Spiritual Wellness

Spiritual Wellness is discovering a sense of purpose and meaning derived from your personal values and beliefs. This can be done by taking time to deepen your spirituality (perhaps by learning about other religions, using your beliefs to guide your decisions, or finding a peaceful place to reflect). Below are some ideas of what spiritual wellness means to our GV community.

Spiritual Wellness Collage

Be Spiritually Well

7 Characteristics of Spiritually Well People

  • Developing a purpose in life.
  • Having the ability to spend reflective time alone.
  • Taking time to reflect on the meaning of events in life.
  • Having a clear sense of right and wrong, and acting accordingly.
  • Having the ability to explain why you believe what you believe.
  • Caring and acting for the welfare of others and the environment.
  • Being able to practice forgiveness and compassion in life.

Improving Spiritual Wellness

  1. Allow yourself time alone.
  2. Practice mindfulness.
  3. Pray, reflect, or meditate.
  4. Get involved in your community.
  5. Practice activities that allow you to slow down.

Explore your Spiritual Core

College offers you a time to explore who you are as a person.

Ask yourself:

  • Who am I?
  • What is my purpose?
  • What do I value most?

Let this exploration lead you to learn more about yourself and help you feel happy and fulfilled.

Spend Time Alone

The best way to get to know yourself? Spend time alone.

Take time to:

  • Get outside
  • Exercise
  • Nap
  • Meditate

Whatever you choose, being by yourself regularly allows you to become comfortable in your own skin and with your own values and beliefs.

See and Appreciate Uniqueness

You may meet people on campus with different values and beliefs from your own, but that doesn’t mean there is right or wrong. A spiritually well person can be themselves and allow those around them to be themselves, too. By taking opportunities to understand those around you, you can grow in your own spiritual wellness.

Resources

On Campus

Take a Group Exercise Class.

  • A program of Recreation & Wellness.
  • Take a Yoga Class.

Visit the Interfaith Reflection Rooms

  • Find quiet spaces for prayer, reflection, or meditation.
  • Safely practice your faith/non-faith traditions.
  • Respect others from different faiths.

Check out Kaufman Interfaith Institute.

  • Connect with other students from different backgrounds to grow spiritually.
  • Learn how to live in a religiously diverse world.
  • Improve your religious literacy.

Get involved with Student Life

  • Find organizations you share values with.
  • Discover what you're passionate about.
  • Connect with other people from different backgrounds.

Off Campus

Check out the Grand Rapids Center for Mindfulness

  • Attend a variety of workshops on topics such as self-compassion, mindfulness for beginners, and mindful eating.
  • Find mindfulness programs related to areas like stress reduction, building resilience and happiness, and self-kindness.
  • Listen to internationally-known speakers about specific topics.

Check out the Vitalist Institute  of Psychospiritual Transformation

  • Attend classes and workshops that focus on spirituality along with other areas of wellness.
  • Practice guided meditation and breath work.

Practice Yoga

  • Find a yoga studio near you in West Michigan.
  • Practice mindfulness and meditation.
  • Find studios that are the best fit for you based on level of experience or programs offered.

Online

Check out Grateful: A Gratitude Journal

  • Focus on your blessings.
  • Use prompts to guide your writing.
  • View your timeline to see past journal entries.

Have some time to yourself with these online activities.

  • Try some of these coloring apps, Lifewire has a list of apps and the pros and cons of each of them.
  • Choose from lots of online puzzles varying in difficulty and designs.

Learn about Spirituality and Health

  • Find articles, podcasts, and more to help you focus on spirituality.
  • Learn more about different categories, such as healing, growing, and connecting.
  • Read blog posts about tips and tricks to live a balanced life.

Download The Mindfulness App

  • Practice meditation.
  • Use guided and silent timed sessions.
  • Learn how to be more present.

Page last modified March 1, 2024
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