Spirituality is not the same as religion. To be spiritual, one does not have to follow a particular creed. It is simply having faith or finding peace in something outside of ourselves and reflecting on how it affects life.

At Peace

Spiritual people tend to pray. Who or what they pray to or how they pray is not important. It is the act of praying itself that brings a spiritual person comfort in bad times and acts as an expression of joy in good times.

Prayer is a wonderful way to reduce stress. A prayer that is familiar, such as the Lord’s Prayer, is helpful at a time of crisis because the words are already there. The mind concentrates on the recitation while the spirit begins to calm.

A calm spirit will suffer less. Spiritual people are not immune to mental or physical illness, but they seem to have an inner strength to pull from that non spiritual people do not always have.

Science Agrees – Spirituality Heals

Spiritual awareness can transform the whole being. It helps one develop a trust and faith so deep it is unbreakable. It is this trust and faith that can heal. Deeply spiritual people believe that their belief in something more powerful than themselves aids their healing. Scientists and medical doctors are beginning to buy into this very theory. They have seen ill people pull deep inside with courage and hope to recover. As the patient receives the moral support of others who share that spiritual base, it reaffirms a sense of guidance and support. Research continues to show that patients who pray have a higher rate of recovery.

Feeling Better

Even if one’s spirituality does not cure physical ills, it does wonders to improve emotional health. To improve health through spirituality, identify the things in life that create a sense of inner peace or comfort. That could be religion, art, music or nature. Then set aside a time each day to explore and enjoy those things. It could be time set aside in prayer, listening to classical music or enjoying a walk in the woods. Or, it could simply be a few moments of meditation in a quiet room.