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How Spirituality Can Help Stress
I recently read an article from Mayo Clinic about Spirituality and Stress Relief. Here is how the article began:
"Some stress relief tools are very tangible: exercising more, eating healthy foods and talking with friends. A less tangible — but no less useful — way to find stress relief is through spirituality.
What is spirituality?
Spirituality has many definitions, but at its core spirituality helps to give your life context. It's not necessarily connected to a specific belief system or even religious worship. Instead, it arises from your connection with yourself and with others, the development of your personal value system, and your search for meaning in life.
For many, spirituality takes the form of religious observance, prayer, meditation or a belief in a higher power. For others, it can be found in nature, music, art or a secular community. Spirituality is different for everyone." The complete article can be found at http://mayocl.in/2u8FOTm.
How has spirituality helped you to deal with stress?
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@gailb, I do believe in the presence of a higher power in my life, and pray every evening after I get into bed. THank you for your uplifting words. I appreciate them, particularly since my husband is an atheist. While a very compassionate, wonderful and generous man, his lack of faith is hard for me to deal with at times, especially in times of crisis.
AGain, thank you for your words of strength,
Julie
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1 ReactionAs I've grown older I've gotten closer to God and his Saints, especially St. Jude and St. Anthony. They are a source of comfort to me. I, too, pray every evening before bed and include all of those who are suffering in this world, whether physically or mentally. I hope you find solace. There still may be hope for your husband; remember the saying "there are no atheists in foxholes"!
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1 ReactionThank you for your reply, Shoregal. Yes, St. Jude is someone I revere and pray to each night. RIght now I am struggling with nervousness about going back to FL. I am not a great flyer, and I miss my family very much when I leave. I have three little grandsons whom I adore, and am very close to my only daughter and son-in-law. Yes, I do pray for my husband's conversion. He had a very unfortunate experience with a minister as he was going through a terrrible time of anxiety and depression after his first wife left him for another man. I think this soured him on religion.
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1 Reaction@user_che9abc00 @gailb I could not find the post by Gail, but this post has so many similarities to my situation. I also pray in bed every evening and also at other times during the day. My husband is not a believer. I think he is probably not an atheist but I tell him he is a heathen. It was very difficult to instill much of Christianity in our children without his support. Neither practices any religion now.
JK
First of all, I am so glad you are both content and well. Such good news. I am working my way out of a general anxiety/panic disorder slowly but surely. Have been through it before. It takes time, courage and patience, but I have been blessed in many other ways. A type A personality, my husband did very well in business, and we are fortunate to have two beautiful homes, one in PA and the other in FL. We leave for FL tomorrow. Lots of nerves. It's a schizophrenic life and our children and grandchildren are all here in PA and NJ, but he is a huge golfer and wouldn't know what to do with himself during those cold winter days in PA. Wish me luck! And I pray I follow in your footsteps soon. Warm regards, JC
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3 ReactionsAmen Ryman. It is the sacrificial, boundless, unmerited, vast, deep, free, unconditional love of Jesus Christ that can only and soley, completely and permanently fulfill the need of the human soul in my experience. That we can know Him intimately and trust Him implicitly in our circumstances and Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" is the only thing that gets me through the many fires we walk through here in this temporarily life. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:28 In Christ's unfathomable love, Sunnyflower
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1 ReactionHow does spirituality help stress?
Spirituality helps stress by relieving my anxiety about my physical ailments and the stresses of everyday living through the diagnosis process.
I learned from an early age to rely and count on Jesus. My faith in my heavenly King grew as I did and before I knew it, His love spoke to me. I heard His call to live my life for Him with a goal to one day be unified with the Trinity through daily mindful conversations and prayer.
While I strive to be a good person, life can get in the way but I also know He is always there for me and has been from the day I believed, at that healing mass when father blessed and spoke to me. I realized my tension was not my own. All of me is His. Heart and soul.
In times of worry and times things are going right the consistency I’ve had over time has been the Lord and has, as I had come to know Him and meditate on His life and love been a guiding light, a beacon of hope. He is every reason to be at peace.
Seeing myself very small to honor him and to praise him gives me peace. To see the bigger picture and know life is to live to one day be united. Nothing else compares. No gift is greater then the gift of faith.
My reality is with Him, the spiritual connection is the glue that holds me together. Without it, I would be lost. There are times I feel alone, but know that is not the case. I know He has been alone at critical times, feared, known anxiety and more but He had a mission. Like a faithful follower I am a survivor of things that have broken me but with His love, rebuilt me piece by piece.
Stress can and does get the better of me at times but I know He is in my corner helping me step by step. I am not alone in this life. I have love in my life and feel wealthier in ways unimaginable, With that love and strength, it curbs and defeats in the end the stress that can consume.
Spirituality has carried me through every trial and hardship. My faith is my foundation. I am blessed and bless others through him where all things worthy if it is His will are possible.
God bless us all.