Skip to Main Content Skip to Main Navigation Skip to Footer
UNG Logo
  • Info For...
    • Accepted Students
    • Current Students
    • Parents & Family
    • Faculty & Staff
    • Alumni
    • Business & Community
    • International Students
  • Quicklinks
    • Directories
    • myUNG
    • Academic Catalogs
    • Athletics
    • Banner
    • Bookstore
    • Calendars
    • Campuses & Maps
    • Continuing Education
    • D2L
    • Employment / HR
    • IT Service Desk
    • Libraries
    • Testing
    • UNG Foundation
  • Admissions
  • Corps of Cadets
  • Academics
  • Cost & Aid
  • Student Life
  • News & Events
  • Athletics
  • About Us
Newsroom
  • All Articles
  • Media Relations Contact
  • Expert Guide
  • Points of Pride
  • Magazine
  • Social Media
    1. UNG
    2. News

    Nigel Cares: Spiritual wellness offers value

    November 8, 2021
    Spirituality suggests there is more to life than what we experience with our five senses. The human spirit is the source of life that vitalizes humanity.

    By Glen Harris Jr.

    Assistant dean for student care and outreach

    One of my closest friends once asked, "How can you define you, when you didn't design you?" My immediate response was something like, "Bro, that's fire! You need to put that in a song." At that time, I was in pursuit of finding answers to some of life's hardest questions: What is my purpose? Why was I born?

    I was sensing a strong personal conviction to pursue a career that was going to help transform the lives of those around me.

    However, it would be at the expense of changing my major and giving up on a lifelong dream of being a world-famous singer and actor. 

    ${_SerializerTool.serialize($image.getChild('alt').text,true)}

    My friend's question challenged me to explore faith and spirituality in a brand new way.

    Dr. Bill Hettler, co-founder of the National Wellness Institute, developed Six Dimensions of Wellness to help individuals cultivate a holistic sense of fulfillment and wellness. Just as important as the others, the spiritual dimension "recognizes our search for meaning and purpose in human existence. It includes the development of a deep appreciation for the depth and expanse of life and natural forces that exist in the universe."

    Spirituality suggests there is more to life than what we experience with our five senses. The human spirit is the source of life that vitalizes humanity. It is the intangible that governs our mental and emotional existence. People who pursue spiritual wellness often demonstrate the following characteristics:

    1. Are connected to someone/something greater than themselves.
    2. Have a set of beliefs, morals, or values that provide a sense of purpose and meaning to life.
    3. Allow those beliefs to guide their actions.

    Spirituality does not always have to be associated with religion, but often can be. Research shows that engaging in spiritual or religious activities can assist in:

    1. Coping with feelings of stress, depression, and anxiety.
    2. Finding hope, positivity, and optimism.
    3. Finding a sense of community and support.

    Everyone experiences challenges and hardships. Exploring your spirituality may help you in navigating the difficult times when they arise and improve your overall well-being. There is research that correlates spirituality with resilience. Some call it "spiritual resilience." Spiritual resilience allows us to use internal and external spiritual resources to maintain our beliefs and sense of purpose, despite experiencing life's stress and challenges.

    This week, I encourage you to explore some spiritual activities. Reflect on how you felt before and after doing it.

    • Pray (talking to God).
    • Meditate (ponder, reflect, think over).
    • Read a devotion, spiritual book, or theological text.
    • Take a walk near nature.
    • Sit silently near a stream or lake.
    • Attend a religious service.
    • Engage with others in spiritual conversations.

    Georgia Military Service Scholarship available

    Georgia Military Service Scholarship available

    Worth more than $85,000, the Georgia Military Service Scholarship is open for applicants hoping to attend UNG as a member of the Corps of Cadets.
    Dragon Boat team takes first place

    Dragon Boat team takes first place

    UNG took first place in the collegiate division of the 200-meter race of Atlanta Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival at Lake Lanier Olympic Park on Sept. 9.
    Exercise class serves cancer survivors

    Exercise class serves cancer survivors

    UNG is supporting cancer survivors through the "Happy, Alive and Built to Survive" exercise program open to students, faculty, staff, and community members free of charge.
    Cadets spend their summer overseas

    Cadets spend their summer overseas

    Twelve UNG cadets traveled abroad this summer for professional development opportunities.

    UNG Logo
    • Contact Us
    • Request Information
    • Quick Facts
    • Campus Maps & Directions
    • Student Consumer Information
    • Campus Safety
    • Emergency Information
    • Employment/HR
    • UNG Policies & Procedures
    • UNG Alumni Association
    • UNG Foundation
    • Ethics & Compliance Hotline
    • Human Trafficking Notice
    • Equal Empl. Opportunity

    © 2023 The University System of Georgia and the University of North Georgia.

    UNG follows the section 508 Standards and WCAG 2.0 for web accessibility. If you require this content in another format, please send an email to the ADA Coordinator.

    Use of military-themed imagery does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Department of Defense.

    • Accreditation
    • Accessibility
    • Privacy Policy
    Establishing Connection...
    AskNigel