Taking care of our mental health is more important than ever. It matters how you treat your body, how and with whom you spend your time, and what thoughts center in your mind.In the monthly Shondaland series road to happinesswe share science and strategies to help you better understand and manage your health.
In difficult times, even the most worldly nonbeliever may offer a small prayer. People may silently plead for all to be well, even if they do not know what or to whom they are making such a request. And you don’t need any special beliefs to be moved by a spectacular sunset, a stunning view, an unexpected act of kindness, or a child’s innocence.
The urge to feel connected to something larger than ourselves, whether human or natural, tangible or metaphysical, is hardwired into our brains. lisa millerHe is a professor of psychology at Columbia University and studies the science of spirituality. “Spirituality is something you are born with,” she says. “Spirituality is an innate human ability, not just a belief.”
Focusing on this natural part of yourself can improve your mental health. mirror research Findings include dramatically lower rates of depression and addiction, as well as increased likelihood of traits such as optimism, grit, and generosity.
You don’t have to be religious to be spiritual. They are different but may overlap for some people. (According to a recent survey, nearly half of Americans say they are religious, and an additional 33 percent say they are spiritual but not religious. Gallup poll.) Religion is a set of beliefs, practices, and traditions accepted by a community and shared through its environment and culture. Spirituality, on the other hand, is an innate neurological ability of humans. It is a part of the brain that exists regardless of religion.
“We are all innately gifted with a brain equipped with a set of circuits that allow us to engage in a relationship with a higher power, whether that word is God, Jesus, or the universe.” Miller says. “There is one spiritual brain, and we all have it.” She says a “spiritual brain” helps people feel supported, guided, and connected to the larger web of life. He added that it becomes possible to perceive.
Spirituality also exists outside of religion.
This insight is supported by solid scientific research. Spirituality is related to brain circuit A region of the human brain that is also associated with fear conditioning, pain perception, and altruism. Research has also shown that the brain physically changes in response to spiritual practices such as meditation and prayer, indicating increased mental stress. cortical thickness and gray matter volume.
“Based on hundreds of peer-reviewed papers, we can say that spirituality is innate,” Miller says. “It is one-third innate and two-thirds shaped by the environment. For many people, two-thirds of the environment that forms their innate spiritual core comes from their faith traditions and faith communities. For others, it may be nature, music, art, service, poetry, reflection.”
Like any natural human ability, spirituality can be expressed differently by each individual and can be deliberately cultivated to become happier. Here are his three ways to improve your health with spirituality, no matter what you believe.
grow from difficult moments
Throughout a person’s life, the body experiences moments of puberty, sexual awakening, and gray hair. According to Miller, spirituality has a similar developmental process, and it manifests itself at three different points in life. Although each may feel like a wayward melancholy, Miller sees them as spiritual calls or invitations to awaken an awareness of interconnectedness. “Sometimes spirituality can feel like a half-empty glass,” she says. “The distance between the waterline and the top of the glass is a matter of survival.”
The first phase of life occurs in late adolescence or early adulthood, when we begin to think about our purpose and what makes a good and meaningful life. Some of us may recognize these big questions as an invitation to dig deeper into our spirituality and explore our connection to the larger world. Many of us will party, date, study, and get on with it, hoping that we might find purpose or meaning along the way. “This is a well-integrated period of spiritual growth,” Miller says.
Embrace life’s changes and discover new meaning.
The next point arrives in midlife. When we realize our new mortality and realize that we may have already lived half our lives, we ask, “Does my life have meaning?” Am I the person I wanted to be? This period of life can be marked by longing and anxiety, Miller said. Rather than seeing it as a sign that something is wrong, she suggests viewing it as “a knock on the door for spiritual emergence later in life.”
Rather than a midlife crisis, it can be an opportunity to evolve beyond a transactional definition of self (what you do, what you earn) and towards a more spiritual sense of self. “If you ignore it, you’re missing out on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, because this is the moment that prepares you to live on a deep spiritual basis throughout the rest of your life,” says Miller. explain.
The third invitation was later in life. Miller calls this “life reflection at the deepest level,” which she says explores how we’ve impacted other people and the planet over the course of our lives. Masu. During each of these times, we respond to feelings of depression and change by connecting with a greater power, such as praising God, absorbing nature, indulging in a love of the arts, and participating in community service. can.
listen to synchronicity
According to psychologist Carl Jung, synchronicity is defined as a situation where there appears to be a meaningful association, but no causal relationship. Miller says we can see these moments as signs of God’s guidance or reflections of our inner wisdom.
“We are wired to understand that life is a guide, and synchronicity guides us in life,” Miller says. “Synchronicity takes us from ‘I don’t know if I should go right or left’ to realizing that we are all in this together.”
To feel guided, Miller says, you need to actively view random events as meaningful and not just random events. For example, if you come across a quote on social media that you think speaks accurately to your situation, or a stranger says something that feels particularly profound, you may be wondering if it’s a helpful tip from the spiritual realm. Please acknowledge the possibility.
share your voice
If you tell someone that something you saw online or the person next to you in line at the grocery store said to you felt like divine guidance, you might seem a little weird, but it can help you be more open about spirituality. By doing so, we bring a healing balm to our troubled world.
Humans are designed to have an ongoing relationship with something bigger than themselves, rather than simply turning to a higher power when they hit rock bottom. “We suffer because our growth into a lasting relationship with a higher power is blocked by a two-thirds empty acceptance of our culture and environment. ” Miller said. “We have become almost ignorant of spiritual matters.”
Healing comes when you become more open to your spirituality.
Sharing what spirituality looks like to you personally without proselytizing can be deeply connecting, Miller points out. It can be as simple as expressing why you feel more peaceful when you’re in nature, or how a particular quote has made you feel less alone.
“The deepest seeds of life are about who we really are in relation to our higher powers and life forces, and how we manifest and exist to each other as such. “It’s about being able to become that person,” Miller says. “Ultimate connection is connection at the spiritual core level.”
Sandy Cohen is an author, health and wellness coach, and host. inner peace comes Podcast. Follow her on Instagram @aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.
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