Spirituality is impacted not only by remembrance but by diet, stress, sleeping and eating habits among other t... — Nouman Ali Khan

Spirituality is impacted not only by remembrance but by diet, stress, sleeping and eating habits among other things. Take care of yourself.

Author: Nouman Ali Khan

Insight: We tend to treat spirituality like it exists in some separate compartment from the rest of our lives—something that happens during prayer or meditation, untouched by whether we slept well or what we ate for lunch. But anyone who's tried to be present or kind when they're exhausted and hungry knows this isn't true. Your inner life doesn't float above your body; it lives inside it. The non-obvious part here is that taking care of yourself isn't selfish—it's actually foundational to whatever meaning or connection you're trying to cultivate. When you're chronically sleep-deprived, your nervous system stays in overdrive, making it nearly impossible to feel calm or connected to anything larger than your immediate stress. When you're properly nourished and rested, you have actual capacity for patience, reflection, and generosity. It's not poetic, but it's true: your spiritual practice works better on a full stomach and a decent night's sleep. This reframes self-care entirely. You're not pampering yourself or being indulgent when you prioritize rest, movement, and basic nutrition. You're actually maintaining the vessel that experiences whatever matters most to you. Taking care of yourself is taking care of your ability to show up for anything else.