Spirituality doesn’t look the same for everyone.  For some, it means being more concerned with the human spirit vs. material things. For some it’s a deep connection with nature, a higher being, each other and the deepest part of ourselves.  Regardless of ones definition, most people who identify as spiritual see long term health benefits.  Spiritual people generally have a more positive outcome to adverse situations such as an unfavorable medical diagnosis, so much so that some doctors have started  incorporating their patients’ spiritual practices as part of their healthcare. A strong spiritual life, along with lowering inflammation, may also lower depression and promote mental health.

While spirituality may shape our beliefs to help us process difficult situations, ultimately lowering stress on our systems, it may also be a bit foreign and we need a little more help developing it. If this is you, here are some great places to start:

Daring Greatly by Brene Brown

You may know her from one of the most watched TED talks ever – “The Power of Vulnerability”  or the latest Netflix must-see special, “Brene Brown:  The Call to Courage”, but Daring Greatly is what started it all.  This book combines years of research with “please-don’t-let-this-book-end” storytelling to teach us how we become stronger by embracing our vulnerability.

The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks

How do you let go of your fears? How do you learn new skills and habits so that you can become the greatest version of yourself? The Big Leap provides the road map for how to achieve your true potential and achieve happiness and fulfillment, not only financially, but in love and life.

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

No one can weave scientific research, pop culture, and the wisdom of ages into a funny self-help book like Gretchen Rubin.  For an entire year, Gretchen chronicled her adventures in finding happiness.  Some lessons she learned are novelty and challenge are powerful sources of happiness. Money can help buy happiness, when spent wisely. Outer order contributes inner calm (the title of her latest book), and that the very smallest changes can make the biggest difference.  I’m a huge fan of that last one!

And for a straight-talk, different kind of help finding your purpose, read this. If you’re feeling lonely and would like to make changes, take a deeper dive into the Surprising Effects of Loneliness on Health.