Spirituality refers to seeking a meaningful connection with something bigger than yourself, which can result in positive emotions, such as peace, awe, contentment, gratitude, and acceptance With so much time spent in isolation as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, many are looking for ways to boost their mental, physical, and spiritual health at home.
Embracing spirituality can change the neurochemistry in your brain: “There’s a whole science to prayer. It’s very powerful,” says board-certified psychiatrist Anna Yusim, M.D., lecturer at Yale Medical School. According to a study, religious and spiritual experiences can activate your brain reward circuits. Neuroimaging studies show neurochemical change as a result of meditative practices. The neurotransmitter changes contribute to improvements of anxiety and depressive symptoms and in part explain the positive mental benefits of meditation.
There are a number of ways to practice spirituality every day such as doing a set of sun salutations when you wakeup, exploring holistic health, or even lighting some candles and reading. Beyond these ideas, here are some current spirituality trends.
Nature Therapy
Nature therapy, ecotherapy, or green therapy is based on the idea that we are connected to and impacted by the environment. Further, research shows there are positive mental and physical benefits of connecting with nature including reducing stress, anxiety, depression, and anger.
Meditation
An oldie but a goodie and it’s not going anywhere anytime soon. If you’re a meditation beginner, any form of guided meditation can help you focus your mind and tune out all of your thoughts. There are many resources such as apps like Calm or Headspace to help meditation beginners and veterans alike.
Transcendental Meditation or TM is a form of silent mantra meditation practiced for twenty minutes twice a day. A great amount of research has shown TM to be effective for reducing stress and anxiety as well as boost brain function. Anyone can learn this practice, but it must be done in person with a certified instructor.
Metta meditation involves reciting words and phrases evoking a “boundless warm-hearted” feeling. Metta is first practiced toward oneself, since we often have difficulty loving others without first loving ourselves. Sitting quietly, you mentally repeat, slowly and steadily, the following or similar phrases:
“May I be happy. May I be well. May I be safe. May I be peaceful and at ease.”
Mindfulness
Mindfulness can be helpful to discover how spirituality manifests in your life. Rani St. Pucchi, a transformational Life Coach who spent 10 days at a Buddhist Monastery in Thailand shared that the meditations there are based on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness:
- Mindfulness of the Body includes all bodily movements and sensations such as the lifting, stepping and placing of the feet during walking meditation, and acknowledging the breath—the rise and fall of the abdomen, while seated.
- Mindfulness of One’s Feelings or Sensations means to contemplate and acknowledge the state of happiness or suffering, or even the neutral feeling of neither happiness nor misery.
- Mindfulness of the Thought which means to contemplate one’s thoughts, to be conscious of the feeling of anger, peace, distraction, delusion, etc. in the consciousness.
- Mindfulness of Objects of the Mind which means to contemplate and recognize external stimulation when we think or comment about something, such as when we are desirous, angry, slothful, restless, or doubtful as a result of thinking.
Yoga
A centuries old practice, the essence of yoga is more than just a still trendy, great workout that reduces inflammation and stress, decreases depression and anxiety, lowers blood pressure, and increases feelings of wellbeing. Yoga is defined as a Hindu spiritual and ascetic discipline, a part of which, including breath control, simple meditation, and the adoption of specific bodily postures, is widely practiced for health and relaxation. The spiritual aspect of yoga is not linked to any religion, but practicing yoga helps to unify the mind, body, and spirit. Many yoga teachers encourage students to quiet their mind, to simply tune into their breath, and ask them not to force the asanas or poses, to just stay in the present moment.
Alternative Spirituality
A 2019 Pew report revealed that while 76 percent of baby boomers identify as Christian, according to Pew, less than half of millennials do, with many millennials claiming no religious affiliation. Many younger generations are cultivating their own spiritual beliefs and practices like tarot, astrology, meditation, energy healing and crystals. #WitchTok has tremendous popularity on TikTok—the hashtag acquiring over 6 billion views. Users show off their astrology and tarot reading skills to connect with an audience and the universe. Video games are also offering a digital environment where users can practice their new tarot rituals.
The Increasing Role of Spirituality in Mental Health
The Army’s new Holistic Health and Fitness initiative recognizes the importance of spirituality in a Soldier’s mental health and wellness and has begun implementing ways to provide its Soldiers with the resources they may need to cultivate that spiritual growth. Forms of spiritual practices include prayer, which can provide a sense of comfort and support in difficult times, and journaling, which during challenging times may also help you find meaning in life’s challenges and increase your resilience in the face of obstacles.
In Summary
Spirituality can be beneficial to your overall health and wellness. Research reveals that higher levels of spirituality are linked to increased compassion, strengthened relationships, and improved self-esteem.
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