What Is Spiritual Wellness for Seniors?

A rich spiritual life is one of the universal markers of overall wellness, which is why many people choose to live in a community that prioritizes spiritual health — like a faith-based senior living community. In a community like Santa Marta, you can find diverse opportunities to explore and develop your inner self and your connection to bigger forces.

What Is Spiritual Wellness?

Spiritual wellness is the active process of looking beyond ourselves to seek purpose and meaning in life. Many find their route to spirituality through religion, others through meditation, a connection to nature, or a strict code of ethics and altruism.

Having a developed system of beliefs offers several benefits.

• It makes choices easier. A prescribed code of behaviors can simplify the decision process. You know what you believe is right, and you can respond accordingly.
• It offers consistency and grounds us during times of change. Focusing on a bigger picture and looking for a deeper understanding helps us see beyond temporary uncertainty.
• It helps ease suffering. Believing in a higher power offers meaning and solace during painful times. It also often provides methods — like prayer or ritual — to help us cope with loss and confusion.
• It creates resilience. After your practice has helped you through hard times, you’re more confident that it will again. You become more serene in the face of difficulty.

Spiritual wellness for seniors means finding and cultivating emotional tools to redefine what gives life meaning after you’ve retired, the kids are grown, and your day-to-day activities are very different from what they used to be. However you practice spirituality, there are some universal habits to cultivate a stronger sense of self and a more positive outlook when dealing with change.

Gratitude: Train your mind to look for the positive aspects of your situation and express thanks inwardly and outwardly. Share your appreciation with friends and family to let them know how much they mean to you.

Generosity: Generosity doesn’t have to be monetary. You can be generous with your time, your talents, even your energy — bring a positive and understanding outlook, no matter how others act.

Reframing: Viktor Frankl captured this idea perfectly when he said, “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” As we inevitably encounter change and unexpected trials, we can cherish what we still have and find ways to live our morals in challenging situations.

Practical Ideas to Improve Spiritual Wellness for Seniors

• Attend a religious service: For those who find enlightenment through religion, attending a service can give you time to focus on your faith and recenter yourself around those beliefs.
• Meditate: Regularly take time to be quiet and connect to your inner self. As you focus on the present moment and practice patience with yourself, you can learn to relate to others the same way. Reducing stress and quieting the mind can allow you to act authentically from a thoughtful and purposeful place.
• Enjoy art: You can create your own masterpiece or just make time to appreciate others’. Music, literature, and visual art all inspire us to reflect on the human condition and examine what unites us.
• Volunteer: Using your time and talents to make the world a better place or serve those in need creates a sense of purpose and goodwill. Service forces us to think beyond ourselves and live our values.

Our higher ideals and principles are there to guide us through difficult times, to offer perspective and wisdom. Living in a faith-based senior living community allows you to surround yourself with other people looking to nurture their spiritual selves. What is spiritual wellness without consistent habits? With services and activities that center around spirituality, developing or maintaining a practice is that much easier.

If you would like to know more about Santa Marta Senior Living Community in Olathe, our Catholic faith, or the ways we promote spiritual wellness in our community, let us know. We look forward to speaking with you.