Finding new ways to feel our best and improve our health has never felt more important than it does today. 

As a Holistic Health Coach, I look at the mind, body and soul as one. Everything is connected. Eating a nutritious diet or just exercising regularly won’t really do it unless you’re taking other areas of your life into consideration as well – How is your sleep? How are your relationships? Are you happy at your job? Do you stress a lot or are you able to find time to relax?

One area I have explored a lot is spirituality. It has become an important component of my overall well-being.

How does spirituality help our mental wellbeing?

A spiritual practice has different meanings to different people. Spirituality is nothing that is structured in a specific way – it is all about connecting to yourself and something bigger than you, and only you decide what it is.

For some it is God, or the Universe. Some people incorporate angels, tarot cards, crystals, meditations, and other rituals in to their spiritual practice. It is all about doing what feels right for you. 

Spirituality teaches us to listen inwards instead of turning outwards. It teaches us to connect with both ourselves and the rest of the world, helping us to understand that everything is connected – the same concept as holistic health.

Spiritual practice goes hand-in-hand with personal development, which is another important factor in overall wellbeing. I myself experienced such an amazing personal growth when I connected with my inner self and explored spirituality more. I have learned to listen to myself and better understand who I really am – why I am reacting in certain ways in certain situations, what is important to me in life, what I need to work on, and so on. Creating a great relationship with ourselves is essential for wellbeing. 

Finding faith

My spiritual practice has given me a greater sense of faith and comfort in life. One revolutionary belief it has given me is that we are guided and protected by a greater force. Personally, I believe it’s the Universe, but again, there is no right or wrong here.

I used to think that we were responsible for everything in our life, but I now believe that life and the Universe actually wants our best and I have a greater sense of hope.  I learnt that setbacks are lessons in the end, even though it might be impossible to see when you’re in the eye of the storm. Everything happens for a reason – life happens for you, not to you. It might sound a bit cliché for some, but for me, that thought has removed such a big weight off my shoulders. I have learned to surrender and let go more of the outcome, to better enjoy the ride on the way towards my goal. I am able to be more in the now, to worry less, and feel safer. Being a bit of a control freak, that has been so liberating. It has changed my life.

I have also achieved a greater sense of purpose over why I am here and what I am supposed to do, which has made my life more enjoyable and meaningful to live. It has given me a greater sense of belonging and connection to other people as well as the whole Universe and life itself. It has made life feel more important and fun.

Finding the fun

Spirituality is fun when you embrace and explore it. Whether you’re collecting and manifesting with crystals, doing tarot readings, trying different types of meditations, trying to read signs like angel numbers or spirit animals from the Universe, or talking to a psychic medium,  find something that suits you and feels exciting.

A sense of community

If you are new to this, it can feel intimidating, but I encourage anyone interested in spirituality to see a psychic medium. I recommend the Wellness Foundry. Not only is their founder Fiongal Greenlaw an excellent tarot reader, psychic artist, and spiritual adviser (I was able to try a session with him and he blew me away being so spot on about so many things), his mission is to make intuitive practice available to all because he believes it is the greatest path to healing, clarity and growth.

He also wanted to create a community where people can come together, share experiences and feel recognition. Although spirituality can help you to feel a sense of belonging, it can also feel lonely and alienating if you’re not surrounded by people who support your journey. “The clients that come to me now all say the same – they feel heard but also that they are able to receive answers to questions they didn’t even know they needed to ask,” says Fiongal. “One thing that spirituality does very well is that it gives you a broader sense of who you are. It highlights where your blind-spots are, where you aren’t using your best potential and so on. I always say that self-development and intuitive development go hand in hand. You can’t really do one thing without the other. I also believe that mental health and spiritual awakening are connected.”

If we truly embrace spirituality in the ways that feel good to us and are able to share our experiences and help each other through our journeys,  the world would be a much better place. We can all improve our overall wellbeing and health when we connect with our true inner self and the rest of the Universe.

Matilde Wergeland is a Holistic Health Coach in Stockholm at her own coaching clinic, Health by M, as well as being one of Nordic Wellth’s head Health Coaches.