Sophie Okolo, MPH

Have you ever considered exploring your world in a spiritual way? We all believe in something, even atheists, but have you ever truly explored it? There are so many places that you can go to learn about yourself and it’s the first step. What do you believe? What do you stand for morally? Finding like-minded people who think like you is always a good start, and doing so will allow you to truly explore how you feel about the world around you.

It’s not always easy to start exploring your spirituality, but there are teachers out there who can help you with it. There are priests in churches and Buddhist teachers who are willing and able to help you to feel close to something that resonates. Taking the time to explore your spiritual and moral beliefs is a must, and that means giving yourself the space to do so. You can explore and develop your connection to spirituality and, as a result, feel more at peace with yourself. So, how can you do it?

1. Get out into nature. Believe it or not, one of the easiest ways to explore your spirituality is to get out in the fresh air. Connecting to the world on a basic level is important and nature can help you to do that. You can spend time with the air, the trees and the ocean and instantly feel at peace and centered, which is the point. A stroll on the beach does as much good for your mental and physical health as watching the sunrise. You’ll become more spiritually aware with this connection and it’s something you’ll thank yourself for later.
   
2. Work on gratitude. Focusing on the positive is important and it can sometimes help you to be reminded of the opportunities you can give and get. You can learn past lessons with gratitude, and you can lean into the beauty that surrounds your life as a result. You can do this by journaling, being kind to others and yourself, and you can be grateful for the people in your life out loud. It’s a spiritual belief that you will be more connected to each other with gratitude, and it’s not wrong.
   
3. Meditate. Most religious and spiritual teachings lean into prayer and meditation and if you haven’t done it before it can feel overwhelming to get started. However, just a minute a day at first to connect your breathing to your inner self will help you to feel like you can slow down and be present in the moment. Meditation can allow you time to pause, to breathe and to connect with yourself for once. It slows down the noise of life, and it’s this that will help you to work out the most important things in life.
   
4. Embrace self care rituals. Most people who are looking to be more connected and explore their spirituality do so with rituals. You can make these up and add them to your week, and you can benefit instantly from these. You are caring for your mind and body, and you’ll feel good for it in the end.