On International Women’s Day, conversations around women’s empowerment often highlight resilience, strength, and the many roles women play in society. Yet for many women, spirituality quietly becomes the space where they endure, reflect, and find meaning amid life’s demands, often at the expense of their health.
How do women interpret spirituality?
Spirituality is interpreted differently by different women. Across cultures and communities, it has emerged as a deeply personal yet universal experience, shaped by individual beliefs and life circumstances.
For women—whether unmarried, widowed, or navigating difficult relationships or challenges—spirituality often becomes a source of solace and strength. Within Bhakti traditions, in particular, this devotion is expressed through practices such as prayer, chanting, fasting, and devotional singing, such as bhajans.
Dr Munia Bhattacharya, Senior Consultant in Clinical Psychology, Mental Health, and Behavioural Sciences at Marengo Asia Hospital in Gurugram, Haryana, agrees that spirituality often becomes a deeply personal refuge for many women.
“In my experience, spirituality often becomes a refuge for women. I’ve had clients tell me that prayer or meditation is the only time they feel centered. It gives them meaning when everything else feels demanding,” she told A Lotus In The Mud.
She adds that spiritual practices can sometimes be a tool for women to cope with stress they may not have fully acknowledged.
“Sometimes, instead of acknowledging exhaustion or emotional overload, they double down on spiritual discipline. They’ll say, ‘Maybe I just need to be stronger.’ The body, meanwhile, is asking for rest,” she explained.
“The issue isn’t spirituality,” Dr Bhattacharya added. “It’s when it becomes a way to endure more rather than to heal.”
This quiet resilience often comes at a cost. In their pursuit of inner peace and spiritual fulfillment, women’s physical, emotional, and mental well-being often takes a backseat.
When prayer and fasting take priority over wellness
Beena Shukla, a Lucknow-based retired government employee, keeps fasting for days despite having gastrointestinal problems. She lost her husband, a doctor, at a relatively young age. Left to raise two children on her own, she says it was her faith and spiritual practice that helped her navigate one of the most difficult phases of her life.
“When my husband was alive, he never allowed me to keep fasts. But after he was gone, my belief in a higher power became my only support. It heals me and gives me peace of mind, strength, and confidence to combat challenges. And I don’t mind it,” she said.
Her connection with spirituality, she explains, began much earlier in life.
“I have been fasting and worshipping since I was young. I lost my father at an early age, and my mother introduced me to it. She would always say fasting and meditation can guide us through hardships and make our lives better,” Shukla told A Lotus In The Mud.
Stories like Shukla’s are not uncommon. Rituals such as fasting, prayer, and worship often provide a sense of control and comfort when life feels unpredictable.
Spiritual rituals often become a source of emotional support for women
Experts say that while spirituality can offer deep emotional support, its impact on well-being depends on how it is practiced and balanced with self-care.
According to Dr Rahul Chandhok, Senior Consultant and Head of Psychiatry at Artemis Lite, spiritual practices can play a meaningful role in strengthening emotional resilience.
“Meditation, prayer, mindfulness, and quiet reflection can help women become emotionally stronger by encouraging greater self-awareness and inner balance. These practices allow individuals to slow down, reflect on their thoughts, and process emotions more calmly,” Dr Chandhok told A Lotus In The Mud.
“Over time, spirituality can provide a sense of purpose, hope, and emotional stability. When practiced mindfully, it fosters acceptance, gratitude, and patience, which can help women manage stress and improve their mental well-being during challenging times,” he added.
Growing concerns around women’s health
However, broader health trends suggest that women often struggle to prioritize their well-being as they place faith, family, and responsibilities above their physical and emotional needs.
A BW Healthcare 2025 report revealed that many women in India delay health check-ups until symptoms become serious, often prioritizing the needs of children and elders over their own. Work pressures and household responsibilities further limit time for preventive care.
A similar pattern is visible in the United States. A 2024 Hologic–Gallup survey found that 63% of women—particularly younger women—struggle to prioritize their health, citing stress, caregiving duties, and work pressures as key barriers.
Women elsewhere face similar, and often even greater, pressures.
The hidden emotional labor women carry
“Most women I speak to are not just managing tasks. They’re managing emotional temperature. At home. At work. Everywhere. Even when they sit down, their mind doesn’t switch off. They’re thinking ahead, anticipating problems, and making sure everyone is okay.
“Over time, they start believing that being constantly available is part of being responsible. And once that belief settles in, taking a break feels uncomfortable, sometimes even selfish. That’s how burnout quietly builds,” said Dr Bhattacharya.
When financial fears delay health care
The hesitation to seek health care is also influenced by financial concerns.
Anushree Sinha, a dietitian with years of experience treating patients, says women often avoid hospital visits because they fear the financial burden.
“We feel that a hospital visit will burn a hole in our pocket. Why waste money unnecessarily? It will heal on its own,” she said.
Psychiatrists say such thinking reflects a deeper social pattern in which women are taught to place others’ needs before their own.
“Many women think that putting themselves first is selfish when they are young. This kind of thinking can make you tired, stressed, and emotionally drained. Women need to change the way they think … recognizing personal boundaries, valuing rest, and understanding that self-care enhances the capacity to care for others can facilitate a transformation in this narrative,” said Dr Chandhok.
When spirituality becomes synonymous with self-sacrifice
Experts also point out that in nurturing cultures, spirituality can sometimes become closely linked with self-sacrifice. Spiritual ideas such as service or surrender may blend with social expectations, leading many women to believe that the more they sacrifice, the more worthy they are.
Dr Bhattacharya warns that this mindset can be unhealthy.
“Psychologically, that creates pressure. When your identity is built around giving, receiving feels unfamiliar. And suppressed needs don’t disappear. They surface later as anxiety, irritability, or unexplained fatigue. Healthy spirituality should expand your sense of self, not shrink it,” she said.
Caring for yourself matters too
Many women feel guilty about taking time for themselves because they are often conditioned to prioritize family and responsibilities first. However, intentional self-care rituals—such as taking a quiet walk, reading, or practicing mindfulness—can gradually help shift this mindset.
“When practiced regularly, these rituals reinforce the idea that taking time for oneself is essential for emotional balance,” said Dr Chandhok.
Over time, he added, women begin to realize that protecting their mental energy not only benefits their well-being but also helps them maintain healthier relationships and clearer emotional boundaries.
Spirituality can empower, inspire, and heal—but only when paired with self-care. This Women’s Day, women are reminded that looking after themselves is a vital act of strength.
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