I don’t know about you, but the demands of work can often overshadow our personal fulfilment. The importance of spiritual wellbeing in the workplace has come to the forefront in recent years. Spiritual wellbeing encompasses a sense of purpose and connection to the innate, positive values that guide our actions. When we embrace this aspect of wellbeing, we will truly thrive.
I guess it is important to note that our values can be both positive and negative. Positive example could be compassion and honesty and negative could be greed and dishonesty. Dual natured values relate to how they are interpreted and what they lead to. For example, ‘ambition’ can lead to success, but it could lead to selfishness. Whereas ‘loyalty’ supports trust but it can result in wrong allegiance.
The Importance of Spiritual Wellbeing
When we hear the term spiritual, it often causes individuals to reflect on religion and the deities associated to them (although there is some relationship there). I used to think this way many years ago, prior to becoming a Chaplain. However, as many are now aware, spiritual wellbeing is not restricted to religious beliefs; it is about understanding our values, purpose, and connection with others and how these impact on situations and people around us. Individuals who nurture their spiritual wellbeing often experience:
1. Enhanced Resilience:
I could share some stories, but I’ve found that having a clear sense of purpose and understanding the value I contribute, can significantly influence how situations unfold in the workplace. These attributes alone can provide the emotional strength needed to navigate workplace challenges, setbacks, and stressors. For me, the values and integrity I hold and as a person of faith, influences my emotional resilience.
2. Improved Relationships:
When employees are grounded in their positive values and share these values, they are more likely to build meaningful connections with colleagues, fostering a collaborative and supportive work environment. Let me explain, when employees understand and stay true to their personal and professional values, it positively influences their interactions with others. In being my authentic self, aligned with my principles at work, it has helped me to form genuine and meaningful relationships with my colleagues. Especially at times of departmental challenge, I have witnessed where this creates an atmosphere of trust, respect, collaboration and mutual support. This then encourages teamwork, shared goals, and a sense of belonging, leading to my next point.
3. Greater Job Satisfaction:
Those who align their work with their positive personal values and sense of purpose tend to display higher levels of job satisfaction, leading to increased engagement and productivity. There are many challenges that impact us in the workplace and cause is to feel emotive. These challenges may even make us feel justified to respond inappropriately. However, when we demonstrate our positive values with integrity, we can experience the benefits and rewards
4. Overall Wellbeing:
Through my experiences of supporting staff who nurture their spiritual wellbeing, whether through quiet reflection, faith, mindfulness, or finding deeper meaning in life, I have noticed how it positively impacts their overall physical and mental health, and their mindset towards work. By fostering a sense of inner peace and purpose, spiritual wellbeing helps reduce stress and anxiety. This, in turn, promotes a healthier outlook, enabling people to approach both work and personal life with confidence, a more balanced perspective and greater resilience. It encourages harmony and reduces burnout, contributing to a more fulfilling life.
In my next blog I will share how Cappella Chaplaincy Practitioners can support the spiritual wellbeing of your employees.If you need wellbeing support for yourself or your employees, that results in a healthier workforce, increased productivity, whilst saving costs…take the first step on our website by clicking on ‘book now’ or ‘book a discovery call’.
