By Derek Hansen, Director of Chaplaincy Services
Wellness is about more than just physical health, exercise and nutrition. It’s the full integration of physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing. Wellness is multifaceted, and each of these facets interact and contribute to our overall wellbeing.
Compassion, capacity for love, forgiveness, altruism, joy and fulfillment are components of spiritual health. Religious faith, values, beliefs, principles and morals define a person’s specific spirituality. Spiritual wellness may include meditation, prayer, affirmations or specific spiritual rituals that support connection to God, a higher power or belief system. Mutual respect for differences is essential for successful spiritual health initiatives in the workplace.
Victor Frankl stated, “No cure that fails to engage our spirit can make us well.” Allow me to restate this for our context, No WORK that fails to engage our spirit can SATISFY. Spiritual wellness is critical for meaning and purpose. Many people enter the medical field because they have a desire to help others as part of their meaning and purpose. Nurturing meaning and purpose is critical for continued wellness and job satisfaction. Regardless of faith, religion or non-belief, every human being has a deep-seated need for meaning.
When people are respected and nurtured, it brings about resilience, engagement, energy, loyalty, creativity, generosity, retention and satisfaction. Customers who find such organizations become equally loyal.