3 Ways to Nourish Your Spirit
My colleagues and I talk a lot about the rising number of people we see at Lemi who are struggling with faith crises and spiritual transitioning. Many have complicated relationships with their faith and find it jarringly difficult to even question their closely held beliefs, much less sever ties with their religious community. The process of breaking away from any religious foundation is intensely personal and can often lead to deep feelings of loss, isolation and confusion about one’s identity.
In our experience, we’ve found that people who leave organized religion entirely have better mental health outcomes when they remain open to the concept of spirituality and are intentional about finding ways to nurture their unique spiritual core. Whether it’s experiencing a peaceful state of mind in the sanctity of nature or choosing to see spiritual connections within our relationships, believing in something greater than yourself can literally decrease symptoms of anxiety and depression and generally “make us most likely to lead happier lives.”
Regardless of where you are on your journey, there are many ways in which you can strengthen your spirituality so that you can more easily navigate life’s challenges. Here are a few suggestions:
3 Simple Ways to Nourish Your Spirit
1. Mindfulness simply means focusing on the present moment while acknowledging and accepting your feelings, thoughts and body sensations. You've probably heard that practicing mindfulness can decrease stress and help you think more clearly, but did you know that it can increase empathy and compassion? Not only can mindfulness help us cultivate kindness toward ourself but it can also help us relate to others with the same kind, curious and non-judgmental awareness.
2. Prayer can foster a sense of connection with a higher power, nature or humanity and can lessen our feelings of isolation. There is remarkable healing power in the idea that you’re not alone. Prayer can also provide emotional support to those who may feel weighed down by the stressors of life. Psychology professor, Amy Wachholtz, found that prayer can let you “... put down your burden mentally for a bit and rest." Imagine how reassuring it could be to know that there is a way to seek respite, albeit temporary, from your worries.
3. Gratitude can help you appreciate what you have instead of what you lack, which is helpful when you’re leaving something behind. And in the face of a difficult transition, gratitude has the power to literally change the structure of your brain and make you feel happier and more content. The best thing about gratitude is that the more you practice it, the more you feel positive emotions. Although it may feel contrived at first to affirm the good things you've received or perhaps acknowledge the role other people play in providing your life with goodness, this mindset grows stronger with use and time.
We recognize that your faith transition is unique and that there is no one way to navigate this complicated journey. Whether you're experiencing feelings of loss, anxiety, anger or isolation, we are here to help you feel empowered to live a life that feels genuine to you.