I do my best to stay physically fit attending boot camp twice a week and riding my bicycle or hiking on other days. Once in awhile I’ll do a diet challenge to clean up my act.

It was during my last diet challenge when I realized maintaining a healthy body was much like maintaining healthy spirituality. The only difference lies in the value we place on attaining spiritual versus physical health. Our motivation is tied to how highly something is valued. What we witness with our five senses appears more real and compelling than what we perceive with our sixth sense, or inner vision.

I asked my boot camp instructor, Sabrina, what she thought were the most important elements to reach a physical fitness goal. I compared them to what’s important for spiritual fitness. Not surprisingly, our lists were very similar although the goals differed.

Focused Intent

Whether you want a fit body or a fit soul, the first step is identifying the end goal. Physically, most of us want to look and feel good. Spiritually we long for love, happiness, and peace of mind. We must value the goal enough so that we are motivated to move toward it, overcome whatever fears stand in our way, and make the required changes. Many people–and I was one of them–prioritize their physical health above their spiritual health. Time is carved out religiously, habits are readily adapted, and schedules conformed accordingly.

While people will acknowledge their spiritual longing, they are less likely to make it a top priority or see it as the foundation on which the health of everything else rests, including physical health. It’s “just” something else to juggle.

Willingness

Willingness is required to do what’s necessary. I desired to improve my physical strength to adapt new habits. I got up earlier, I tried physical moves new to me, and I worked through pain that often accompanies new muscle movement. I was open to cooking and eating differently though it entailed a steep learning curve, and caused difficulty when eating out.

For spiritual health it’s also essential to be willing and open to see differently, to challenge every belief held, and to surrender the “known.” This is no small task: it means taking the road less traveled, going left when everyone else is going right.

Taking Responsibility

Often, taking responsibility provides a major turning point allowing many to travel firmly toward a healthier lifestyle. Sick and tired of feeling sick and tired, they recognize they can take control of their physical condition. This is empowering and liberating.

Those who desire spiritual health will also learn that the level of love, happiness, and peace we experience is completely within our control. We control what we experience, and by taking responsibility for everything we think, we can experience change. While frightening, it is liberating and empowering to know that we hold the key.

Commitment

If the outcome is highly valued, the commitment will be strong. The image of a strong, lean, toned, healthy body provides the motivation to get out of bed early to workout, regardless of how agonizing it is. Commitment keeps you going through a missed workout, a glazed doughnut, or anything else contrary to your goal. Being committed, you spend the time and undergo the necessary training. It’s a process, and while you’re anxious for results, you’re willing to do what it takes.

Spiritual fitness requires a commitment too: a commitment to love, happiness, and peace of mind. This provides the motivation to see things differently, and to practice new concepts no matter how difficult or impossible they seem at first. Remembering it’s a process, and that you’re covering new ground, helps you be gentle with yourself when you wander off the path.

Diet

“Garbage in, garbage out.” Most of us recognize that living on potato chips, ice cream, and beer will eventually catch up with us. The connection between what we put in our mouths and how our bodies look and feel is understood.

The same connection exists from a spiritual perspective. Are we indulging in “stinkin thinkin?” What we feed our mind is critical. How many hours of the day do we feed it with fear and worry? Do we take the time to quiet the frantic thoughts competing for our attention so loving thoughts can come in?

Exercise

To strengthen our muscles we exercise. There’s no way around it. Muscles unused for long periods respond painfully at first. I am not fond of the early days of a new exercise program, yet I know that within a short period of time the pain lessens and the muscles begin to take shape. The only way to maintain and continue to strengthen them is to use them.

Spiritual health also requires exercise. Practicing new ideas strengthens them, and habits formed by old beliefs fall away. Practice can happen anywhere, anytime, and with anyone. I’ve learned that there is a direct correlation between the amount of time devoted to exercise – physical or spiritual– and my results.

Measure Results

At the end of the day, results matter. Find a way to measure them and you’ll strengthen both resolve and your willingness to change. Physically, we feel the effects of our efforts with renewed stamina and flexibility. We weigh less, we drop inches, and we wear clothes that didn’t fit before. Our outlook becomes more positive. We’re healthy.

How do we measure spiritual fitness? For me, it comes down to the amount of peace, love, and joy I experience daily; often made visible through the strength and depth of my relationships. My outlook is one of excitement. I’m heart healthy-literally and spiritually. It doesn’t get any better than that.