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The basis of spirituality is a belief in living a meaningful life imbued with a sense of purpose. Whether it is a belief in religion, ethics, or values, spirituality allows you to find inner calm and peace that can help your physical and mental wellness, according to the University of New Hampshire.
While many people take care of their physical health by exercising and eating healthy food, your spirit needs to be nurtured and taken care of too. A strong spirit can help you not just survive, it can help you thrive.
While some people experience spirituality in a temple or church, others feel spiritual when they are out in nature, stressed verywell mind. Peoples’ spiritual journeys doesn’t adhere to a specific set of rules but focuses on discovering what is meaningful for you to lead a purposeful life.
Wellness benefits of spirituality
Having a connection to a spiritual belief can be a source of comfort and stress release for many people and it can help you build a stronger support system. Spiritual connections can help you cope with stress and anxiety by giving you the tools you need to manage your emotions.
Mental health issues like depression and substance abuse can be aided with the help of adding spiritual values to cognitive behavior therapy, according to WebMD. It works by focusing on four key areas, acceptance, hope, forgiveness, and achieving meaning and purpose.
There are also links between spirituality and physical health. Researchers from the Mayo Clinic who looked at 350 studies about physical health and 850 studies about mental health found that people who are practice spiritualty have better health outcomes.
The researchers concluded: “Most studies have shown that religious involvement and spirituality are associated with better health outcomes, including greater longevity, coping skills, and health-related quality of life (even during terminal illness) and less anxiety, depression, and suicide. Several studies have shown that addressing the spiritual needs of the patient may enhance recovery from illness.”
Ways to cultivate spirituality
There are many spiritual practices that could help your physical and mental wellbeing. Most are an easy way to help you gain focus and resilience, according to verywell mind.
Practice mindfulness: this will allow you to become more aware of your self and others. Mindfulness will allow you to focus on the present moment and not get caught up in the past or the future.
Meditate or pray: put aside a few moments in the morning to meditate or pray. This will help to calm you for whatever the day brings. No time in the morning, take a midday meditation break to boost your spirits.
Practice gratitude: keeping track of the good things in your life will make you appreciate the people and things that are important to you. A very good way to do this is to write a gratitude journal.
Focus on others: Opening your heart and feeling empathetic to others is an important step to your own wellness. Find a cause you believe in and volunteer to help. By helping others, you are also helping yourself.
Spend time in nature: Spending time outdoors is good for your spiritual and physical wellbeing. Take a walk, focus on your breathing, or do yoga poses in the park. Forest bathing has been a Japanese wellness practice since the 1980s. This could reduce stress, enhance your mood, and even help to boost your immune function.
No matter how you practice, spirituality can help you find meaning and connection in a troubled world. Spirituality can be a powerful way to boost your overall physical and mental wellbeing.
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