AwareOnc - Spirituality as an Integrative Approach for Sustainable Health Behavior Change

The path of self-inquiry to Health Behavior change

Health Behavior Change

Why is it difficult to maintain health behavior changes? What role does spiritual awareness play in sustaining these changes?

We can address it by developing a sustainable health behavior change model for the community, incorporating spiritual literacy and self-awareness by transforming internal urges (vasanas), and discovering a sense of purpose in life.

When we understand our true nature and life purpose, we are better equipped to create an environment that supports our spiritual growth.

This process begins with adopting a healthy and sattvic lifestyle, which includes eating nutritious foods, getting sufficient sleep, engaging in regular physical activity, and maintaining a clear and focused mind free from impurities.

Meditation and Spirituality

Spirituality and Behavior Link

Spirituality can significantly influence behavior change by providing individuals with a sense of purpose, meaning, and moral compass.

It often leads to positive actions like adopting healthier habits, increased compassion, and a greater commitment to personal growth, especially when connected to practices like meditation, prayer, or connecting with a community of faith.

Spirituality can motivate individuals to change their behavior by offering a deeper understanding of themselves and their place in the world, encouraging more intentional choices.

Spirituality

Self-inquiry: Path to Spirituality

We inquire when we face life challenges (e.g., illness) or loss of life purpose (spiritual distress). Who are we?

“We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.” Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (French Philosopher)

We are on a journey to experience our true nature, the self, the ultimate bliss, supreme reality, or consciousness.

According to Vedanta philosophy, understanding our true nature will remove the ignorance that we are the body and, hence, the suffering associated with the physical body.

Patient, Health Coaching, & Spiritual Care Partnership Model

The partnership involves the patient, health coach, and spiritual care provider (chaplain).

This unique model will exploit the patient's spiritual belief-based intrinsic motivation to enhance the health behavior change journey and ensure success.

An insurance company or healthcare provider may refer a patient to a health coach to identify barriers to health behavior change and set goals.

A health coach might refer a client to a chaplain when the client is experiencing significant emotional or spiritual distress related to their health situation, such as dealing with a serious diagnosis, grief, existential questions, or a need for support beyond the scope of the coach's expertise, allowing the chaplain to provide specialized spiritual guidance and support.