Spiritual Energy: Placing What is Most Important at the Center of our Life
I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me. (Philippians 4:13)
In today’s culture, the term spirituality refers to one’s place in the universe, or connecting with something greater than oneself, often through practices like meditation, focusing on inner peace and personal growth. While those in and of themselves are not bad, they omit objective truth from the process. The individual gets to define it; it is self-focused. As Catholic Christians, we are called to accept we are not in charge, there is objective truth (John 14:6), and we grow personally and professionally when we are a part of a faith-based community.
Our well-being and personal energy are impacted by our thoughts, feelings and behaviors (actions). In other words, how we spend our time and what we invest our energy in can positively or negatively impact our energy, and health and well-being. Usually associated with our deepest core values, purpose, meaning and identity, spiritual energy is the driving force behind our thoughts, feelings and behaviors. While the world tells you to define your purpose, meaning and identity, God and Jesus constantly remind us of our identity (Matthew 5:9). You have the opportunity to explore your purpose and meaning with God – to help you understand why you are placed here at this moment in time.
Spiritual energy is the most difficult area to work through because it requires the deepest reflection. This Lenten season is a wonderful time for reflection because it provides us the opportunity to “face our truth” – the decisions we’ve made, how we’ve spent our time and energy, where we are aligned with our core values (and where we’re not) and who we are today. Your energy may be going to a dysfunctional relationship, an unhealthy lifestyle behavior, emotional mismanagement, negative self-talk and multi-tasking, all which we will explore in subsequent articles. Your energy may also be aligned with some of your core values, such as attending weekly and daily mass,or practicing patience, humility, forgiveness, and gratitude.
It’s important to note that personal energy oscillates. There is positive (opportunity) and negative (survival) energy as well as high and low energy. Since we are humans, all are natural and normal, but we need to be careful not to spend too much time in one area over another.
For example, anger is high, survival-based energy. Anger can help us make decisions, but we don’t want to be stuck there for long periods of time. Likewise, depressive symptoms are low, survival-based energy. We need to seek out help when we are in this space. I recently heard a quote that has stuck with me: “Feelings are good friends but terrible leaders.” Feelings should not drive our actions; purpose, meaning, identity and core values should.
Exploring Your Purpose
How do we begin to understand our purpose, meaning, identity and core values? You may have already done work in this area, which is great. I suggest taking some time to reaffirm what you previously developed. If you have not spent time doing this, here are questions to consider through the lens of faith and trust in God. Prayer is a great way to begin, and do not be afraid of silence. Clarity can come from silence. Spent time on these, coming back to them over the next week or two.
Who am I when I am at my best?
What skills and strengths has God gifted me?
Who and what matters most to me?
Who and what brings meaning to my life?
What does my life look like when I am living at my best?
How do I want to be remembered?
What is my purpose?
Write a paragraph-long purpose statement describing who you are right now or who you want to be as you journey forward. Revisit your purpose statement a couple of times over the next 60 to 90 days. Prayerfully reflect on the statement you created. Over the years, your purpose statement ebbs and flows a little, but the core values remain the same. If it helps, share your purpose with a trusted confidant. Give it to the Lord to steer the ship.
Setting Healthy Boundaries
If I am not aligned with my core values and purpose, it is time for me to assess what needs to change. For example: beginning a new healthy behavior, putting an end to a relationship, or moving from negative to positive thinking. These types of changes require us to potentially set boundaries – to help me live my God-given purpose and stay aligned to what is most important.
Boundaries reinforce your values, prevent burnout and stress, build trust and honesty, and prevent misunderstandings by defining acceptable behavior. Sometimes setting boundaries is really difficult. People don’t always understand or accept what you are changing. What reactions might you expect? Bring those to the Lord to discern how you should respond.
(Best) Practices to Consider
Additional faith-based practices to help you develop in this area include prayer, reading scripture, journaling, expressing gratitude to God and others, spending time in nature (converse with God), practicing forgiveness and humility, and engaging in acts of service. We become extraordinary as we develop and expand our spiritual energy, living God’s purpose for us in the world.
Megan Amaya is an associate clinical professor, director of health & wellness, board-certified health coach, and certified group fitness instructor.