Spirituality: Probably Not What You Think
We are wrapping up the Wellness Web series this week, and this week’s topic is the one I was most excited for - spirituality.
People often confuse spirituality and religion, and admittedly, I was one of those people for a long time! Until I figured out that spirituality is really the umbrella term that religion falls under, I resisted the notion that I was a spiritual person. After all, I was mostly raised Catholic, and to me the word “spirit” meant the Holy Trinity.
As it turns out, spirituality can be practiced and integrated into our lives in so many different ways! The definition of spirituality is connecting with the idea that there is something beyond just our existence; an energy, a deity, or even art or music. The notion that there is something greater than ourselves is necessary to develop the systems that keep us living in alignment with our own values and beliefs.
There is no right way to practice spirituality. Prayer, meditation, being in nature, yoga, volunteering, and even practicing grounding can help us to stay connected and help us explore our own spirituality.
So what are the benefits of developing our spiritual practices? The issue is that because of the topic matter itself, as well as all the different ideas of what spirituality is for individuals, there can’t be a concrete way to measure how one is benefitting. What we can do, however, is measure success with goals.
For instance, look at the research that shows that practicing mindfulness can lead to less sleep disturbances, fatigue, lower mental distress, as well as promoting a higher quality of life in cancer patients. If we know this works for those with cancer, those of us who are not afflicted with cancer could then set a goal for ourselves to improve the quality of our sleep by practicing mindfulness on a regular basis. This could be measured in several ways, including using a sleep tracker, journaling, or even ability to make it through the afternoon without that extra cup of coffee.
Perhaps the most timely benefit to developing spiritual practices is the boosted immune function. As we creep up on the 1 year anniversary of all things COVID, and in the heart of flu season, immunity is a hot topic. According to Kelly Turner, PhD, a cancer researcher and author of Radical Remission: Surviving Cancer Against All Odds, the fact that people have a daily practice at all matters more than what they actually believe. She says, "When you are in deep prayer or meditation, your fight-or-flight response goes off and your rest-and-repair turns on. This allows your immune system to supercharge your whole body and is incredibly healing, whether you are under stress or have an actual illness or are trying to prevent illness or stress."
Another benefit to developing and practicing a spiritual practice of your own is the relief of stress that doesn’t belong to you. By developing faith in yourself and your beliefs, you can find peace in that there is something greater than you, therefore relieving yourself of the perfectionism that may be plaguing you. When you aren’t being overrun by negative thoughts and unrealistic expectation, your blood pressure will actually go down, allowing more blood flow to your brain. This allows for clearer thinking.
Social connectivity is another powerful benefit to incorporating spirituality into your life. Though during this current time of “social distancing” it may be difficult to develop social connections in person, technology has given us the gift of connecting with others from the comfort of our own homes. Finding online groups and support for whatever your mode of spirituality is, such as yoga, meditation, or even prayer can lend itself to making social connections with people outside your local community. Expanding your circle of support into other countries is something that we couldn’t have done just a mere 20 years ago! Embrace technology and all it has to offer in order to help guide you on your spiritual path.
Finally, finding your spiritual self can lead you to your sense of purpose. This one speaks to me for several reasons, but as we all know by now, I have a very special place in my heart for the aging population. What I so often saw, especially in newer retirees, was that lost look in their eyes when they’d first come into the center. Not having planned for the grief process of retirement, all the extra time they’d have, and for some, not even knowing what they like to do led to this feeling of just existing. Exploring their potential never even occurred to some; the fact that they may have had artistic abilities that were never allowed to come out was a shock to many.
By the way, I’m fairly certain that Sheboygan’s aging population has some of the best unknown artists in existence.
Expressing one’s creativity through painting, dance, writing, photography, or even singing has led many of these wonderful people to their purpose. All of these things listed...spiritual practices. Opening up the mind to new possibilities, new experiences, new ways of life, this is spirituality.
Try this exercise: get a paintbrush, one color of paint, a piece of paper, and a place to sit. Dip the paintbrush into the paint, close your eyes, and allow your hand to move the paintbrush over the paper. If a thought enters your mind, acknowledge it and ask it to leave. You’re busy! Open your eyes and see what you’ve created.
That is art.
That is mindfulness.
That is meditation.
That is creativity.
That is connection.
That is spirituality.
Of course, this is just one form of practice. There are so, so many others to experience, I urge you to try several. Keep trying them until you find one that you connect with.
Be sure to tune into tomorrow’s podcast when I talk about my own spiritual journey, what I believe, and why. It’s a windy road that sounds a little bananas, but it’s mine and I’m proud of it. I’ll also talk about what I do for my own spiritual practices and how I’ve reaped the benefits.
