Spirituality: A Different Kind of Self-Care – Nurturing Your Inner World

As a clinical psychologist trained in evidence-based therapies, I built a career helping people heal, guided by treatments grounded in science and research. But for years, I carried a secret—one I feared would change the way people saw me, casting judgment before they truly understood.

Here it is: I am a deeply spiritual person.

It wasn’t always something I had words for. It was something I felt within me—something that carried me through the chaos of my childhood. I grew up in a home where my parents argued constantly and where the air was thick with unspoken pain. My father’s moods controlled the energy in our home, shifting like unpredictable weather, and my mother had her own burdens to bear. 

When you grow up in a home where love exists but is tangled in unhealed wounds, you don’t just experience childhood—you survive it. And survival demands more than just endurance. It asks for something deeper, something beyond the body and mind. It asks for your spirit.

Like many others, I wasn’t just a child; I was a quiet observer of pain, a navigator of chaos, a survivor of circumstances I never chose. And in the absence of stability, I was forced to find my own true north—not in the world around me, but in the world within me.

There was something inside me that refused to break. A presence—steady and wise, compassionate and kind. A force as real as gravity, as constant as the turning of the earth.

I didn’t have a name for it then. I just knew that when fear took up too much space, when the air felt thick with tension, when love came laced with sorrow—this presence was there. It whispered to me when no one else did. It held me when nothing else could.

It was my spirit.

And it sustained me. It was my refuge, holding me when nothing else could.

For me, writing became the bridge to my spirit. In a world that felt unpredictable, words became my anchor. Over time, that inner voice—my North Star—grew louder. It reminded me that I was not my circumstances. That even in my darkest moments, there was something within me that said: keep going.

And as I walked this path as a clinical psychologist, I’ve come to realize something: I’m not alone in this experience. Many of us, whether we recognize it or not, have relied on something deeper to carry us through—intuition, faith in the things you know deeply inside yourself, or a sense of purpose.

But for a long time, this inner wisdom was dismissed, especially in the world of psychology.

For decades, spirituality was stigmatized in the field of psychology—dismissed as irrational, even pathological. But today, a growing body of research supports what ancient traditions have always understood: spiritual health is a vital part of your mental and emotional well-being. Studies show that spiritual practices—whether meditation, spending time in nature, or connection to something greater—can reduce stress, increase resilience, and even rewire the brain for greater peace and joy.

In fact, some of the most groundbreaking work in mental health today is happening at the intersection of spirituality and science.

• DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) teaches Wise Mind—a balance between emotion and logic that helps us make grounded, intuitive decisions, a way of accessing the wisdom of the universe. Cultivating Wise Mind has also been described as awakening states of clarity, compassion, and freedom—the essence of our true self.

• IFS (Internal Family Systems) speaks of the Self—your deepest, most authentic nature. It is the core of who you are, inherently whole and unbroken, with an innate capacity for healing. The Self is naturally calm, compassionate, confident, and courageous—the essence of your true being.

• Mindfulness, meditation, and self-compassion therapies all stem from ancient traditions designed to help people find peace and presence.

• Psychedelic-assisted therapy, once dismissed as fringe, is now showing remarkable promise in treating end-of-life distress, depression, anxiety, and trauma. Research confirms what indigenous traditions have understood for centuries: when used in a safe, guided setting, psychedelic medicine has the power to unlock deeper spiritual experiences, shift perspective, and foster profound healing. Patients report feeling a renewed sense of connection—to themselves, to others, to something greater than their suffering.

Science is catching up to something fundamental about healing: it’s not just about the mind. It’s about the deeper parts of us that seek meaning, connection, and peace.

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The benefits of cultivating spirituality are profound—but many people aren’t even sure what spirituality really is. If this is you, you’re not alone, because modern life is loud. It keeps us running, striving, scrolling, doing, as if we are on a constant treadmill. In all the noise, we forget to pause and check in with ourselves.

So what exactly is spirituality? 

At its core, spirituality is about connection—connection to the deepest, truest part of yourself and to something greater than you. It’s a personal experience, one that looks different for everyone.

Unlike religion, spirituality isn’t tied to doctrine or rules. It doesn’t ask you to follow a set path—it invites you to discover your own. Some find it through prayer, others through meditation, time in nature, creativity, or moments of stillness. It’s less about belief and more about being—being present, being open, being in tune with something greater than the noise of everyday life.

Spirituality isn’t about escaping reality. It’s about seeing it more clearly. About stepping beyond fear, beyond ego, beyond the stories we tell ourselves, and into a space of deeper truth. It’s about recognizing that beneath all the distractions, there is something strong and unshakable within you—something wise, steady, and whole.

For some, spirituality is a connection to their highest self. Others call it God, nature, the universe, or divine intelligence. It’s about self-discovery, meaning, and purpose—about exploring love, joy, compassion, and wisdom in your own way.

And just as we care for our mental and physical health, there is also another dimension of wellness called spiritual health. Everyone, regardless of whether you practice spirituality, falls somewhere on a continuum of spiritual health, and like any other aspect of well-being, it requires care and attention.

Research shows that people who cultivate spiritual health—through mindfulness, reflection, or a sense of meaning—experience greater resilience, deeper purpose, and more inner peace, even in difficult times. They feel more connected, practice gratitude and compassion, and trust their inner wisdom.

When spiritual health is neglected, it can manifest as emptiness, disconnection, or a constant search for external validation. Some feel lost, numb, or avoid silence because introspection feels uncomfortable.

The good news is you don’t have to be religious or follow a strict practice to nurture spiritual health. It’s simply about finding what makes you feel grounded, present, and connected—whether that’s time in nature, writing, movement, prayer, or quiet moments alone.

This week, take a moment to check in with yourself:

✨ When do I feel most present and alive?

✨ What brings me a deep sense of connection?

✨ How can I create space for more meaning and peace in my daily life?

Small, intentional moments can make all the difference.

Your spirit—your deepest, truest self—has always been there, steady and wise, waiting for you to turn inward and listen. Give yourself space to recharge, to breathe, to simply be. Because when you do, you’ll find exactly what you’ve been looking for—already within you.