Spirituality is Like Soy Sauce in a Spring Roll: Essential, Everywhere, Even If You Don’t Notice It

Why Spirituality is Essential for True Wellbeing

Having taken a little pause for the All Saints’ holidays, I have a new revelation to share. I’ve come to realize that throughout history, many cultures and traditions have always honored an aspect of us that our modern lives have given us more freedom on—yet perhaps have also left us with a void. For the last century, we have been learning to respect freedom of religion, but we may have overlooked something fundamental. Spirituality is not equivalent to religion, yet it remains an essential part of being human.

Today, we are encouraged to nurture our physical, mental, and emotional health, with countless resources and tools for doing so. But what about spiritual health? When any one aspect of our wellbeing is neglected, the whole system falls out of balance. While there’s increasing discussion around purpose, personal growth, and self-discovery, our culture still tends to lump these under mental or emotional health rather than recognizing them as distinct aspects of spiritual wellbeing.

The Foundations of Spiritual Wellbeing

So, what exactly is spiritual health? For me, it’s the nourishment of those intangible connections that transcend our everyday humanness. Spirituality encompasses our connection with nature, comos and beyond, our recognition of a greater force beyond ourselves, and our capacity to connect to a consciousness beyond our mind. It’s the invisible thread that ties us to something larger, something timeless. Unlike mental or emotional health, spiritual health is about tuning in to the non-physical realm and honoring the part of us that seeks meaning, connection, and peace beyond the material.

Failing to address our spiritual needs, we often feel an emptiness that isn’t filled by personal achievements or material success. We might find ourselves feeling disconnected or yearning for something intangible that our usual routines cannot satisfy. This is where practices that nourish our spirit come in—whether it’s time spent in nature, contemplative practices, or experiences that guide us inward.

Ways to Nurture Spiritual Wellbeing

Nurturing spiritual health doesn’t require belief in any one path. Sometimes it’s about creating a space for quietude, a time to listen beyond the mind’s noise. Practices that have helped me find connection with this deeper part of myself are meditation, yoga study, journaling, sound healing, which allow us to go beyond the mental realm and access a more intuitive, centered awareness. In sound baths, we use the resonance of sound to help us access a state of inner stillness that can feel like a reconnection with our true essence.

Some feel called to go deeper, to learn the practices that help others on their spiritual journey. Learning to guide sound healing, for example, becomes a way to nourish one’s own growth while also supporting the spiritual needs of others.  For some, going on retreat offers this chance to reconnect. Stepping away from daily routines to immerse oneself in nature, guided practices, and stillness gives us the freedom to tune into what lies beyond our surface-level selves.

An Invitation to Explore Your Own Spiritual Needs

We each have unique ways of connecting with the spiritual aspect of ourselves, whether through quiet moments in nature, intentional practices, or even through learning how to facilitate healing in others. If you feel called, there are many paths to deepen this exploration. Whether it’s through sound, time spent away on retreat, or other forms of spiritual practice, I encourage you to find what resonates with you, knowing that each step brings you closer to a sense of wholeness and peace.