Doing a yoga class

Attending a Church sermon

Deeply admiring a beautiful sunset

Singing with a choir

Going on a retreat to a remote spot

Praying

Meditating

Traveling

Dancing in a group at a wedding

Reading a passage by an inspirational leader and feeling compelled to live out their words in your daily life. . .

What do all of these things have in common?

They are examples of spiritual and religious practices we engage in on a day-to-day basis, on special occasions, or during certain seasons of our life.

In addition to career, relationships, and physical fitness, the fourth element of Primary Food (or what I’ve been referring to as “Vitamin P”) is your spiritual life.  It just so happens that the cog in the SEMPER Wheel is faith, and serves as the foundation for the SEMPER Philosophy.  Plus, the first chapter of my book, Just Roll With It, is all about faith.  I guess you could say I’m kind of into this whole spirituality thing 😉

Develop a spiritual practice that fits your beliefs and gives depth and meaning to your life. 

So, ya, I’m into this “spirituality thing” not just because of how I’ve seen faith save my own life during times of duress.  I’m into it because I’ve seen what it has done for others. WE ARE WIRED TO CONNECT TO GOD AND TO EACH OTHER.

I have seen people transform their lives through devotion, trust, and connection to something bigger than themselves, and keep living even when they thought the physical and emotional pain would never stop.  And as if experience weren’t enough, there are also a myriad of scientific and social studies proving the same thing – people with a spiritual practice are happier, healthier, and more successful.

I write and talk a lot about “letting go and letting God.”  Although, a Catholic by upbringing, and now self-ascribed non-denominational Christian, I have woven many Christian traditions, yoga, meditation, and eastern philosophies into my spiritual practice today.  That’s what works for me.  That’s what gives my spiritual practice depth and breadth. I’ve found a way to incorporate different spiritual practices into my daily life and fill my soul.  It has taken years to develop that, though. Define what spirituality means to you and be willing to incorporate it into your daily life not “solely as a means to an end when trying to achieve a healthier lifestyle

[but because] spiritual and religious practices have their own intrinsic value and are sufficient as ends unto themselves.” Dr Idler of Rutgers University

 

Conclusion:

As children, we all lived on primary food. The same as when deeply in love, or working passionately on a professional or personal project. The fun, excitement and love of daily life have the power to feed us so that food becomes secondary.

Now think of a time when you were depressed, or your self-esteem was low; you were starving for primary food. No amount of secondary food would do. You ate as much as you wanted, but you never felt satisfied. Even in good times when we come home at night, we often look into the refrigerator for something to eat, when all we really want is a hug or someone to talk to.

Primary foods feed us, but they don’t come on a plate. Elements such as a meaningful spiritual practice, an inspiring career, regular and enjoyable physical activity and honest and open relationships that feed your soul and your hunger for living all constitute primary food.

The more primary food we receive, the less we depend upon secondary foods. The opposite is also true. The more we fill ourselves with secondary foods, the less we are able to receive the primary foods of life.

I encourage you take the time to explore your primary foods as you journey through the process of learning more about a holistic lifestyle or reach out to me to see if working together would support you on your respective journey.

And please, let me know how it goes 😉