Below are 4 different ways to gauge where you are at with your holistic health (focusing in on social / emotional / mental health, since it is too often overlooked and underestimated). Keep in mind you would only need to use ONE of the 4 ways to self-check. I recommend doing this monthly or quarterly, and with a friend. Or turn it into a retreat and have fun!
1) Self-check by looking at the “Fruit of the Spirit”:
Galatians 5:22-23a But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
LOVE – holistic – covers all things – how are you doing with Love?
Joy – spiritual – am i feeling spiritually joyful?
Peace – mental – am i experiencing peace of mind? a sound mind?
Patience – relational – how am i doing with being patient in relationships?
Kindness – physical – am i being kind to my body, in what i eat? working out to stay healthy?
Goodness – familial – am i being good to my family, no matter how they have treated me? am i trusting in god’s goodness towards my family?
Faithfulness – social – am i faithful to social justice and committed to being socially responsible?
Gentleness – cultural – am i culturally in tune and sensitive? am i gentle with remembering people’s cultural values and experiences?
Self control – emotional – do i have the ability to maintain emotional stability and self control?
2) Ask yourself these questions:
Emotional/Relational/Physical/Ministry Fulfillment/Spiritual/Mental Check-ups –>
-Am I in touch with my feelings? What does that mean to me?
-What is the quality of my family relationships and friendships right now?
-Am I healthy? Am I taking care of myself – mind, body, heart, spirit?
-What is my joy level in ministry?
-How honest and growing is my relationship with God these days?
-Am I being intellectually stimulated? Am I caring for my mental health?
3) LOVE – WORK – PLAY:
How are you loving yourself and others? How are you with your work life? How are you in your ability to play? ARE YOU:
-FUNCTIONAL
-HEALTHY
-SATISFIED
-PEACEFUL
… in all 3 areas?
4) Utilize the Emotional Health Inventory by Pete Scazzero, author of the Emotionally Healthy Church:
Inventory of Spiritual/Emotional Maturity
