Most people seek comfort through spirituality or religion in some form. This article isn’t about religion or what religion to join.
It’s about improving your life through daily practices such as meditation and gratitude to help give you peace and find purpose.
I grew up in a strict religion but did not stay in it and even though we visited it recently, I do not believe in it at all.
Taking time to develop my own practices of mindfulness and spirituality has been worth it.
For mindfulness specifically, I have 15 tips for beginners. Below are ways to develop mindfulness and spirituality.
Here are some ways you can do that too.
1. Meditate Daily
Meditating for as little as 5 minutes a day can be beneficial.
I used to roll my eyes when people talked about the benefits of meditation because all I thought was you sat for an hour chanting “Om”.
That is one option but not the most common option for meditation.
Guided meditations, apps, breathing techniques, gentle yoga and other forms can be used.
Try different meditation styles to see what feels good for you.
Why Meditate?
Research has shown meditation helps reduce stress, increase focus, lower blood pressure, reduce anxiety and depression plus more.
How it impacts you can vary but considering the physical health issues that stem from stress, high blood pressure, depression and so on, meditation can be worth it.
There are 12 benefits of meditation on healthline.com if you’d like more in-depth information.
2. Practice Gratitude
Having an attitude of gratitude, learning to be grateful in the moment as well as finding things to be grateful for every morning and evening can completely change your outlook.
Gratitude won’t change whatever you are facing but it will change how you feel about it and help you see solutions to issues.
I’ve written an article on how to have an attitude of gratitude.
A few things we do are write in our journals 3 things we are grateful for every evening, including why we are grateful for them and how they make us feel.
Discussing at the dinner table things we are grateful for that day.
Noticing things to be grateful for as we go about our daily activities.
3. Spend Time in Nature
Walking barefoot on the sand or grass can be a great way to regulate your emotions and centre yourself again.
Spirituality doesn’t need to be about worshipping something, it can be learning about yourself and reconnecting with who you are.
Getting out in nature, away from all distractions and simply being present can be a great way to relax, clear your head and make decisions.
Go for a walk on the beach, find a waterfall, swim at the beach/lake/river, run on the grass, lay down and watch the clouds.
Do something you enjoy, in nature and be present.
4. Learn About Philosophy or Spirituality
Read books on the topics, listen to podcasts, engage in conversations about it or take a course on any aspect that interests you.
Even though I grew up in a strict religion, it never sat right with me.
Instead, I did my own research, went to other churches, tried various spiritual practices and eventually found what I believe in and what supports my life.
It’s up to you whether you want to belong to a structured religion or pursue your own spiritual beliefs.
Follow your own path, learn about anything that interests you and decide for yourself what your definition of spirituality is for your life.
5. Let go of Grudges and Practice Forgiveness
Forgiveness isn’t about saying whatever happened is ok, it’s about learning to accept it happened and move on with your life.
Therapy and various mindfulness practices can help you reach this point.
It does not mean you condone whatever happened but you can learn to live with it.
You can also set boundaries to protect yourself.
Growing up in a strict religion, it felt as though we were taught to forgive and forget, turn the other cheek etc.
No matter what someone else did, we needed to be the bigger person.
Those teachings kept me stuck in bad relationships for way too long.
You can forgive without accepting their behaviour or having them in your life anymore.
Forgiving is about being at peace with it, learning to handle your emotions and taking steps to protect yourself so it doesn’t happen again.
No one deserves a place in your life if they are causing drama, trauma or making things difficult.
You deserve peace and it is up to you how you choose to forgive and move on with your life.
For me, letting go of grudges, letting go of expectations and only trying to control what is actually within my control was so freeing.
Blocking people from my life, removing myself from situations and refusing to “forgive” in the way I had been taught and instead forgiving in my own way brought so much peace.
Forgiving in my own way is accepting what’s happened, getting therapy to process it and develop my own skills, wishing them all the best/send them love but not allowing their choices or behaviour in my life anymore.
It has been difficult but even my kids commented on how much better our lives are and how much calmer I am since forgiving that way.
Check out my tips on forgiveness here.
6. Find a Practice That Aligns With Your Beliefs
Prayer or being part of a specific religion helps some people.
Others find tarot, crystals and energy works for them.
Yoga, meditation and similar practices have been part of many people’s spiritual practices for years too.
Find what works for you, what aligns with your beliefs and look for ways to incorporate more of that into your life.
If you are unsure where to start, you could visit different religions if you want to go down that path.
Attend Tai Chi, meditation or yoga classes or retreats.
Read books, listen to podcasts, seek out workshops and other resources to learn more about and try different practices.
7. Focus on Presence
Learning to be present and full enjoy the moment can be difficult, especially if you are struggling with things in your life right now.
Go outside, close your eyes, feel the grass under your feet, breathe in the air, hear the birds etc.
When you are with other people, put your phone away and be present with each other, have conversations and be in each others lives.
Turn off all the distractions around you and meditate.
Host a dinner party, join a class or do something else to create memories and be full present while doing them.
Being present will change your life, how you feel and have a profound impact on your overall mental health.