You may be hearing increasing mentions of spiritual intelligence in the media, not least because there is a growing body of research pointing to how we can cultivate this mindset to support happier and more fulfilling experiences in life. Spiritual intelligence refers to a personal awareness of our own unique sense of purpose, and to a connection with something bigger than our daily existence. It is becoming popular in therapy as a practical approach to connect us with our values and priorities.  

The term ‘spiritual intelligence,’ can be confusing, not least because it sometimes is mistakenly conflated with religions in the US. So let us start by defining the term. It is not a theological or religious concept, rather it simply involves tapping into one’s inner wisdom, intuition, and values to navigate life’s challenges with resilience and compassion. It is an approach to life that celebrates the personal search for meaning and purpose, for example knowing what motivates and fulfills us in our careers leads to enhanced resilience and energy levels. The concept can best be summarized by Victor Frankl’s simple remark that “if we know the why, we can withstand the what.”  

Research supports the relevance of spiritual intelligence in facilitating personal growth. Studies have shown that individuals with higher levels of spiritual intelligence exhibit greater resilience, lower levels of stress and anxiety, and a greater sense of life satisfaction. Furthermore, spiritual intelligence has been linked to enhanced interpersonal relationships, increased empathy, and a greater capacity for forgiveness and compassion. It also holds promise for the treatment of mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and trauma, not least because it encourages us to look beyond how we behave when faced with these mental health conditions and look deeper into how we grow and evolve through these experiences. 

4 Approaches to Cultivate Spiritual Intelligence

But how exactly do we cultivate this in our daily lives? The approaches to it are surprisingly simple and accessible:
 

• Mindfulness-based techniques, which encourage us to cultivate present-moment awareness and connect with our inner selves. Mindfulness practices such as meditation, breathwork, and body scanning help individuals develop greater spiritual awareness and insight into their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. When your therapist asks you how you are feeling right now, or where in your body you are feeling it, they are supporting your development of this awareness;
   
• Another approach is to become curious about the idea of what we can learn from the experiences we have in life. What can an experience of joy or pain teach us? By thinking this through and applying a learning mindset we can also gain a deeper understanding of our core values and beliefs, which in turn provides us with an anchor in times of crisis. Clients are often curious to explore what learning and growth experiences are available from whatever hardships clients find themselves in. 

• Reflect on the choices that are available to you across your life (career, health, relationships), and explore what choices you can make to live a more authentic life, more closely aligned with your personal values. This is a highly personalized assessment, and taking the time to align our outer lives with our inner values is a highly effective way of increasing fulfillment over time, even if the journey starts with just the smallest of steps. 

• Explore the unique contribution you have to offer to the world around you. JFK famously encouraged us in his self-penned inaugural Presidential address to think less about our egoic needs and more about what ‘you can do for your country’.  The point here is that reflecting on what contribution we can make towards, and how we can support the needs of those around us, is a highly effective way to connect with our deeper sense of meaning. This is not about grandiose gestures, rather it is as simple as reflecting on our natural talents that lighten the loads of others.  

In conclusion, spiritual intelligence represents a promising frontier in psychotherapy that holds the potential to transform the way we understand and address mental health concerns. Integrating spiritual intelligence into therapy is best approached by starting small, reflecting, and taking a few gradual steps to align our life choices with our values.  Gautama Buddha summarized it most eloquently with his observation that “[our] goal in life is to find your purpose and give our whole heart and soul to it.”   

References: 

Emmons, R. A. (2000). Is spirituality an intelligence? Motivation, cognition, and the psychology of ultimate concern. The International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, 10(1), 3-26. 

Worthington Jr, E. L., Hook, J. N., Davis, D. E., & McDaniel, M. A. (2011). Religion and spirituality. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 67(2), 204-214. 

Pargament, K. I. (2007). Spiritually integrated psychotherapy: Understanding and addressing the sacred. Guilford Press. 

What’s the Connection Between Physical Health and Mental Health?

To most people, physical health and mental health are two very different things. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.  

As a matter of fact, physical health and mental health are very intricately related. When you have good mental health, your physical health can improve. At the same time, when you have good physical health, your mental health can improve. 

By connecting physical and mental health and understanding how they influence each other and the importance of optimizing both, you can live a happier, healthier, more fulfilling life. 

What Happens When a Person’s Mental Health Declines? 

When you’re in a good mental state, you can stay physically healthy. In fact, studies show that having a positive outlook on life can reduce the risks of heart attacks and strokes. Additionally, studies show that happiness helps reduce levels of inflammation in the body. 

On the other hand, when your mental health starts declining, your physical health can follow suit. For example, research suggests depression is linked to cancer, chronic pain, thyroid problems, heart disease, and even multiple sclerosis.  

Add it all up, and good mental health can go a long way toward helping you live a healthier, more enjoyable life. 

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What Happens When a Person’s Physical Health Declines? 

It’s often said that many of us take our health for granted. When our bodies work as they’re supposed to, we don’t give our health a second thought.  

Sooner or later, we all reach a point where we realize why we shouldn’t take our health for granted. For example, when someone breaks their leg and can no longer walk without assistance, all that person will think about is how great it would be to walk again. Prior to the accident, they likely didn’t spend much time thinking about their leg at all. 

Similarly, when an individual is diagnosed with a serious ailment — like cancer, a heart attack, or a stroke — it can be difficult to maintain an optimistic outlook on life, which could lead to depression. As we just learned in the previous section, depression can have an adverse impact on general health, which could further exacerbate their conditions.  

7 Tips for Improving Both Mental and Physical Health 

Now that you have a better idea about the mind and body connection and how physical and mental health are linked, let’s look at some tips you can use to improve your mental and physical health and live life to the fullest. 

1. Eat healthier meals

If you’re struggling with your mental or physical health, there could be a relatively easy fix: Make a conscious decision to eat better meals. By ditching things like fast food, soda, and tons of sugar and consuming more healthy meat, vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, you can enhance your mood, reduce your risk of developing cancer, and improve your gut health, among other health benefits.  

2. Exercise regularly

Exercising on a regular basis can improve your physical health by helping you lose weight and increase your energy and stamina. At the same time, exercise can also help you improve your mental health — and depression and anxiety in particular. The better you feel physically, the easier it is to see the world in a positive light. You spend less time dealing with aches and pains and have the energy needed to accomplish more every day. 

3. Get a good night’s sleep

When you don’t get enough sleep, you won’t feel great in the morning. It’s that simple. Without enough sleep, you’ll have to operate with less energy, and you might find it harder to concentrate. If you are continuously not getting enough sleep, you increase the chances you develop heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure, among other conditions. 

By getting enough sleep every night — between seven to nine hours is recommended — you can sharpen your learning and problem-solving skills while increasing your attention span, creativity, and decision-making capabilities.  

4. Don’t abuse drugs or alcohol

If you’ve ever had a hangover after a night of overindulgence, you probably have a good idea of why alcohol and drugs aren’t good for your physical health. What you might not know is that alcohol and drug use is also associated with mental health problems including depression, anxiety, and having an overall negative outlook on life.  

By ditching drugs and alcohol, you’ll improve your mental and physical health. While you’re at it, substitute those substances for healthy meals and exercise and you’ll compound your gains. 

5. Practice mindfulness

Many of us go through life without stopping to smell the proverbial roses. By forcing yourself to pay more attention to the present moment, you can become more in tune with your own body, which can help reduce depression and anxiety — and even help you manage chronic pain. This is all possible by practicing mindfulness, a meditative practice inspired by Buddhist teachings. 

6. See your primary care provider

Chances are you take your car in for regular oil changes and tune-ups. In a similar fashion, you should take yourself into your primary care provider’s office on a regular basis. After all, your health can change rapidly. The sooner you detect something is wrong with your body, the faster you can be on the road to recovery. By developing a strong relationship with a primary care doctor and committing to it, you can increase your physical and mental well-being. 

7. Talk to a therapist

Similarly, if you’re struggling with your mental or physical health, you might need more help than a doctor can give you. This is where it makes perfect sense to join forces with a trusted therapist who can help you overcome problems, change the way you think about things, and manage any mental health issues you may be experiencing.  

Since there’s a strong connection between a healthy mind and body, a therapist can be particularly helpful when it comes to resolving the issues you face. When you have a strong relationship with a therapist, you’ll have someone to lean on as needed, which can help you maintain a good quality of life no matter what curveballs come your way. 

That said, you can’t just choose any therapist and expect great results. Instead, you’ll need to do your due diligence to increase the chances you pick the best therapist for your needs.  After you determine what you’re looking for in a mental health professional, start your search for a therapist online and begin the healing process. 

If you think you need more than a therapist, check out the GoodTherapy Recovery Treatment Centers (RTCs) who are your allies in fighting any addictions you might be experiencing.