Why spirituality

If you walk into any restaurant or cafe and look for the people sitting by themselves, chances are they will be absentmindedly eating their food while scrolling through Instagram and sending snapchats to people in other locations.

People in this day and age find it difficult and even painful to be alone, both metaphorically and physically. However, when armed with spirituality, being alone is a gift, offering an opportunity to look inward and know oneself.

Because, as almost all spiritual traditions teach, our Self is all we truly have. We will not share your email address or spam your inbox. Give to happiness and well-being— donate today. Skip to content. Calendar See full event calendar.

Popular Retreats Meditation Retreat. Year-round Art of Living Faculty. Sri Sri Yoga Foundation Program. Apr 08 - Apr 10, DR. Freedom from Chronic Pain. See our Privacy Policy and User Agreement for details. Reflecting on whom you are as a person can expand your knowledge about what human existence means in general. Spiritual customs and teachings help people heal from sustained pain and hurt. Meditation typically relates to training the mind to relax and the spirit to develop compassion, forgiveness, or serenity.

Being more aware of how important is to live to the best of your ability may encourage you to eat better or to not engage in illegal activities. Spiritual people usually have this mindset. People who have mastered this are typically not fearful or adamant to the thought of death. Spirituality, however, conjoins different people with different outlooks on life into one place. Spirituality can eventually bring everyone to a commonality of spirit.

The SlideShare family just got bigger. Home Explore Login Signup. Successfully reported this slideshow. We use your LinkedIn profile and activity data to personalize ads and to show you more relevant ads. You can change your ad preferences anytime. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Spirituality is the broad concept of a belief in something beyond the self. It may involve religious traditions centering on the belief in a higher power, but it can also involve a holistic belief in an individual connection to others and to the world as a whole.

Spirituality offers a worldview that suggests there is more to life than just what people experience on a sensory and physical level. Instead, it suggests that there is something greater that connects all beings to each other and to the universe itself. It also proposes that there is ongoing existence after death and strives to answer questions about the meaning of life, how people are connected to each other, truths about the universe, and other mysteries of human existence.

Spirituality and religious activity have been a source of comfort and relief from stress for multitudes of people. Spirituality is not a single path or belief system. There are many ways to experience spirituality and the benefits of a spiritual experience.

For some people, this might involve the belief in a higher power or a specific religious practice. For others, it may involve experiencing a sense of connection to a higher state or a sense of inter-connectedness with the rest of humanity and nature. Some signs of spirituality can include:. Not everyone experiences or expresses spirituality in the same way. Some people may seek spiritual experiences in every aspect of their lives, while others may be more likely to have these feelings under specific conditions or in certain locations.

For example, some people may be more likely to have spiritual experiences in churches or other religious temples, while some might have these feelings when they out enjoying nature. There are many different types of spirituality, ranging from religious traditions to more secular approaches. Some of the major forms of spirituality include:. It is important to remember that there are many other spiritual traditions that exist throughout the world, including traditional African and Indigenous spiritual practices.

Such spiritual practices can be particularly important to groups of people who have been subjected to the effects of colonialism. There are a number of different reasons why people may turn to spirituality, including but not limited to:. Why spirituality is important. Develop spirituality. Seven spiritual needs. More resources. There is a growing body of evidence indicating that spiritual practices are associated with better health and wellbeing for many reasons, including: Contemplative practice is good for you.

Meditation can induce feelings of calm and clear-headedness as well as improve concentration and attention. Mindfulness meditation in particular has been proven helpful for people with depression and anxiety , cancer , fibromyalgia, chronic pain, rheumatoid arthritis , type 2 diabetes , chronic fatigue syndrome, and cardiovascular disease.

Prayer may elicit the relaxation response, along with feelings of hope, gratitude, and compassion—all of which have a positive effect on overall wellbeing. There are several types of prayer , many of which are rooted in the belief that there is a higher power that has some level of influence over your life.

This belief can provide a sense of comfort and support in difficult times—a recent study found that clinically depressed adults who believed their prayers were heard by a concerned presence responded much better to treatment than those who did not believe.

Yoga is a centuries-old spiritual practice that aims to create a sense of union within the practitioner through physical postures, ethical behaviors, and breath expansion. The systematic practice of yoga has been found to reduce inflammation and stress, decrease depression and anxiety, lower blood pressure, and increase feelings of wellbeing. Journaling is another, often overlooked, contemplative practice that can help you become more aware of your inner life and feel more connected to your experience and the world around you.

A spiritual community can improve your life. Spiritual strength can help you overcome hardships. Spiritual people make healthier choices. Spirituality may help you live longer. Forgiveness is good medicine. Prayer for peace In whatever form you use, prayer benefits health through the physiological effects of positive emotion. Listen to, and reflect upon, the following prayer for peace.

Reviewed by: Amy R. References Bohlmeijer, E. Charles, J. Journaling: creating space for "I". Creative Nursing;16 4 Neff, K.