Imagine standing near a doorway that promises to help you to feel more connected, to have a brighter mood, or to be grounded in a stronger sense of self.
Many young people and those who care for them enter this doorway daily through spiritual practices that nourish their souls. These practices are an important part of soul care, which captures the essence of how people have cared for themselves throughout history in three aspects: physical, emotional, and spiritual. Why do 70% of U.S. adults, including many young people, identify as “spiritual”?
The Science of Soul Care
Research on spirituality shows that it nourishes the soul in powerful ways. Many studies report that having a healthy spiritual practice and community is a protective factor for mental health and emotional well-being. When young people practice spirituality to strengthen their connections to something bigger than themselves, to God, to their “true selves,” or to others around them, they can experience benefits such as lower rates of loneliness, anxiety, and depression.
The Practice of Soul Care
Young people can enter into spirituality to accomplish various goals important for overall health and well-being, including to increase:
- A sense of meaning, purpose, or values
- Emotional well-being and mental health
- Feelings of calm and inner peace
- A sense of having support
- Personal growth and development
Young people actively exploring spirituality often look beyond a particular set of beliefs that resonate deeply. They live their spirituality through practices that help them to feel more connected in meaningful ways. Young people who commit to living soul care can reap positive benefits, such as being more able to cope with uncertainty and stress. Engaging in spiritual practices is a win-win for soul care and its connection to overall physical and mental health.
Three Steps You Can Take
What do spirituality and soul care mean for you? Are you actively exploring spirituality and seeking guidance on deepening your experiences? Are you striving to live your life in ways that align with your spiritual beliefs and practices?
You can consider grounding your next steps by embracing three areas of spirituality that can enrich a person’s life, mental health, and emotional well-being.
- Embodied spirituality. These practices focus on bodily awareness, movement, and sensory experiences.
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- Get started: You can practice connecting body, mind, and spirit through mindful breathing, mindful walking, and mindful eating, as well as dancing, playing instruments, fasting, rituals involving touch or sound, prayers, chants, or deep meditation.
- Nature spiritual practices. Each day, you can focus on deepening your relationship with nature, ecosystems, and the sacredness of the Earth.
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- Get started: You can engage in activities such as gardening, hiking, outdoor meditation, observing changing seasons and the beauty of nature, and swimming outdoors to deepen your relationship with the natural world.
- Creative spiritual practices. Explore your creative spirit through self-expression, storytelling, and meaning-making through the arts.
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- Get started: You can engage in painting, music, poetry, journaling, dance, film, theater, reading and reflecting on sacred texts, embracing artistic flow, vision boards, creating an altar, and storytelling to connect with your inner creative spirit.
The Takeaway
Soul care is a set of practices that can bring you closer to a healthy and fulfilling life. When you move through life supported by spiritual beliefs, practices, and experiences, research shows that you can be happier, stronger, more grounded, and more resilient. Soul care is a doorway that you have the freedom to access on your own terms, one courageous step at a time. Look around, try out a few ideas, and make soul care part of your mental health and emotional well-being toolbox.
References
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. (2022, July 12). Spirituality linked with better health outcomes, patient care. hsph.harvard.edu/news/spirituality-better-health-outcomes-patient-care
- Alper, B. A., Rotolo, M., Tevington, P., & Nortey, J. (2023). Spirituality among Americans. Pew Research Center. pewresearch.org/religion/2023/12/07/spirituality-among-americans
- Abrams, Z. (2023). Can religion and spirituality have a place in therapy? Experts say yes. Monitor on Psychology, 54(8). apa.org/monitor/2023/11/incorporating-religion-spirituality-therapy
- de Brito Sena, M. A., Damiano, R. F., Lucchetti, G., & Peres, M. F. P. (2021). Defining Spirituality in Healthcare: A Systematic Review and Conceptual Framework. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 756080. doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.756080
- Bucar, L. (2024, April 8). As spirituality rises, many young people are redefining and rethinking religion. Teen Vogue. teenvogue.com/story/spirituality-rises-young-people-religion
