For many of us, our spirituality is one of the most treasured parts of ourselves. It opens our minds to the unknown and provides comfort in the vastness of life. Our spirituality is a part of us, and like all other parts of our bodies, we want it to be healthy. Maintaining emotionally healthy spirituality is very possible, but it requires a bit of effort. So, within these 5 Truths for Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, we share the realities and hopes of life—while discussing ways to maneuverer through it all.
Self-reflection on what we can and cannot control in our lives is the first step towards emotionally healthy spirituality. Life provides a wellspring of truths, and if we come to realize them in an open way, we will be more resilient when hardship inevitably comes. No matter how soft or firm you are in your spirit, knowing what to expect from life will allow you to flourish and embrace your spirituality that much deeper.
Here are 5 truths for finding emotionally healthy spirituality within.
5 Truths for Emotionally Healthy Spirituality
1. Your life will be hard.
There’s a reason every picturesque beachfront novelty shop has a t-shirt that reads “Life’s a Beach”. Even in the most idyllic places, and everywhere else, life still gets hard. It is inevitable for every single person on the planet. The good news is that life’s difficulty comes in ebbs and flows. Hard times have the ability to make good times that much better, even if just by comparison.
Knowing the truth that your life will be hard at times prepares you for those moments. Fairytales where everyone lives happily ever after are great to read about, but they only apply to fiction. Letting go can be a major part of your spirituality journey, perhaps even a turning point towards healthier spirituality, no matter if you’re just burnt out or depressed.
You may teeter a line between realizing that life will be hard and becoming anxious for the future. This is completely understandable because the unknown can be worrisome, especially in times of major stress. Disease, death, or disaster will happen to you or loved ones over time no matter what. However, those moments do not and will not define you. They simply become a part of your life story. Despite life’s hardship, you are resilient! That resilience will get you through anything life throws at you.
In these moments, we should remind ourselves of God’s Word, especially in the truth that Everything Up, First Starts Down.
2. You are not in control.
Letting go means realizing that you are not in control of this life. Of course, you can choose what to eat for breakfast, which car to drive, who to love. But the trajectory from these choices will always be somewhat out of our control, as we cannot tell the future. Outcomes of our choices are completely at the mercy of the unknown. And more importantly, they’re at the mercy of God—-the creator of ALL things.
Emotionally healthy spirituality may bring you to realize that there is comfort in leaving the future to the Lord Himself. You may even begin to trust that everything will work out for the best, no matter your previous experiences. Having that optimistic outlook can cultivate a positive mindset over time, all stemming from letting go of the things you cannot control.
But what exactly is in our control? We can choose healthy foods to nourish our bodies. We can choose what clothes we wear, and how we present ourselves to the world. Our hard work in careers and relationships are within our control. How to maintain our mental health as it relates to social media. Everything outside of that must be left up to God.
3. Your life is about more than you.
Have you ever heard the phrase, “Every action has an equal reaction”? While it may seem like your life is all about you, you actually impact everyone you come across in life, in one way or another. How you treat others reflects on the person you are and the type of treatment you expect in return.
This does not mean you should put others’ needs before your own, however [to a degree]. How you treat yourself is likely how you treat your loved ones. This is biblical. Do you give yourself grace in times of mistakes? How about for your friends and family? Start by treating yourself with love and watch that positive energy grow to your inner circle, and eventually the world around you.
While it seems like you are doing good for you and only you, you must remember the cause and effect between spreading kindness to others. Kindness inspires others to be kind, knowing how great it feels to receive a compliment or friendly wave. A chain reaction occurs where others will start to compliment or smile at strangers after receiving kindness. Never forget the relationship between how you treat yourself and how you treat others.
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ — Matthew 22:37-40
4. Your problems are not important in the bigger picture.
All throughout life, we experience problems in one way or another. When you’re school-aged, your problems are either academic or social. When you’re career-aged, you’re worried about balancing work and home life. As we grow, our problems grow with us. They can feel all-consuming, but it’s important to remember that every problem we have does not matter in the greater picture when processing your emotionally healthy spirituality.
The perfect person asking you to prom only affects a short period of time, even though for a teenager it feels like the entire world. A 30-year-old might reflect back on that and laugh, knowing how much priorities have shifted since their prom. When trying to assess whether or not a problem matters, ask yourself, “Will I even remember this a year from now? 5 years?” More often than not, the answer is no.
Then remind yourself of WHO God is through scriptures.
5. You are going to die.
Death is a part of life as much as breathing or sleeping. As young people, we feel invincible, like we will never get older, sick, sore, or tired. With age comes wisdom, along with aches and pains, that tell us we are not immortal.
The hope is that we have a long life before us to enjoy before while still remaining focused on eternal life. Some of us are blessed and live a long, healthy life with beautiful experiences and a family to continue on for generations. Perhaps some are not so fortunate and are dealt a more difficult hand at life, while yet—-having eternal life in the end is still a blessing. One is not better than the other, because in the end, we all end up in the same places [either heaven or hell].
Knowing death is inevitable, live your life with intention. To have emotionally healthy spirituality, follow your passions and callings. Marry the person God has placed before you. Travel to unexpected places. See as much as you want to see while you can and enjoy the time you have with those who are around you.
For emotionally healthy spirituality, follow these 5 truths to set yourself up for a life of meaningfulness. Know that life will be hard, you are not in control, life is about the world outside of you, your problems aren’t important in the big picture, and it is inevitable that you are going to die.
These simple expectations do away with unnecessary stress so that you can live in a healthy headspace and a more focused fixation on the Lord. For many of us, our spirituality is the most important aspect of our lives, and like any relationship, we want it to flourish–therefore, we have to be intentional.
