Practical Spirituality

Practical Spirituality National Wellness Conference – 2013 Billie Frances, M.A. CWP, BCC

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Practical Spirituality

1) Introductions 2) Definition: What is practical spirituality? 3) Identifying personal spiritual practices that are already working 4) Exploring alternatives

i) Chanting – repeat words and/or lyrics ii) Keeping good company – spend time with people who share a positive outlook iii) Visualization – create an image in mind or design a vision board iv) Journaling – use paper and pen or computer to empty thoughts v) Laughter – laugh with others or alone; laugh for no reason vi) Creativity – write, play, dance, draw, paint, sing vii) Positive Self-Talk – speak kindly of yourself, focus on strengths viii) Affirmations – read or write affirmative statements in the first person and present tense ix) Contemplation - be quiet; ask a question; listen for the answer x) Music – listening or playing xi) Mindfulness – keeping one’s consciousness alive to the present reality xii) Meditation – a practice of quieting the mind xiii) Order – maintaining organized environments xiv) Mind your body – consciousness about bodily needs for sleep, food, exercise, water,

comfort xv) Prayer – addressing a Higher Power xvi) Detachment – surrender to what is for now

5) Choosing from among alternatives i) Select up to 3 practices that you wish to explore further ii) Share how you will implement your Personal Practical Spirituality Plan and what

obstacles you may need to overcome (small group sharing) 6) Professional application

i) What is the protocol at your worksite? ii) What are some moral and ethical considerations? iii) Formal (client intake) or informal (conversation) inquiry? iv) Questions on practical spirituality:

(a) What do you most value? (b) How do you/could you bring these values into your everyday living? (c) How is your distribution of resources (time, energy, money) in alignment with your

values?

7) General group sharing 8) Questions and answers 9) Take-aways



Personal Practical Spirituality Plan Spiritual practices that are already working for me 1. 2. 3. 3 people with whom I share/I could share a positive outlook 1. 2. 3. Spiritual practices I would like to explore further (chanting, visualization, journal writing, laughter, prayer, etc.). See the attached Mindful Practices Worksheet. 1. 2. 3. What support do I need? What obstacles do I choose to remove? What else do I need to know, become, release or realize in order to implement my Personal Practical Spirituality Plan? Affirmation: I, ___________________, utilize my ________________________ and how have/enjoy ____________________________________________________________________________________



Guidelines for Using the Mindful Practices Worksheet

Mindful Practices are ongoing activities that support your mental, physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. The following is a sampling of mindful practices that may assist you in completing your Mindful Practice worksheet. Remember to personalize your list and specify the duration and frequency of each activity. Personal Growth

Silent contemplation, meditation, journaling, reading Silent Retreat - Practice complete silence (no reading, writing, music or speaking) for 10 minutes

a day, for 1 hour or for a whole day. Be very aware of a simple task that you are performing. Do only this task. Follow it from

beginning to middle to end. Examples are doing the dishes, making a bed, pumping your gas, arranging flowers.

Money

Keep accurate financial records Write a meaningful, powerful phrase on your checks (e.g. “Thank You,” “In God I Trust,” “With

Joy!”) Keep an up-to-date record of expenses and/or income Be more aware of spending and receiving money by being aware of what you say about money

and what you do with your money. Establish and maintain order in your financial affairs (bank statements, check register,

investments)

Health Weight management and eating

Follow an eating program that adds to your vitality and health Physical well-being

Commit to an exercise routine Receive bodywork Follow the recommendations of your doctor or health practitioner

Fun and Recreation

Take a mindful walk in a serene setting Enjoy music, dance, a sport or a game with child-like abandon Laugh out loud

Physical Environment

Establish and maintain order in your work, home, car, desk, computer, garden, and garage



Bibliography

Adams, T. R. (2000). Conceptualization and Measurement of the Spiritual and Psychological Dimensions of Wellness. Journal Of American College Health, 48(4), 165. Anandarajah, G. (2001). Spirituality and Medical Practice: Using the HOPE Questions as a Practical Tool for Spiritual Assessment. American Family Physician, 63(1), 81. Berman-Fortgang, Laura. the little book on meaning: Why We Crave It, How We Create It. (2009) 978-158542-713-4 Chakkarath, P. (2010). Where psychology meets religion and culture: remarks on Jacob A. Belzen's “Towards cultural psychology of religion: principles, approaches and applications”. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 13(4), 381-389. doi:10.1080/13674670903415295 Chopra, Deepak. the seven spiritual laws of success: A Practical Guide to the Fulfillment of Your Dreams. (1994). 1-878424-11-4 Folkman, S. (2008). The case for positive emotions in the stress process. Anxiety, Stress & Coping, 21(1), 3-14. doi:10.1080/10615800701740457 Kohls, N., Walach, H., & Wirtz, M. (2009). The relationship between spiritual experiences, transpersonal trust, social support, and sense of coherence and mental distress—a comparison of spiritually practising and non-practising samples. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 12(1), 1. doi:10.1080/13674670802087385 Krok, D. (2008). The role of spirituality in coping: Examining the relationships between spiritual dimensions and coping styles. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 11(7), 643-653. doi:10.1080/13674670801930429 Oakes, K. M. (2008). Spiritual Assessment in Counseling: Methods and Practice. Counseling & Values, 52(3), 240. Reed, H., English, B. the intuitive heart. How to Trust Your Intuition for Guidance and Healing. 2000 A.R.E. Press ISBN 087604-474-7 Zander & Zander. the art of possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life. (2000). 0-87584-770-6


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Mindful Practices for the Month of _____________

Mindful Practices

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Mindful Practices are done on a regular basis to support your physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual well-being. Directions: List up to 10 Mindful Practices in the spaces provided. Each day you complete one of the Mindful Practices acknowledge yourself by checking or coloring in the box intersecting that day and the practice. This chart will assist you to visually track your progress and provide you with valuable feedback.