Running head: SPIRITUAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLNESS INTERVIEW

Spiritual and Psychological Wellness Interview

Brooke J. Scott
Kaplan University
HW420-01, Professor M. Maule
25 October 2016

SPIRITUAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLNESS INTERVIEW

Spiritual and Psychological Wellness Interview

The Questions
1. In your opinion, what constitutes spiritual wellness?
2. In your opinion, what constitutes psychological wellness?
These two questions will give me insight into the subjects personal beliefs and give a
baseline for ways to pursue activities that the subject would be most open towards. For instance,
if the subject is religious and believes that certain religious practices contribute to spiritual
health, then we can look into specific practices to help any areas they may be lacking. Likewise,
if they are not religious at all, then we can look into activities that can still help but are more in
tune with their personal beliefs.
3. What are some spiritual practices you take part in?
This question will gauge whether the individual already has some practices that are helpful to
them, and whether there are some other practices they do not already practice which could be
beneficial. If the subject does not have any practices, then they are essentially a blank slate with
a multitude of options for them to try on and see which fit best for their personal needs.
4. Do you make it habit to express gratitude on a regular basis? (Essential Spirituality)
4A. If so, what are your practices?
4B. If not, what are some things you are grateful for, and how might you make
acknowledging what youre grateful for a regular part of your life?
These questions are important because as Dr. Walsh points out, fostering gratitude dissolves
negative feelings deflates the barriers to love (and) evokes happiness (and) when we are
happy, we like to make others happy, and this fosters kindness and generosity (1999, pg 99).
Hopefully asking this question will make them think more about being grateful in the future,
fostering happiness and kindness.

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5. Optimism has been shown to increase hope, and subsequently health (Seligman, 2006, pg
169-171) Have you ever noticed that your health is better when you have a better
attitude?
5A. What are your thoughts on optimism having a positive effect on health?
This question would gauge their receptiveness to changing pessimistic behavior having
control over their own life/health.
6. Do you consider yourself an optimist or a pessimist?
6A. If an optimist what qualities do you believe contribute to your optimism?
6B. If a pessimist what qualities do you believe are pessimistic that you could work on?
These questions could shed light on how the individual sees their self, and help find ways to
foster optimism.
7. Taking care of yourself is important. What are some ways you practice self-renewal?
7A. If you dont what are some activities you would like to practice?
This question would find out what the individual likes, and help them find ways to fit it into
their scheduling regularly.
8. Forgiveness, of self and others, is an important step for moving past anger and getting to
joy (Seaward, 2013, pg 135). Are you harboring anger towards yourself or anyone else, and
if so, what could you do to help achieve forgiveness?
Acknowledging this anger would be a crucial step towards healing, peace, and finding joy.
9. Speaking of joy, what are some things that give you joy and do you practice them
regularly?
9A. If not, what are some ways you could incorporate them into your daily life?

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Similar to question 7, this question would help the individual acknowledge what brings them
joy and hopefully get them thinking about ways to practice these things regularly.
10. Thinking back through these questions and your answers, do you think that your
spiritual and psychological health is good, on the right track, or could it be improved?
10A. If good/on the right track can you give examples?
10B. If not what are some ways you could strengthen your spiritual and/or
psychological health that are within your control?
These questions would help build a roadmap for acknowledging what is already being done
well, and what could be improved upon. This would help us both keep on track for any future
meetings, and as a measuring tool for progress.
The Interview
I interviewed my husband, because as sad as it might be, we do no not really share a lot
spiritually. I actually had to spend the first few months of our relationship convincing him I was
not an Atheist. He describes himself as a non-practicing Baptist. I have recently been feeling the
tug to find more spiritual connections and I was hoping that by interviewing him I could find
some places we could maybe explore and grow together. Because I know note-taking is not my
strongest area, I recorded our conversation (with his permission). I did not include the questions
again below, only the corresponding numbers. If there was anything that I said or asked
differently, it is included in parenthesis.
1. Pretty broad, all encompassing question I wouldnt even know how to answer that. Too
broad of a question. I mean, what do you consider spiritual? (What do you consider spiritual?)
Me personally? I know what I think spirituality is. For me, spiritual would be religion not
necessarily that for everybody. I guess you can explain it as an internal drive an internal

SPIRITUAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLNESS INTERVIEW

belief. (So someone whos spiritually well would have a strong drive and strong belief?) They
would have some kind of activity or belief that would allow them to clear their mind when I
say clear their mind, maybe theres something negative going on and they need relief or
reassurance that everythings going to be okay. You know, its basically a crutch - something to
lean on. Some people go to church, some people do yoga some people just sit in a dark corner.
::chuckles::
2. Um, these are too broad and opinionated you cant really answer these. (Theres no right
or wrong, just your personal belief) But its too broad of a question, you cant narrow that down.
(Okay) So, psychological well being youre not in a mental institution. Psychological
wellbeing is you can function in life on a daily basis, knowing youre in the present mind and
not in some made up location within youre head, youre not crazy.
3. Im not spiritual so to speak, I just Im not a spiritual person. I dont rely on any
thought, being, or practice. (But you do know that spirituality and religion arent the same
thing?) Yes. (Religion can contribute to spirituality, but not necessarily equal). You recorded
the first question?... (yes) and I separated the two, did I not? (yes) Okay. And I told you what I
believe spirituality was, right? (mmhmm) So, in those responsive, whats confusing you? The
fact that Is said I dont lean on anything? I dont have a practice whether it be religion,
exercise, yoga, (working on your truck?) No. How often do I work on my truck? Only when its
a necessity.
4. Not at all.
4B. I dont know, maybe Im just weird. I dont just sit and ponder over life and where I
stand Im not I dont know I just kind of go through life and hit road bumps and get over
them and go to the next step in life. (Are there any things that youre grateful for?) Im grateful

SPIRITUAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLNESS INTERVIEW

that Im alive, Im grateful that I have a family and everybodys healthy, and Im grateful that I
dont have to struggle monetarily. I mean theres plenty to be grateful for, I guess, when you
look at every little aspect; but, I guess thats one of my weaknesses I dont give gratitude, and
I dont sit and ponder every little minute detail of life. I just go and make sure everybody else is
doing what theyre supposed to do and that theyre happy in what theyre doing. I dont worry
about myself.
5. Im not a very optimistic person, Im a realist.
5A. Im sure for some people, yeah you know it can drive you into a positive direction I
guess. Lets say youre in a funk, youre overly negative and you find something that youre
really good at or into or whatever and you have this optimistic outlook, like Im going to
achieve this if I drive in this direction, so I can see where that would kind of force you into
better mindset, a healthier outlook.
6. (I know you already said realist, but would you consider yourself more of an optimist or a
pessimist?) Im not, Im like right in the middle I look at things at face value. I dont
daydream and I dont go woe is me. Whats there is whats there. (He seemed agitated with
the question, so I didnt pry about what contributed to his optimism or what he could work on as
far as pessimism goes).
7. Probably working out; reading; learning little things here and there just random things.
7A. (Are there any other activities youd like to practice?) Things I would like to get into, but
Im just not one of those people that pushes everything to the side to go do it. If I have the time
and money, Id go do it Id like to go shooting [guns] more, Id like to go ride four-wheelers,
Id like to go to a concert here and there, Id like to go to a sporting event here and there, I like
amusement parks, Id like to go home and visit family, Id like to go back to Colorado and Japan

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and Canada hell, theres a lot Id like to do, but between kids and school and a wife that works
all the time, and pulling the money to throw at stuff like that, its just not a necessity.
8. (Boy, I cant thing of anyone, anyone in the world that [dripping heavily with sarcasm]
we both laugh). Im not usually one to hang on to anger, but yeah [ex-wife] if she could just
disappear, Id be alright with that. (So if you cant control that, how could you work on
forgiveness?) I will never forgive her. (Even knowing that forgiveness is a barrier to joy?) I
dont have to deal with her, shes not part of my life, she has nothing to do with joy or negativity
in my life, unless shes taking me back to court. Shes not even a thought in my life, unless I get
a piece of mail or email or get a stupid phone call. Other than that, shes not like one iota of my
life. (Men and your boxes [in reference to video we had both watched a few years ago about
how men versus women compartmentalize issues]) ::chuckle::
9. (Specified Q7 was self-renewal) There are two things that give me joy in life. One is
making people happy, and the other is buying things. ::chuckle:: Whether or not its useful or
not, Ill enjoy it at the moment, but I may have buyers remorse later, and wish I never did it.
And if I could have a classic car or truck to work on, that would be joy. But I understand its just
not that time in my life, so I just kind of push it off. (As I was preparing for the next
question) I sacrifice a lot for other people (and that brings you joy?) The sacrificing part?
No, unless it makes them happy. If it makes them happy, then it brings me joy.
10. Could definitely be improved.
10B. I guess if were looking at societal norms, then being more expressive in wants and
desires and gratitude and just be more outwardly spoken.
(So now going through all of those subjects, would it then be appropriate to explore what you
think constitutes spiritual and psychological wellness?... talking about joy and gratitude,

SPIRITUAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLNESS INTERVIEW

optimism, taking care of yourself and forgiving yourself and others??) I understand how all of
that plays into the big picture, but for me personally, would I gain anything by actively seeking
out every one of those categories and trying to improve upon them? No. Not for me. That
would probably make me more of a negative person, because now youre saying youre not
good enough in these four categories, you need to take the time to go work on this, this, this, and
this and how does that bring anybody joy? If youre self-aware about the things that bring you
happiness or the things that you know you need to work on, then that should be enough. But to
put it in individual boxes and say you need to improve on this, this, this, and this well, who
says? Im perfectly fine the way I am. Im perfectly fine with the way people see me. So why
are you going to try and stress me out and tell me to go fix these things?
(You said that you would need to be more expressive) I do. Thats always been one of my
issues Im not an overly emotional person, and I dont care to talk about my weaknesses. I
dont believe that those should be anybody elses burdens. So I deal with whatever negativity or
stressor or whatever I have at the moment flush it, and dont deal with it again. I dont have
time to keep messing with it, you know? I dont like to hold on to anything emotionally, whether
it be positive, negative or in the middle. It takes too much energy to hold all of that. So its like
okay, is it doing anything for me now?... No?... be free! ::chuckle::
The Findings
If I had to do this interview again, I would try not to have such broad questions. I thought
questions 1 and 2 being so broad would give an individual freedom when answering. I think if I
do include those, having them towards the end, after exploring all of the other areas, might be a
better option. Perhaps even having a sort of mini lesson before the interview on what typically
encompasses spiritual and psychological wellness like how Seaward goes through self-

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renewal, sacred rituals, forgiveness, embracing the shadow, acceptance, gratitude, faith, light
heart, compassion, joy, and the divine paradox (2013, pg 233-243). Perhaps that would set a
better tone as to what I am trying to gather from the individual to set a good game plan. In fact,
perhaps the overall hesitation and generally negative responses could have come from me not
properly preparing my husband for the interview. I really only told him the questions were
geared towards spiritual and psychological well-being. I think if I would have given him a
background that I am playing the part of counseling type relationship, then maybe that would
have helped him get into a better mindset? Thing is, as he alluded to in his responses, he is not
one to seek out someone to talk about his feelings. If he were a real client, though, I think the
best course of action would be to help him find his connection, with or without religion to
actively work on fostering gratitude and making time to do things for his self. And to help him
with question 9, maybe have him buy me a massage! Seriously, though, one of the things we did
frequently in Japan was walk up and down the beach and through the woods with our dog. After
the interview, we talked about this and how much we both enjoyed it. It has been hard for us to
find similar things to do in North Dakota. Doing this interview with my husband was
enlightening, and will hopefully pave the way towards more open conversations about finding
activities that are spiritually fulfilling.

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10
References
Seaward, B. (2013). Health of the Human Spirit: Spiritual Dimensions for Personal Health. 2nd
Ed. Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning LLC.
Seligman, M. E. (2006). Learned optimism: How to change your mind and your life. New York:
Vintage Books.
Walsh, R. (1999). Essential spirituality: The 7 central practices to awaken heart and mind.
New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.