Spiritual health - refers to personal belief and value; acceptance and rejection of creation - refers to looking inwards, at a persons

depth of understanding, existence and creation; seeking meaning and purpose in life

Characteristics - Level of connectedness - Perception - Belief Factors: Factors leading to spiritual health. a) a well-defined worldview or belief system that provides purpose, meaning, and motivation to life; It seems that spiritually well individuals must have a well-defined worldview that explains reality for them and offers a coherent belief system. The worldview does not have to be a religious one, but it must nevertheless answer such basic existential questions as "where did I come from," "why am I here," "which path will lead to meaning and fulfillment in my life," and "what will happen to me after I die" (Brower, 1984). Generally, these questions are answered within the context of a higher power or larger reality. By answering these questions, the spiritual worldview provides a sense of meaning and purpose to existence in general, and, further, offers a path for personal fulfillment (a dream, cause, or mission) at the individual level. This road to fulfillment and meaning then outlines rules of conduct, values, and a sense of moral ethics and beliefs.

b) selflessness, connectedness with, and concern for others; and The themes of compassion, selflessness, integrity, honesty, and connectedness with others occur in most discussions of spirituality (Banks, 1980; Elkins et al., 1988; Poehler, 1982; Russell, 1984). As such, another criteria for a spiritually sound worldview is that the path to meaning which it advocates should involve some degree of selflessness, service to others, and a sense of connectedness with others. Since the alternative to a worldview based on selflessness would be one based on self-gratification, the importance of making selflessness a criteria for spiritual health becomes clear. Namely, individuals who organize their lives around self-gratification and pleasure seeking are more prone to addictions, mood disorders, and a profound sense of emptiness and unhappiness, all of which are antithetical to the characteristics of spiritual health as outlined above. In support of this position, research has found a negative relationship between spiritual well-being and such self-oriented

constructs as individualism, success orientation, and personal freedom (Ellison, 1983). On the other hand, connectedness with others has been linked to several positive health outcomes (House, Landis, & Umberson, 1988; Kaplan et al., 1988).

c) high levels of personal faith and commitment in relation to the worldview and belief system. in order for a worldview to have a positive impact on an individual's spiritual well-being, the individual must have a deep sense of belief (or faith) and hope that the worldview does, in fact, accurately depict reality. Without that sense of belief, faith, and hope, the level of commitment and motivation necessary to follow the path prescribed by the worldview would never be attained, especially since the worldview, as suggested above, must advocate selflessness, compassion, concern for others, sacrifice, etc. Once faith, hope, and commitment are in place, pursuit of meaning and purpose along the path outlined by the worldview can lead the individual to personal fulfillment, self-esteem, connectedness with others, and high levels of spiritual health.

PREVENTION: Activities of Quietude There are certain activities that, when practiced in solitude and quiet, can provide optimal conditions for spiritual awareness and growth. While spiritual awareness and growth may not be coaxed or coerced at will, they still may be actively pursued. These activities may foster spiritual growth because certain aspects of these processes (e.g., focused mind and quiet time for decision-making) promote ideal environmental factors for enhancing spiritual capacities. 1. Meditation Meditation is considered a type of mind-body complementary medicine. Meditation produces a deep state of relaxation and a tranquil mind. During meditation, you focus your attention and eliminate the stream of jumbled thoughts that may be crowding your mind and causing stress. This process results in enhanced physical and emotional well-being. 2. Yoga Yoga is a commonly known generic term for physical, mental, and spiritual disciplines which originated in ancient India. Long-term yoga practitioners in the United States reported muscular skeletal and mental health improvements. 3. Prayer Prayer is an invocation or act that seeks to activate a rapport with a deity, an object of worship, or a spiritual entity through deliberate communication. Prayer can be a form of religious practice, may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private.

Promotion: Note [] - Explanation What is Health Promotion? Health is a precondition for well being and quality of life. It is also a basic human right and is essential for social and economic development. Increasingly, healthpromotion is being recognised as an essential element of health development. It is a process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve, their health whether it is physical, mental, emotional or spiritual. Health Promotion at Undergraduate Level It is therefore crucial that health promotion becomes part of the undergraduate pharmacy curriculum.This should be a natural development in the preparation of students leading to this profession. Future pharmacists need to understand the principles of health promotion if they are to be inline with other health professions where this training is already being done. Such training would facilitate pharmacists in becoming advocates of health promotion. The Pharmacy as a Setting for Health Promotion Pharmacists are ready to provide health advice. Pharmacists mostly deal with customers that are not ill. They may be shopping for toiletries or picking up a prescription for someone else. But this visit presents an opportunity to provide customers with healthier information. All pharmacists should be involved in encouraging healthy behaviour. [This can be done by setting aside space for health promotion literature, responding to the requests for advice and providing simple health promotion advice when giving out prescriptions, making sales and responding to symptoms.] Conclusion The pharmacist however, also needs to act provocatively to remain abreast on such issues and to encourage the community it serves in choosing healthier lifestylesby learning skills that enable them to take control of their health. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Improving Your Spiritual Health Here are some ways to help improve your spiritual health: Be quiet. [Take time for yourself every day, even if it's just before you go to sleep, or when you're driving home.] Be open. [Spiritual experiences can happen anywhere at any time.] Practice being non-judgmental and having an open mind Be receptive to pain or times of sorrow. [It is often in these times when we discover how spirituality can help us cope.] Practice forgiveness Pray, meditate or worship Live joyfully Allow yourself to believe in things, that aren't easily explainable