 With so much emphasis on performance, achievement, results, and outward appearances, it's easy to become distracted by and overly concerned with the superficial. On the outside, things look good and you present the perfect picture of success. Meanwhile on the inside, you feel drained, confused, and unfocused. You also feel increasingly disturbed as you find yourself becoming spiritually disconnected over time. There are no shortcuts to maintaining good spiritual health; it needs to be nurtured on an ongoing basis. Here are seven ways to regain your spiritual strength and focus. 1. Connect with nature: Most of us spend the vast majority of our time indoors, under artificial light, interacting with technology of some sort. Getting outdoors and connecting with nature can do wonders for your spiritual well-being. Make the most of your time outdoors by taking things in with all of your senses. Listen to the sounds around you — birds chirping, rustling leaves. Observe the feeling of the wind against your skin. Notice the blueness of the sky and the speed with which the clouds are moving. Can’t get out as much as you would like to? Plants are a great way to bring a bit of nature inside. 2. Do something creative: Much of our time is spent adhering to schedules and performing tasks that need to get done. There's nothing wrong with that; having a bit of structure and being productive feels pretty good for most people. But after awhile, you can be left feeling stifled and out of touch spiritually. Having a creative outlet can help. Music, writing, poetry, dance, painting, craftwork, woodworking, photography, gardening — finding that special activity that gets you "into the flow" can be a great way to nurture your spiritual side in a natural, intuitive, relaxing, and fun way.  3. Keep a dream journal:
Your dreams are an honest and genuine reflection of what you’re contending with at a deep level. They reveal whatever is churning around in your subconscious mind, capturing your deepest concerns, preoccupations, desires, fears, and emotions. This makes dream journaling an exciting way to become more spiritually aware. Don't worry if your dreams seem disjointed or nonsensical; simply record whatever stands out to you, particularly with respect to the sensations being evoked. Patterns and themes will eventually emerge that you wouldn’t have noticed otherwise. Over time, you’ll gain insight into your own inner workings. 4. Cultivate meaningful rituals: Throughout the world, different cultures have recognized the value of rituals as a source of strength and comfort, and a means of nurturing spiritual awareness. It doesn’t have to be big or complicated. The nature of the ritual is far less important than the meaning you assign to it, so choose anything that’s meaningful to you. Many people find rituals related to gratitude to be very rewarding. For instance, you might want to take some time every night to reflect on something you're grateful for, or something good that happened during the day. 5. Meditate: Modern research affirms what people worldwide have known for centuries: meditation has a powerful effect on body, mind, and spirit. Our minds are forced to deal with a steady influx of input from the world around us, on top of the continual flow of our own thoughts and mental activity. Taking some time to quiet your mind, even if just for 10 or 15 minutes a day, can do wonders for your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. 6. Reflect on synchronicities in your life: We’ve all had them: those situations, circumstances, or events in life that seem to be coincidence, but are filled with meaning and significance. As you stand back and look at what transpired, you can’t help but feel a sense of wonder and awe at how things came together. Reflecting on the synchronicities in your life can help you reconnect with your spiritual side, and build your faith that life consists of far more than what you’re able to observe in the moment. 7. Mix things up: Any of the above practices will help you nurture your spiritual side, but you don't have to limit yourself. Maybe you'll find that you prefer taking time to meditate while you're out connecting with nature. Perhaps you'll find that nature inspires your creative expression. Keeping a dream journal might become a special ritual for you; and it might also connect to your reflection on the synchronicities in your life. Combining practices may be just what you need to nurture your spiritual strength and focus.
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