SPIRE: Wholebeing Check-in
Posted on December 07, 2020 by Eloise Russo, One of Thousands of Executive Coaches on Noomii.
How using a holistic check-in model can support your overall sense of happiness, thriving, and wellbeing.
SPIRE: A Holistic Check-in Model
SPIRE is a way to check-in with your wholebeing to explore what’s going well and what could use additional attention or a tune up. This model is based on positive psychology research and the aspects that make up a happy, full, and meaningful life. The SPIRE model is made up of the following:
S – Spiritual: Leading a meaningful life and mindfully savoring the present.
P – Physical: Caring for the body and tapping into the mind/body connection.
I – Intellectual: Engaging in deep learning and opening to new experiences.
R – Relational: Nurturing a constructive relationship with self and others.
E – Emotional: Feeling all emotions, reaching towards resilience and optimism.
By using SPIRE, we are able to acknowledge and appreciate the many different aspects of ourselves. We allow ourselves to have a deeper understanding of how we’re really doing and what may be out of balance. This holistic way of checking in allows us space to listen to ourselves and more holistically explore how we’re doing. It also creates space for exploring concrete action steps to best support feeling more nourished and whole at any given time.
SPIRE in Action
To help bring this to life, here’s an example of one way to use SPIRE to check-in.
Using a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being low and 5 being high, answer the following question:
In thinking about the last several days, how is your SPIRE?
Sample SPIRE check-in:
Spiritual: 4 – I’ve carved out time for my morning practice each of the last 4 days, and enjoyed time in nature.
Physical: 2 – It’s been raining and I’ve cut my daily walks short, or haven’t gone out for a walk at all.
Intellectual: 4 – My course readings have been interesting, and I’m excited about what I’m learning.
Relational: 3/4 – I’ve enjoyed time with a few close friends recently. I’ve connected with friends and family in the past few days over video apps and the phone.
Emotional: 2/3 – I’m feeling a concerned about a friend who is struggling, and am feeling a bit down about it but haven’t made a lot of space to really dig into that.
This will look different for everyone, and our interpretations of each of the SPIRE elements is what matters most for our lives. In the example above above; Spiritual includes a connection to ritual through a morning practice and time in nature. For others, this may be time journaling and a connection to meaning through volunteering. It may also be time spent with a meditation sangha or religious community. There isn’t a right answer here, rather, it’s about what resonates with you and what brings you meaning.
The Benefits of a Holistic Check-in
After completing your SPIRE, you can explore if there are one or two areas that could benefit from increased attention. In the example above, the Physical and Emotional are low, and these could be great areas to explore increasing. For the Physical this could include brainstorming movement activities to do instead of walking if it’s raining. It could also include making a plan to walk with a friend to help increase the likelihood of getting outside. With the Emotional, this could include exploring if taking time to journal or talk with a friend about what’s going on may be helpful.
We are multifaceted beings, and SPIRE helps us to be there for ourselves in a more holistic way. The way we connect with ourselves, take care of our bodies, feel engaged in learning, connect with others, and to our own emotions – these all impact our overall sense of thriving and wellbeing. If one or more are low, we can feel out of sorts, tired, stressed, or anxious. As our lives ebb and flow, our SPIRE will look different. The goal is not necessarily to have a high SPIRE all of the time, rather it’s to use SPIRE as a tool to help us lean into what helps us feel grounded, healthy, and whole. This in turn supports all aspects of our lives, including how we show up for ourselves and for others.
If you’re interested in learning more about using SPIRE, we can dive into more depth as a part of coaching. You can also learn more about SPIRE at the Wholebeing Institute.
