When we talk about health, most people think of diet, exercise, stress management, and sleep. And yes, those are essential. But there’s more to the picture, something many people often overlook and underprioritize: emotional and spiritual wellness.
But why do so few people invest in this area of their health? There are many reasons – a lack of understanding, fear of discomfort, pain, and letting go, not knowing where to start, or the common misconception that spiritual wellness is inherently religious. But the two are not the same. Religion involves specific beliefs, doctrines, and rituals, while spirituality is about the inner experience and connecting with the deepest parts of ourselves.
If we want to truly thrive and reach our highest potential, not just physically, but as whole human beings, we also must prioritize our emotional and spiritual health.
I’ve experienced this firsthand. We all carry trauma, whether big or small. It might be a painful childhood memory, unresolved grief, a betrayal from someone we trusted, or a lingering judgment we hold against someone else or ourselves. These experiences don’t just disappear from our consciousness just because we stop thinking about them. They actively shape how we show up in the world: how we lead, how we love, and even how our bodies function.
Talk therapy can be a helpful tool, but often it’s not enough on its own. Sometimes we need practices that go deeper and tools that reconnect us to something greater than ourselves. That’s where spiritual practice comes in.
Every morning, I spend time reading spiritual texts (often A Course in Miracles), reflecting on what I’m grateful for, saying affirmations, visualizing what I want to bring into the world (which I also consider to be prayer), and meditating. These practices ground my day in love and intention, rather than fear or stress.
Gratitude, for example, is incredibly powerful! When we focus on what we’re thankful for, our perspective shifts. We stop obsessing over small problems and start seeing life with fresh eyes. We feel lighter, more open, and more alive.
I once read a book several decades ago titled The Lazy Man’s Guide to Enlightenment by Thaddeus Golas, and it said something that’s always stuck with me: when our consciousness is expanding, we’re moving toward enlightenment; when it’s contracting, we are moving away from it. I’ve found that to be very true.
Forgiveness is also an essential skill that we can develop to free ourselves from our past traumas, but it requires us to practice it regularly. Our egos are masters of judgment, toward others and often, even more harshly, toward ourselves. But judgment is a contraction that separates us from love. Forgiveness is its opposite. It opens the heart. And when we forgive others, we also begin to realize that we can forgive ourselves, which, in my experience, is one of the deepest forms of healing. Practices like gratitude, forgiveness, and love help us expand.
Beyond spiritual practice, there are other powerful tools for inner work, including meditation, breathwork, emotional mapping, and guided psychedelic journeys. Each offers a unique path inward, and each can be transformative in its own way. I’ve explored all four, and I encourage you to be curious, find what resonates with you most, and trust the journey.
I can assure you that you will not regret investing in your emotional and spiritual growth. Make time for it. Build habits that connect you to your deeper self. The path isn’t always easy. At times, it’s uncomfortable. You may step away or fall out of rhythm. But in my experience, it’s well worth it.
Because when we heal emotionally and grow spiritually, everything else flows from there—our relationships, our leadership, our joy, and even our physical vitality. It’s all connected.