When we talk about holistic well-being, it is impossible to do so without acknowledging spiritual health. I remember a season in my life when ambition was driving me into the ground. I gave everything to everyone, yet felt empty inside. I later realized that pace was rooted in an unhealthy practice of self-sacrifice. I don’t mean consideration for others; rather, I failed to consider myself. Did I truly want to attend that event or activity? Was I acting from purpose, or seeking validation? Trying to meet an unspoken standard of what was socially acceptable, and not be left out.
As a young wife and mother, I made a hard-fast decision to stop trying to keep up with the Jones'. It wasn’t cost-effective, nor was it sustainable. The constant pressure of overcommitment wasn’t serving my family or my spirit and I knew the pace I was on was not the way I wanted to live. So, I chose differently. We said no to exhaustion and yes to joy. For a time, simple moments like UNO games, family movie nights, and playing outside became our rhythm, until our children were old enough to discern what activities they wanted to pursue and why.
Today, I strive to structure my life the way Jesus modeled His. He was never in a hurry. He moved with intention, stepped away when needed, prayed, and then returned to the work before Him. I aim to follow that example. To me, this is spiritual health: learning to pour from a cup that is full rather than one that is depleted.
I am learning to compete only with myself and the person I believe I am called to be. When I feel anxious, off-center, or fearful, it is often a signal that I have drifted from that calling and am attempting to be someone else.
I invest more time and energy in building my calendar around the people, places, and practices that bring genuine joy, and far less time forcing myself to fit everything in. Spiritual wealth is contentment and joy in the life I am living right now, marked by gratitude, love for every season, and a deep appreciation for the present moment.