“How is it with your soul?” That was a question often asked among the Puritans in the 16th and 17th centuries. Today, it may sound unusual or even intrusive if someone asked it at work or in passing. Yet it remains one of the most important questions a leader can consider.
Why do we hesitate to talk about spiritual life in such direct terms? And why do we so often neglect what Christian writer Dallas Willard called “the hinge on which the rest of your life hangs”?
What Is Spiritual Health?
So, what is spiritual health?
Spiritual health refers to the condition of a person’s inner life — their sense of meaning, connection with God, moral clarity, peace, and overall alignment between beliefs and actions.
Dallas Willard warned that many souls become “starved and unhealthy,” unsatisfied by false promises of status, wealth, or success. When we neglect the eternal part of ourselves, we inevitably experience consequences in every other area of life.
Spiritual Health and Leadership Pressure
Leadership can quietly erode spiritual health. Many leaders operate under constant pressure and responsibility, often without realizing the internal cost.
Morris Dirks, in Forming the Leader’s Soul, notes that leaders often carry unrealistic expectations. As a result, they may become emotionally drained, spiritually neglected, relationally isolated, and internally uncertain about their identity.
Consider the reality of a typical week for a leader:
- Solving employee conflicts
- Managing budgets and financial pressure
- Making hiring and firing decisions
- Creating and adjusting organizational vision
- Traveling across time zones
- Responding to urgent communications at all hours
- Dealing with operational and technical crises
Even meaningful leadership work can become exhausting without attention to spiritual health.
Why Spiritual Health Matters
Spiritual health is not separate from leadership — it directly impacts clarity, resilience, decision-making, and emotional stability.
When spiritual life is neglected, leaders often begin to operate from burnout, pressure, or fear rather than wisdom and peace.
Healthy spiritual rhythms help leaders stay grounded, focused, and emotionally steady even in demanding environments.
Creating Space for Spiritual Health
Because of this, intentional space for reflection and renewal becomes essential.
Events like leadership retreats or gatherings centered on rest, reflection, and spiritual growth are designed to help leaders step away from constant demands and reconnect with deeper purpose.
These environments often address not only leadership performance but also the health of the soul, family life, emotional well-being, and overall life balance.
A Biblical Picture of Spiritual Health
In moments of exhaustion, Scripture often points leaders back to trust and rest in God. One of the most well-known passages that speaks to spiritual protection and peace is Psalm 91.
“We live within the shadow of the Almighty, sheltered by the God who is above all gods… He is my refuge, my place of safety.”
— Psalm 91 (Living Bible)
This passage emphasizes trust, protection, and peace even in the midst of danger, uncertainty, and overwhelming circumstances.
How Is It With Your Soul?
At its core, the question “How is it with your soul?” is an invitation to reflection.
It asks whether your inner life is healthy, grounded, and aligned — or whether it has been neglected in the pursuit of external success.
For leaders especially, spiritual health is not optional. It is foundational to sustainable leadership, wise decision-making, and a meaningful life.
About the Author
Greg Leith is the CEO of Convene. He was born in Canada and lived in all four corners of North America. His career spans over 35 years of senior leadership roles in corporate, non-profit and academic sectors. Recently, he served as Director of Strategic Alliances for 13 years at Biola University in California.
