs in crisis Embrace mystery. Allow yourself to believe things that can't be explained Embrace the shadow, your dark side. Recognize and acknowledge it Forgive Put compassion into action Live your joy Brian Luke Seaward

Seeking Spirituality on Your Own Terms

To discover what spirituality means for you and how it can play an important role in your life, consider these questions. Your answers may provide clues to enhance your own spiritual well-being.

* What gives your life meaning and purpose?
* What gives you hope?
* How do you get through tough times? Where have you found comfort?
* What are your 3 most memorable experiences?
* If you belong to a religious community, how are you connected to this group?
* If you have survived losses in your life, how have you done so?
* Describe a time or instance when you felt comfortable and that all was right with the world.
* Describe a time when your life was filled with a sense of meaning or when you experienced a sense of awe.

Mayo Clinic HealthQuest May 2004 edition

Helpful Tools and Resources

The Labyrinth The labyrinth is a tool used here at UNI to help individuals find their inner peace. Labyrinths have been used as meditation and prayer tools for many years. Unlike a maze, a labyrinth has one path; the way in is the way out, with the path leading to the center and out again. It is an ancient symbol relating to wholeness that combines a circle and a spiral pattern into a purposeful path which represents a journey to our own center and back again. The activity is a right brain task. It involves intuition, creativity, and imagery. A passive, receptive and open mindset is needed. It is your choice to walk a spiritual path. If you are interested in walking the labyrinth, contact Joan Thompson or call at (319) 273-2198. Joan offers workshops on the labyrinth and has even made it available for academic classes. Please contact her for more information.

Recommended Reading:
Walking a Sacred Path, Rediscovering the
Labyrinth as a Spiritual Tool.
By Lauren Artress

Recommended Links:
http://www.lessons4living.com/labyrinth.htm

Relaxation Room
A relaxation room is available in the Wellness Resource Lab (WRC 104). It offers a quiet, calming haven with a relaxation fountain, chair recliners, greenery with white lights, and soothing music. To reserve the relaxation room, call the Wellness Resource Lab at (319) 273-6119.

Massage
Massages offered by a licensed massage therapist (LMT) two days a week during the academic year and "as scheduled" in the summer. To schedule your appointment, please call (319) 273-6119. The cost is $10 for every 15 minutes. Pay by cash, check, u bill, or payroll deduct. Gift certificates available as well.

Related Classes
Related Classes Available
Mind Body and Spirit, Yoga, Tao Chi

UNI Counseling Center
For more information or further guidance the Counseling Center is available.

• UNI Public Safety: (319) 273-2712
  (Public Safety will contact an on-call Counseling Center staff member)
  
  
• Crisis Line: (319) 233-8484
  (The Crisis Line is a 24 hour a day service of the Family Service League Crisis Services Program)
  
  
• Statewide Crisis Line: 1-800-332-4224
  (The Foundation 2 Crisis Line is Certified by the American Association of Suicidology)
  
  National Suicide Hotline: 1-800-SUICIDE
  (1-800-784-2433)

"…there is nothing in the world, I venture to say, that would so effectively help one to survive even the worst conditions as the knowledge that there is meaning in one's life."