Spirituality

Spirituality is very important to our fitness because it involves a dimension of human experience that psychiatrists believe has potential benefits to mental health. It is not necessary to hold formal religious beliefs, engage in religious practices, or belong to an established faith tradition, to experience the spiritual dimension.

In healthcare, spirituality is identified with encountering a deep-seated sense of meaning and purpose in life, together with a sense of belonging. It is about acceptance, integration and wholeness- “linking the deeply personal with the universal”, is inclusive and unifying. Through this, we are naturally led to the recognition that to harm another is to harm oneself, and equally that helping others is to help oneself. It applies to everyone, including those who do not believe in God or a ‘higher being’. The universality of spirituality is all encompassing as it extends across the borders of creed and culture. However, at the very same time spirituality is also felt as something unique to each and every person especially since it is the way that you can find meaning, hope, comfort and inner peace in your life. Many people find spirituality through religion alone while some find it through music, art or a connection with nature. There are those who find it in their daily values and principles.

Can spirituality really promote a healthier physical life for your family? Recent medical studies indicate that spiritual people exhibit fewer self-destructive behaviors such as suicide, smoking, drug and alcohol abuse, less stress, and a greater total life satisfaction. However, in spite the evidences that show spirituality to have reduced depression, improved blood pressure, and boost the immune system, religious beliefs should not interfere with the medical care that you or your child receives. T5he best way pt of it is when it is combined with proper medical care, this type of alternative medicine may be the answer to your family's prayers.

According to one definition, “The spiritual dimension tries to be in harmony with the universe, strives for answers about the infinite, and comes especially into focus in times of emotional stress, physical and mental illness, loss, bereavement and death.” This desire for wholeness of being is not an intellectual attainment, for it is no less present in people with learning disability, but lies in the essence of what it means to be human.

Religions, as we can see right in our little societies, are offered in community-based worship, each faith having its own set of beliefs and sacred traditions. However, on the other hand, when there is a lack of respect for differences of belief, then this is the time when religion has been used as a social and political tool only leading to intolerance and divisiveness. We now live in a Da-Vinci-Code generation where our beliefs are intellectually challenged. Times have clearly changed ever since those bygone years when hospital chaplaincy was thought of as mainly Anglican. Today, we see the involvement of the clergy and other appropriate personnel from many faiths, as well as from several Christian denominations. Somehow, religion has become more personal that it even tresepasses other sectors and areas of our societies. Now, we see Chaplains or spiritual advisors who are becoming increasingly valued as contributors to the work of multi-disciplinary in-patient, community mental health services, politics, and more.

My advice to you is that you keep your spirituality a deeply personal matter. I simply encouraged you to discover ‘what works best for you’ and not what the people around think about it. A routine daily practice involving three elements can be helpful in finding this out:

c) engaging in supportive friendships with others sharing similar spiritual and/or religious aims and aspirations.

Furthermore, it is also possible to find advice about spiritual practices and traditions through the resources of a wide range of religious organizations and you can even be noncommittal about it. Secular spiritual activities are increasingly available and popular too to help more people. For example, many complementary therapies

have a spiritual or holistic element that is not defined by any particular religion. The

internet, especially internet bookshops, the local yellow pages, health food shops and

Spirituality involves a dimension of human experience that psychiatrists are increasingly interested in, because of its potential benefits to mental health.2 sources It is not necessary to hold formal religious beliefs, engage in religious practices, or belong to an established faith tradition, to experience the spiritual dimension. In healthcare, spirituality is identified with encoutering a deep-seated sense of meaning and purpose in life, together with a sense of belonging. It is about acceptance, integration and wholeness- “linking the deeply personal with the universal”, is inclusive and unifying. It naturally leads to the recognition that to harm another is to harm oneself, and equally that helping others is to help oneself.2 sources It applies to everyone, including those who do not believe in God or a ‘higher being’. The universality of spirituality extends across creed and culture; at the same time spirituality is felt as unique to each and every person. 2 sources Spirituality is the way you find meaning, hope, comfort and inner peace in your life. 22 sources Many people find spirituality through religion.51 sources Some find it through music, art or a connection with nature.21 sources Others find it in their values and principles Can spirituality promote a healthier physical life for your family? Recent medical studies indicate that spiritual people exhibit fewer self-destructive behaviors (suicide, smoking, and drug and alcohol abuse, for example), less stress, and a greater total life satisfaction. Although spirituality has been shown to reduce depression, improve blood pressure, and boost the immune system, religious beliefs should not interfere with the medical care your child receives.9 sources But when combined with proper medical care, this type of alternative medicine may be the answer to your family's prayers.9 sources According to one definition, “The spiritual dimension tries to be in harmony with the universe, strives for answers about the infinite, and comes especially into focus in times of emotional stress, physical and mental illness, loss, bereavement and death.” This desire for wholeness of being is not an intellectual attainment, for it is no less present in people with learning disability, but lies in the essence of what it means to be human. Religions offer community-based worship, each faith having its own set of beliefs and sacred traditions. 2 sources However, when there is a lack of respect for differences of belief, religion has been used as a social and political tool leading to intolerance and divisiveness. 2 sources Times have changed since hospital chaplaincy was thought of as mainly Anglican. 3 sources It now involves clergy and other appropriate personnel from many faiths and humanist organisations, as well as from several Christian denominations. 2 sources Chaplains, or spiritual advisors as they are sometimes called, are increasingly valued as contributors to the work of multi-disciplinary in-patient and community mental health services. 2 sources Advice Spirituality is a deeply personal matter. People are encouraged to discover ‘what works best for you’. A routine daily practice involving three elements can be helpful: a) regular quiet time (for prayer, reflection or meditation); b) appropriate study of religious and/or spiritual material; c) engaging in supportive friendships with others sharing similar spiritual and/or religious aims and aspirations. It is possible to find advice about spiritual practices and traditions through the resources of a wide range of religious organisations (see overleaf). Secular spiritual activities are increasingly available and popular too. For example, many complementary therapies have a spiritual or holistic element that is not defined by any particular religion. The internet, especially internet bookshops, the local yellow pages, health food shops and bookstores are all good places to look.

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