These behaviors are the fruit of a healthy spirit. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. Yet, you don’t have to be religious to recognize the value of these fruits. Nor do you need religion to value and nurture your spiritual health.

First, where did this phrase even come from? The Greek word that is translated to fruit literally means edible fruit. However, it’s also translated as profit, deed, result, offspring or action. In our society, we see bearing fruits as a positive. When you plant something, and it bears fruit it’s obvious that you have done well. This fruit has bloomed, it has grown, and reached a point for you to harvest because you nurtured it.

We’re not all green thumbs, though, so to put it in a modern context, we use fruits now as a way to communicate that our efforts have reaped results. You might not be out cherry-picking, but look at it this way – a paycheck, a completed project, children, etc. These are all evidence of your work.

So, when we talk about fruits of the spirit, that’s what we’re talking about. You can see that there is no need to be religious to recognize the fruits of the spirit. Your spirit health matters.

For you to bear fruit, you need to eradicate those unhealthy habits and stressful events and situations that are fueling an unhealthy spirit. How can your spirit work in your life if you are stifling it? It just can’t.

Your old self, the one that lacks spirit health, has to be put aside in order to truly nurture your wellbeing and freedom. There are several ways to do this, which I will address in this course. So, stay with me and let’s enjoy this journey of spiritual discovery together.

Oh, and you may consider downloading and using the various journal templates I am providing. In fact, you may want to skip to the bonus section first and learn how to keep a journal then use them as you learn what spirit health is and the steps you will need to go through to attain it.

An affirmation is the process of affirming something. It’s asserting that something exists or is true. When you nod to indicate something is right, that’s an affirmation. When you acknowledge that something is true, it’s an affirmation. But it’s more than just acknowledging that it’s true, it’s stating it with confidence and believing it.

Using affirmations is a powerful thing. It can be used to program or reprogram your mindset. When practiced deliberately and repeatedly it can strengthen the connection between your conscious and subconscious mind. If done correctly, it can change your life.

When practicing affirmations, it’s best to focus on just one or two at a time. Do this for several weeks. Once the thought is firmly planted in your mind, you can pick one or two more to focus on.

Using a journal can help solidify the affirmations in your mind. By writing the affirmations down while saying them out loud and with confidence, you are working two separate parts of the brain and therefore giving the affirmation twice the power.

To ensure you’re making the most of your spiritual journey:

· Write in your journal every day. Even if it’s only a few sentences, take a few minutes each morning or evening and write something about the affirmation you’re focusing on.

· Focus on the positive, rather the negative. Instead of saying “I can lose weight”, say “I can become healthier”

· Be sure to start each entry with “I” and use present tense. “I am strong”, “I can eat healthy foods” and “I will smoke fewer cigarettes today”.

· Speak the affirmation out loud and with confidence several times a day and before you go to bed. The more you say it, the faster it will take hold.

· If the affirmation is too broad or doesn’t quite match what you’re seeking, break it down. For example, if you are trying to affirm that you’re a happy person but you really don’t feel like you are, start with something smaller – I’m getting better at ____ which is making me happier.

· It’s okay to have broad affirmations. “I am in charge of my life” and “I choose to be happy right now” are great affirmations for anyone.

· Consider the negative thoughts, perceptions and actions you want to change. Think about the positive outcome of changing them. Prioritize these so you know which are the most urgent so you can work on those first.

Please join me on the inside and let's discover how to nurture your spirit.